Kathy Root and Maggie Pike of Centennial are in the business of miracles. As co-founders of Dyslexia Rx, LLC, they are watching children and adults, for whom nothing has worked before, being transformed right before their eyes: from poor readers or nonreaders to readers; from weak spellers to spellers with tools; from reluctant writers to enthusiastic writers. For their clients, words no longer have power over them; they now have power over words.

Root and Pike are two teachers with a combined 32 years of experience using best practices in reading and writing in their classrooms. Despite their best efforts, however, about 20% of their students still remained woefully below grade level throughout their school careers. The duo finally said "Enough."

Says Ms. Pike: "As we talked about what we were seeing in our classrooms, we knew there had to be an answer somewhere. Why were children still unable to read in intermediate, middle school, and high school despite sterling instruction year after year? It just didn't make sense. Most of these children didn't qualify for special education, yet something was clearly wrong. We couldn't keep teaching the way we had been or we would keep getting the same results."

Operating from the commitment that they will never give up on a child, the two set out on a quest. They combed the research for some kind of explanation for the symptoms they were seeing. They finally unearthed a plethora of information on the warning signs of a common, but under-diagnosed, brain and genetic difference: dyslexia. In fact, robust research on dyslexia has been going on worldwide, including right here in Colorado (at DU and CU), for about 30 years. But, sadly,the results of this research haven't yet reached the classrooms.

Pike and Root sent themselves to training in San Jose, California, for two summers and became certified dyslexia testing specialists and tutors in the Barton Reading and Spelling System, an Orton-Gillingham-based system of remediation for people with dyslexia. They are now co-founders of Dyslexia Rx, a small business dedicated to testing and tutoring children and adults with dyslexia.

Ms. Root expresses concern about how schools view dyslexia. "I know from my experience that teachers are dedicated professionals who will bend over backwards to help a child succeed. I also know that school systems shy away from the term 'dyslexia.' Thereality is that until we understand and accept that there are distinct signs of dyslexia, that dyslexia affects 1 out of 5 children in a typical classroom, and that people with dyslexia learn differently, we will continue to fail them. 20% is too big a number to ignore, in my thinking."

Root and Pike don't refer to dyslexia as a disorder. In fact, it is a difference in brain structure and genetic make-up. This uniquenesscarries many gifts, while at the same time causes reading and spelling difficulties that disrupt learning-- unless the person receives the right kind of instruction.

Root and Pike are committed to helping children and adults experience success. The report they generate from testing informs both teachers and parents of exactly how dyslexia affects the child and how that child needs to be taught in order to be successful. For adults, the report provides documentation necessary to receive accommodations in college, trade school, or on the job. It gives all persons with dyslexia a fair chance to shine in their areas of strength without being penalized for their brain differences.

As for remediation of the symptoms of dyslexia, the pair has this to say: "We're so excited that we found the methodology that strong, credible research says is best practice for tutoring people with dyslexia. Dyslexic children spend 7.5 hours a day being asked to do what they're weakest at - reading and writing. We believe that at the end of the day, home should be a safe place where families can simply enjoy each other. We'd like to take the burden of academic struggles off parents. We know how to bring students with dyslexia up to grade level in reading and spelling - we're observing astounding progress in the students we tutor."

Adds Ms. Root: "We can't tell you how many times we hear parents say, 'I wish we hadn't wasted so much time hoping our child would grow out of their difficulties, then so much money trying the wrong kind of remediation."

"Students with dyslexia have been told they're lazy (myth) or that they'll catch up with age (myth) or that they're stupid (lie)," says Ms. Pike."Thetruth is, people with dyslexia have many gifts. They are our athletes, architects, and artists; they're successful business people, computer programmers, and fixers of just about anything. They have wonderful people skills. Dyslexia researcher Dr. Sally Shaywitz, in her book Overcoming Dyslexia, says that reading and spelling are 'an unexpected weakness in a sea of strengths.' Kathy and I work hard to make sure our students understand this about themselves as we bring them up to grade level in reading and writing."

Following are the warning signs of dyslexia:

In Preschool

· Delayed speech

· Mixing up sounds and syllables in long words ( aminal, pasghetti)

· Chronic ear infections

· Severe reactions to childhood illnesses

· Constant confusion of left versus right

· Late establishing a dominant hand

· Difficulty learning to tie shoes

· Trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet

· Can't create words that rhyme

· A close relative with dyslexia

In Elementary School

· Letter and number reversals continuing past the end of 1 st grade

· Dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)

· Extreme difficulty learning cursive

· Slow, choppy, inaccurate reading

-Guesses, based on shape or content

-Skips or misreads prepositions ( at, to, of)

-Ignores suffixes

- Can't sound out unknown words

· Very weak spelling

· Can't remember sight words

· Difficulty telling time on a clock with hands

· Trouble with math

-Memorizing multiplication facts

- Memorizing a sequence of steps

-Directionality

· When speaking, difficulty finding the correct word

-Lots of "whatyamacallits" and"thingies"

-Words or sayings come out slightly twisted ( recession for reception)

· Extremely messy bedroom, backpack, or desk

· Dreads going to school (stomach aches, nightmares)

In Elementary School

All of the previously mentioned symptoms, plus:

· Limited vocabulary

· Extremely poor written expression (large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions)

· Unable to master a foreign language

· Difficulty reading printed music

· Poor grades in many classes

· May drop out of high school

In Adults

Education history as described above, plus:

· Slow reader

· May have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it

· Poor speller

· Difficulty putting thoughts onto paper

· Still has difficulty with right versus left

· Often gets lost, even in a familiar city

· Sometimes confuses b and d, especially when tired or sick

To learn more about dyslexia, log onto www.dyslexia-rx.com or call (303) 741-9246. References are available.