HALIFAX – A Dartmouth organization hopes an expansion can help it better serve the needs of children with dyslexia.
The Dyslexia Learning Centre held an open house Saturday to kick off the new school year and showcase the addition of two new tutoring rooms – increasing the number of rooms from eight to 10.
JJ Melanson, 8, and his family attended the open house. The Grade 4 student has dyslexia and recently started receiving tutoring at the centre.
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that makes it difficult to read, write and spell.
JJ said reading used to be intimidating.
“I can’t understand what the words say,” he said. “It gets tricky.”
But after a few months at the centre, JJ is gaining more confidence and said he isn’t as scared of reading.
” I hope I’ll be able to read more chapter books,” he said.
His father Brian Melanson said the family is excited JJ has a place to turn to for the next few years to get support and tutoring.
“He likes reading now a little bit more and I think that will grow,” he said.
“He’s feeling more confident in his ability to go forward with some strategies in his reading.”
Former student Heather Armstrong said the work being done at the centre is life-changing.
Armstrong said she was reading and writing at a primary grade level when she was in Grade 6. But after three years at the centre, she was on the honour roll and the principal’s list throughout junior high and high school.
Now Armstrong is a second-year student at Mount Saint Vincent University.
She said the skills she learned at the centre gave her the tools and methods to succeed in school.
“I’ve seen kids coming in who are scared and they shrink in on themselves,” she said.
“By the time they leave, they’re just like butterflies. They expand. They believe in themselves.”
Director Thelma Gregan said the centre is completely run by volunteers. She adds that the recent expansion cost $15,000 and that the money came from donations and sponsors.
The centre opened in 2006 and started with seven children. Since then, it has expanded to 46 children and has an ever-growing waiting list. There is hope the new additions will ease the wait.
“It gives us a little cushion to grow a little bit more, to continue to welcome children and their families to the program,” Gregan said.
Brian Melanson said the work the centre does is invaluable for his son and said it fills him with a mix of emotions.
“It’s a relief. It’s an excitement. JJ is going to have the support he’s going to need to give him the confidence and the ability to do well in school and feel good about his learning,” he said.
“Personally and for the family, it means the world.”
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