Published: November 24, 2009 07:00 pm      

Tutoring program is helping dyslexics

About 140 people are enrolled in county program

TRAVERSE CITY -- From angry and uncommunicative, Kaitlyn is now an eager student striving to raise her grade point average.

The freshman at Frankfort High School began attending tutoring sessions at the Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association since she was 11, the summer after sixth grade. She worked one-on-one with a tutor through the Orton-Gillingham method of reading instruction, boosting her reading skills and self-esteem simultaneously.

After three years, she "graduated" to working with association founder and director Pat Dolanski, where the two now also incorporate math lessons. Decoding and demystifying the intricacies of pre-algebra with Dolanski, Kaitlyn was cheerful and engaged during a recent tutoring session.

"I like coming here; I was so angry before," said Kaitlyn, referring to earlier scholastic challenges.

Kaitlyn is one of about 140 people ages six to 66 enrolled in the Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association tutoring program. Founded in 1985 by Dolanski, a former teacher and special education teacher who has dyslexia, the program pairs trained professionals with people who have dyslexia and/or related reading disorders. A roster of two dozen tutors meet with students bi-weekly at the association's Traverse City facility as well as in some area schools.

The nonprofit association draws students from seven counties: Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Otsego and Wexford. Referrals come from teachers, principals, families, physicians, psychologists and other students and families.

The organization is in the midst of a mail-based fundraising appeal, with all proceeds benefiting student services. About a third of program participants require tuition assistance to access services and Dolanski wants to ensure that everyone who needs it can get help. The goal of this appeal is to generate enough donations to fund a year's worth of assistance.

"People come from quite a ways because there's not much around here that can work with as diverse a population as we have," Dolanski said.

The Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association's goal is to facilitate learning success in areas including reading, writing and spelling. The year-round program's basic philosophy is twofold: teach everything to mastery and hold students accountable only for what they are taught.

"(Dyslexics) struggle with being able to read at grade level and with language, some have trouble following oral directions or written directions and they usually are poor spellers," Dolanski said.

The "S word" (stupid) is never uttered by Dolanski or her tutors. Students, who may have self labeled or heard others label them, soon realize to that they can learn -- when given effective methods that work around their challenges.

"Many of them are average or above average kids so you have many of these smart kids with really poor self-esteem," Dolanski said.

Katie, 13, is another ongoing success story of the Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association. Her mother, Linda, pulled her out of school during third grade when the girl "hit a wall" academically. Even with homeschooling's one-on-one attention and select curriculum, Katie was not learning. A friend's referral brought Linda to the association where her daughter could get tested and help. After three years of tutoring to supplement her homeschooling, her daughter was academically ready to return to a public school setting.

"Confidence has been built up, it has been built up tremendously, because it had been brought down when you're not understanding," said Linda.

For more information about the Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association, call 929-1007. Community members are welcome to support the nonprofit organization's mission and students. Donations may be sent in care of the association to P.O. Box 125, Traverse City 49685.