Revealing The Book That Skyrocketed a New Trajectory

This year marks a powerful milestone. The 30th anniversary of Ron Davis' groundbreaking book, The Gift of Dyslexia.

For me, this wasn't just another book. It was the moment everything changed and sent me skyrocketing on a completely unplanned trajectory.

Before I became a Davis Facilitator, I spent years in the New Zealand school system as a classroom teacher. And every year, without fail, there were students who gave it everything they had, but still couldn't read, write, or understand maths the way I taught them. No matter how hard I tried, something just wasn't working. For them or for me. It was heartbreaking and frustrating. I knew they were capable, but I didn't know how to reach them.

Then I read The Gift of Dyslexia. And I didn't just have a lightbulb moment...I had a floodlight moment.

Suddenly, it all made sense. These learners weren't failing. The system was failing them. Their brains were wired to think in 3D. And yet, everything we teach in school relies on flat, 2D symbols: letters, numbers, and words. No wonder they struggled.

That book didn't just explain why my students were struggling. It showed me how to help. It opened up a new world of understanding. I knew I had to do something more, and that led me to train as a Davis Facilitator.

Three years later, I'm proud to say that I now work one-to-one with neurodiverse learners, using strengths-based, hands-on strategies that actually work for their unique brains. The results are incredible. One of my clients made up two years of their learning and caught up to his peers in less than 6 months. Confidence grows, skills click into place, and the frustration begins to fade.

So today, as we celebrate 30 years of The Gift of Dyslexia, I want to say a heartfelt thank you. This book not only changed my perspective...it completely shifted my purpose.

If you've ever felt stuck, or sensed that the way your child learns just doesn't fit the school mould, know this: there is another way.

This transformation story isn't unique to my practice. Across New Zealand, there's a much bigger picture unfolding that we need to talk about.

Which brings me to this week's video: The School Crisis No One Is Talking About in New Zealand.