$11,514 raised by 114 donors
23% complete
$50,000 Goal
Dyslexia is a condition that affects an individual's language skills, including how they process speech sounds, read, spell, write, and communicate. It is estimated to affect between 10-20% of the population and can vary in severity. Many individuals who struggle to learn to read and spell are very intelligent and have strengths in other areas, but feel discouragement and even shame when learning is so challenging. Academic failure is the number one reason students drop out of high school, and dyslexia is a treatable condition that can be overcome with scientifically-based, structured literacy practices, and all children can learn using this method.
The Children’s Dyslexia Center of Lancaster (CDCL) offers free tutoring for children with a dyslexic profile and also offers free training for adults to become certified dyslexia practitioners using an Orton-Gillingham approach, a cause they have been committed to since 2002. In that time, the CDCL has remediated the reading and written language skills of 280 children and trained 90 tutors. The CDCL tutors children regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status, or religious affiliation. Children attend one-on-one tutoring sessions for 2-years, and in addition to learning to become successful readers and spellers, find new confidence as learners.
Take it from our students . . . at her graduation speech, Maya, age 11, said, "Coming to the dyslexia center helped me be a better student. Also my tutors helped me be a better reader and better speller. Now reading is not that hard to do. Also I like to read more books." And a letter from James after graduating from the center reads, "In the first year, I was not a fan of reading. I struggled with every other word, and half of the words I thought I knew were wrong. In the second year, I could read relatively slowly. By the end of year two I had finished all of the Harry Potter books . . . in my last year, I could, and still can, read really fast with few errors, my tutor had to tell me to slow down often. During one month of year three, I burned through the building's entire personal library . . . being able to read has given me my favorite hobby, which is, of course, reading." James's letter also shared he was enrolled in honors English and Literature and that he's doing "exceptionally well in school."
For over two decades, the Scottish Rite Masons, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, have been national leaders in the effort to help children overcome the painful obstacles of dyslexia. However, with the loss of a major fundraiser and rising costs, the CDCL needs your help more than ever to continue offering free tutoring to children who need help overcoming these learning difficulties. Help us reach our goal of $50,000 in this year's Extra Give so we continue offering this valuable service to children for another 20 years, and more. The gift of reading is one that lasts a lifetime, and your donation will help us reach as many students as possible, because every child deserves the opportunity to learn how to read.
The Children's Dyslexia Center of Lancaster is a dedicated organization of people who believe every child should have access to high quality reading and writing instruction. Our mission is to provide high-quality, multisensory tutorial services for children with dyslexia, to promote education and awareness about dyslexia, and to support research for improving dyslexia standards and care.
Organization name
Children's Dyslexia Center of Lancaster
other names
CDC of Lancaster, CDCL
Budget Size
$1-$999,999
Causes
Education, Youth
Address
46 W CottageLancaster County, PA, US
Lancaster, PA, US
Millersville, PA, US
York County, PA, US
Lebanon County, PA, US