My son’s exit report card for first grade showed straight 1’s in every subject (the lowest grade in our district). I started to focus more on one-on-reading with him that summer. I found that he couldn’t consistently read words such as “the, a, then, and, where, when, is and there.” I was devastated and so confused. I called the principal in June to talk to her about it. She told me that was typical and that I shouldn’t worry about it. She told me he would just “get it” one of these days. The reading specialist gave me the same answer, as did the school resource specialist.

Luckily, I shared my concerns with two friends who have older boys with dyslexia. They both told me individually that my son showed classic signs of dyslexia. One of my friends actually called to set up an appointment to have my son formally diagnosed without me knowing. I was nervous, my husband thought it cost too much money and it was a hassle to find childcare for my other four children. I am so grateful I followed through with the testing! He was diagnosed with severe dyslexia.

I toyed with the idea of doing the tutoring myself. I ordered the first level online. I sat through the training videos. Two of my other children were showing varying degrees of dyslexia, so I decided it would be a good investment. After long nights of trying to sit with each child individually, keep up with assigned homework, take care of my other two babies, I decided that I was only going to be saving around 25% of the cost by doing it myself. I also realized that I was not formally trained in this and if I got all the way done and had missed something, I wouldn’t have saved anything – including my child who needed the help desperately. This is when I found Nanci Ross.

I enrolled all three of my children. It turned out that one was not severe enough to require formal tutoring. My one daughter went to tutoring her kindergarten year once a week. My son was going twice a week. He was pulled out of school both times to go to tutoring. I hauled my other two babies there with me most of the time. It was not easy. My husband was unsure it was going to help at all. He himself is dyslexic and his argument was that “he made it and our son will too”. A few months into tutoring, my husband was helping our son with his “Nanci’s homework” and commented that our son could read better than he could when he graduated from high school. I was astounded.

I went to workshops. I read books. I labored with the principal and teachers about accommodations and testing that should be done for my son. Those discussions mostly fell on deaf ears, but I didn’t give up. Something inside knew that this was his problem and that we had found a tool that would truly give him the skills to move forward without forcing him to “hit a brick wall”.

Fast forward two plus years later. My son completed the Barton Reading Method! I am so proud of him! It has been so hard for him! He has balanced schoolwork with homework. He has put up with being pulled out of school to go to tutoring. He has given up precious time to play with friends. He has struggled with feelings of inadequacy. In the end, he is now entering the fifth grade with so much confidence. He will always have dyslexia. He was given this disability for a purpose, but Nanci has given him the tools to turn it into a strength!

Motherly advice: If you have been discouraged about the cost, time, or effort, I would not give up! This is a proven method to help your child. When people tell me all the other gimmicky things that claim to “fix” dyslexia, I just politely nod and know that for our family, Dyslexia Tutoring of Utah has not “fixed” my child, just given him wings! I now have the tools going forward to be his advocate. It will still require a huge effort on my part. My friend and I liken it to a child needing a wheelchair. If our sons needed a wheelchair, we wouldn’t get them a wagon instead – we’d get the wheelchair.

--Thank you.

"Our son has been going to Nanci Ross for one-on-one tutoring for almost four years now, and it was the best decision we have ever made. We believe that his math and reading skills, along with his confidence in himself have grown leaps and bounds. When we began tutoring with Nanci he was in 3rd grade but reading on a pre-primer reading level, he is now in 7th grade and reading at a solid 4th grade level. His learning abilities are improving everyday, and he is enjoying school so much more. Because of Nanci's teaching abilities and her years of experience and knowledge, she has made our son, despite his learning disabilities of ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dysgraphia, feel like he is at the "top of his game." To us as parents, this is the greatest success any child could recieve."

Leslee McKinnon

"Nanci Ross has been tutoring my son for the last year. I was devastated when I found out that we were going to have to move, and she would no longer be able to work with him. He has made more progress in the last year using the center's program, than he has in 4 years of Special Education. Nanci and her staff at Dyslexia Tutoring of Utah are very professional, and I would highly recommend them to anyone."

Heather Hunter

What a difference this last year had made for my daughter. She began tutoring at the Dyslexia Tutoring of Utah Center  one year ago, and raised her reading level 2 years. She no longer feels that she is "STUPID", and her self-esteem has grown so much.

Rebecca Anderson

I have a 8-year old daughter and started to take her to Dyslexia Tutoring of Utah approximately 1 year ago. The real payoff is in the self-knowledge and self-confidence that my daughter has gained. That knowledge and confidence will serve her throughout her life. My thanks goes to Carrie Ross, her tutor who has been terrific. I recommend these services to anyone that needs specialized tutoring for their child.

Nancy Christensen

My son was diagnosed wirh dyslexia during his last semester as a second grader. Jackson had attended private schools since preschool, and had received daily individualized reading help at school as well as at home. However, even with all this intervention, at the end of  second grade he was on a kindergarten reading level. As devastating as this was for us as parents, it was also incredibly difficult for a second grader. He wanted to learn, he loved school, he tried to do what his peers were doing, but it just didn't work for him.

This is the point in our lives where we met Nanci Ross. Nanci provided hope for a family that was in desperate need of hope. Jackson worked one-on-one with Nanci Ross for an hour every day during his third grade year. We then worked on the same program at home every day. By the end of his third grade year, Jackson was at a second grade reading level.

We made a decision to have him then work at another private school that specialized in reading. At the end of the fourth grade, we were still at the second grade reading level. We then realized that we had made a painful learning mistake. The program Nanci teaches is designed specifically for individuals with dyslexia. it is not interchangeable with other reading programs.

Jackson is currently in the 7th grade. He is again working extensively with Nanci and he is reading at a 5th grade level. He is making slow but steady progress. We won't be leaving Dyslexia Tutoring of Utah again!. Jackson and his parents are very aware that it is because of Nanci Ross that we all have hope in a bright future for Jackson.

There are not words to express our depth of gratitude and appreciation for her dedication, her intelligence, her patience, and her determination to educate all students, including our son!

JoEllen and Rand Kunz

Our daughter was having trouble reading in the first grade. We asked for help from teachers at her school, but was told that she was fine. We knew she was not, so the year before second grade we took her to a tutor for reading help for a year before we finally found Nanci Ross.

We feel so lucky to be referred to Nanci, by friends of my sister. Our daughter has now been properly diagnosed with dyslexia and she is receiving the help she so desperately needed. Nanci Ross and her staff are trained and skilled specialists who can test for dyslexia and give you answers to your questions. She has dedicated her life to helping children learn.

Ann Caldwell