Deirdre Adult Dyscalculia, Edinburgh, Sept 2014, continued:

Progress Report

• Can tackle more complex counting tasks than at the beginning 
• Better at the memory game
• Able to read aloud, with intonation and smooth pace
• Confident in my coordination
• Less afraid or stressed by making mistakes 
• Enjoy the challenge of using my left -hand (!) (Non-dominant hand)
• Implementing 'estimating' as a technique in daily life now

Discoveries

• That I can be determined! And committed
• That I can use my left-hand
• I can concentrate and enjoy a 20 minutes walk and quiet my mind for that period 
• That I would find myself willing (and able) for having a go (no teenage, childlike tantrums!) and push myself out-with the sessions - e.g. with timetables (a particular miracle!)
• My reading aloud wasn't initially as good as I hoped it might be, but that has improved.
• I could navigate the route down to the Borders in the car with confidence, after the first couple of trips where I'd worry about getting lost - even just with getting out of Edinburgh
• That I've been so up for telling others about it - evangelical even!
• Case studies show that I'm not alone in gaining benefit from a new perspective re-tackling challenges around numbers at a later stage in life, which is inspiring and comforting

Aspirations

Feel very confident of there being continuing progress.

1. Want to keep pushing myself to try - use it or lose it. Primed to undertake the online '10 ticks' child's maths programme (with 'teacher' assistance from my Dad) 
2. Not to be intimidated by price negotiations and budget setting at work
3. Take stock and review career goals with a fresh assessment of my capabilities, what I enjoy and where my strengths lie (maybe not as inappropriate for a sales role as once thought?!)
4. Relax and feel proud of myself!
5. Motivate others if I can (e.g. my colleague suffers much the same difficulties)

Summary

• Moving beyond having 'dyscalculia' as a private pet theory by having confirmation that this does exist as a learning difficulty, has helped me recognise, release and 'let go' associations laid down in childhood of failure, shame, about being stupid and doubting my competence in other things. This has given me a new lease of confidence with which to consider my professional life, goals and day-to-day living.
• My enjoyment of the course has caused me to become fairly evangelical about it, thus sharing what was previously my 'guilty secret' with others. This has resulted in support from all concerned, as well as surprise from some that I struggled in the areas that I do - feeding back into confidence that this doesn't make me hopeless at everything and I am not visibly 'branded' in the way I perceived. Massive turnaround from the embarrassment and acute self-consciousness I'd always carried with me.
• Feel up for the challenge of taking the tools and platform I now have 'out on the road' to see what I can achieve and tackle going forward
• Whilst making me feel able of more, the process has also helped me be accepting of what I can't do (e.g. draw!) without that damaging my self-esteem - everyone has different strengths! The process has helped me see that to a large extent even the maths problems I have are quite specific, so other knowledge and ability can be used to help overcome the 'blockages'.
• I am learning to be kinder with myself, in terms of avoiding applying unnecessary pressures on getting to the answer quickly (a work in progress!). The results demonstrated during sessions show how stressing has a negative impact, which serves as a reminder to relax - and speak upon for myself when necessary to get others to give me the necessary time. (Also feel I have developed a thicker skin in this respect)
• I feel positive about the future and continued learning - having slain a demon! Much calmer and less 'busy' mind in terms of worries. Feel more able to take things in my stride
• Really does feel like it's never too late, having gone through the course as an adult learner
• More disposed now to view things in terms of what I can do, vs what I can't
• I wasn't imagining my problems
• Had fun
• Built confidence (or grown in...)
• Been committed
• Felt improvement
• Would recommend highly!"

Edinburgh Mum, 12 year old, dyslexia, September 2008

Hi Karen

Before starting with the Raviv Method my 11 year old daughter Aly struggled with reading and spelling. She also lacked any organisational skills. Always forgetting or leaving things to the last minute. With senior school looming I began to worry how she would cope.
After six months of figure of eight walks and one on ones with Karen, she is now into her fifth week of Senior One. My husband and I are amazed at her maturity, understanding of what has to be done and more importantly how to address it. She now believes in herself and knows she is capable. Before, we felt that she had given up, why bother, because "I can't do it."
Now with full marks in one test and a commendation for ENGLISH homework!!
We have a confident, happy 12 year old.

Further feedback from Mum: "Thought you'd like to know Aly got her report card today: 5 A's, 5 B's & 2 C's. C's were music & ICT. We're really delighted!"
(Jacqui, 18th December 2008)

“You’ve given me a life, in the way I never had before.” Glasgow, Nicola, 27 year-old, Dyscalculia, Asperger's

Murray 15 year old dyslexia, Edinburgh, March 2010

Dear Karen

Just wanted to say thanks for taking me through the Raviv programme. Here is my testimonial about my experience on the Raviv programme:

At the start of the Raviv programme I was not really very sure what I was letting myself in for and what changes it was going to make. Since I wasn't very sure about the programme I wasn't very enthusiastic to do the 20 minute walk everyday and the breathing exercises.

I was encouraged and reminded to do this for the first week or two but then it just turned into my daily routine. I did a little research about what the whole Raviv programme was about. It looked quite impressive - some of the results came out after completing the programme. This made me realise I needed to do it myself. I thought it might help me to improve my grades in the long run which is my goal at the moment, seeing as I am just about to do some rather important examinations that will effect my future.

Now knowing the background and some success stories, it inspired me to complete the course. Throughout the programme I had a few minor set backs from rugby injuries but I carried on after I recovered. You can fit it into a busy schedule if you really want to.

I have just finished the programme and already I am seeing improvements in my confidence, my reading and most importantly my attitude towards revising and learning. I find doing the eight walk useful when I do revision. This helps me in a number of ways. It helps me relax and take a break from studying. It also helps me to focus on key pieces of information I want to take in for various subjects and more importantly, retain the information which was a real challenge for me.

I have enjoyed working with Karen. The weekly sessions with her helped keep me on track throughout the programme. Karen giving me feedback on my progress helped me confirm some of the changes I could see myself.

Because of the benefits I've seen in myself and feedback from Karen, I have chosen to continue with the walk right up until I complete my exams. Murray

Lewis 10 year-old dyspraxia, Milnathort, July 2010

This testimonial is written about 10 year old Lewis' experience on the Raviv programme by his Dad:

PRE - RAVIV

READING:

• General difficulties with reading meant that Lewis was not keen to read
• He was reluctant to read and was generally disinterested in books
• His reading style was often slow or awkward - his school reading comments usually stated 'is struggling'
• All of the above led to a lack of confidence in tackling the written word
• Lewis lacked fluency and pronunciation

WRITING:

• Lewis also found writing a challenge particularly with regard to his interpretation or recognition of words or letters
• His writing style was inconsistent (e.g. sizing and spacing of words)
• He would write words back to front e.g. the letter 'p'
• He would often miss out words when copying

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY/CO-ORDINATION:

• Lacked some co-ordination

POST RAVIV

We were delighted with Lewis' overall development as a result of following the Raviv programme. His reading and writing abilities have improved significantly.

His confidence has been boosted greatly.

The enhancement in these skills give him an excellent platform on which to improve his skills, build his confidence further and unleash his potential.

Before Raviv he could have been a contender - now, following it, he is.

KEY IMPROVEMENTS

READING:

• Greater fluency
• Good pronunciation
• Will happily tackle difficult or new words now
• Will sound out words if he is not sure of them
• Concentration and focus have improved significantly
• Spelling words out loud is much easier for Lewis - as represented by his higher spelling test scores
• He is confident in his reading and appears to enjoy it
• When carrying out his reading exercises (e.g. five pages) he now often just carries on reading the story - he no longer sees it as a chore but as a pleasure. He is both involved and engaged in his reading.
• To reflect this further - I recently caught him staying up late in his bed - I thought he was playing his PSP game as usual, but instead to my delight, I discovered he was reading a book!
• His recent school report shows a good consistent improvement in key lessons

WRITING:

• Consistent style
• Words no longer written back to front

CO-ORDINATION:

• Much improved
• Better balance
• Faster at running
• Moved up a level at swimming (had been stuck on the same level for a while)
• Swimming teacher advised he was concentrating better

Melanie 21 year-old, dyscalculia, Kelso, August 2008

My Experience - The Raviv Method
As a child I was classed as a "daydreamer" and "stupid". My teachers at the time didn't know that I had Dyscalculia. I couldn't see numbers at all and numbers appeared to me as Arabic writing. For the duration of Primary School my parents tried numerous ways to help me cope with the maths work that kept being sent home with me.
I would sit for hours making no progress. At the time, no one had heard of Dyscalculia and my parents didn't have a name to put to what hindered my progress through school.
I was eventually given help when I started High School. The help given was for Dyslexia, from which I also suffered slightly. I was given no help with the subject I desperately needed help with, Maths.
The year I left school, I failed my Maths exam and the little confidence I had, shattered.
I started college at fifteen and attended four years of Administration, feeling that my life was on a continuous downwards spiral. I learned little and gained almost nothing.
I left in my fourth year in 2006 at the age of nineteen, and passed my driving test the following June. I began working with my parents in the office of their business. I struggled to deal with the lack of confidence I had in myself and also in my ability with Maths. I had hit lower than rock bottom.
My Mum saw a flier for the Raviv Method in February 2008. I had a meeting with Karen and started the programme the following week.
I can say that the past six months have been the best in my life. I have changed more than I ever expected to and it has been a journey I have loved each second of.
The experience has changed my whole outlook on life.
My reading ability has dramatically improved - I was able to read six hundred pages in four days, something I had never been capable of achieving
My confidence is higher than anything I could possibly describe
I can see numbers and can understand how to use them
My driving and coordination have improved immensely
My breathing is stronger
I no longer dislike the left side of my body and found that I am ambidextrous
I am able to remember things clearly - pictures, writing and conversations
I enjoyed doing my Eight-Path Walk each morning as it set me up for the day and helped me relax into my routine. It helped me put into place everything I had floating around in my mind. It is amazing how something so simple can make such a drastic improvement to a life that was believed to never be able to change or amount to anything.
I am now twenty-one, and I am starting to see and feel things for the first time in my life. I have been brought to the fore-ground of my own life to experience everything for myself, instead of hiding in the background, afraid that I will fail because of the past experiences I have had, which I have laid to rest in the past and am now looking forward to living my life brightly and as loudly as I can thanks to Karen and the Raviv Method.

Mum's Testimonial
My son was diagnosed with severe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when he was 6 years old.
He has always been a very highly active boy, with very poor concentration and as a result struggled at school.
Despite being very bright and being assessed by an Educational Psychologist as having an IQ of 130, his academic achievement was poor. He particularly struggled to write and by the time we began to see Karen, although he was just starting primary seven his handwriting was still very immature in comparison to his peers and he struggled to maintain his concentration on many tasks. In particular, he rarely finished his work and often was sent home with additional work which was a nightmare at home, as he hated homework and there would be regular battles which would end in tears.
Since attending Karen's one to ones and doing his figure of eight walk every morning, the difference has been immense. His attitude to school, homework and life in general has drastically changed! He is so much more positive about school and his work and life in general. He is a much happier child who genuinely loves life which has changed our families life.
He no longer sees school as a dreadful chore and the tears and tantrums have gone over homework!
One of the amazing things is that he now organises himself to do his homework without being asked!!
His teacher (who he also had the previous year) has noticed such an improvement in his attitude and his ability to concentrate. He now finishes his work all the time!
His achievements in the past few months have been great!
He came second place in a Burns poetry competition (he learned the poem so easily!), in his whole year group, he has represented his school at a conference, received a number of head teachers awards (first year ever!) and now genuinely enjoys school.
I can't recommend Raviv enough.
My son is now reaching his potential and the time and money spent on Raviv has been worth every minute and penny that it cost.
It has been a true investment in my son's future.
Hawick Mum, 11 year-old, ADHD, May 2009