MARTINTOWN, Ontario – ReadLS is a program developed by someone with dyslexia to help others living with dyslexia.
Created by the Poupart family, ReadLS targets key areas that those living with dyslexia tend to struggle with.
The 40 to 50-day program consisting of cognitive therapy, speed reading and reading exercises does not cure dyslexia, but rather strengthens parts of the brain that are key to reading by developing new connections and pathways. The program features gamified sessions which make learning not only productive, but also fun.
“From this perspective it is helpful for those who have struggled with other avenues such as tutoring,” said Erika Poupart, who did the graphic design for the program.
ReadLS was developed by Ingrid Poupart, who has over 30 years of experience in the education field along with her daughter Erika, who did the graphic design, and Chris, who did the programming.
Ingrid, herself lives with dyslexia as does her youngest daughter.
“The struggles were incredible,” she said. “You always felt stupid and never wanted to read.”
She explained that for those who struggle with reading, problem solving is something that comes naturally, and that is what she wanted to do with ReadLS, help solve the problem of dyslexia.
“If there is a problem presented to me, I will find a way to solve that problem,” she said.
Ingrid explained how even in high school, she would come up with creative ways to deal with her dyslexia, including organizing a strike in Grade 10 in support of teachers, but also to avoid having to read in front of her class.
Ingrid recalled how in her first job at a record company how she would be praised by her employer for bringing work home with her, but in truth, she was bringing work home with her so her husband could read it to her.
“I thought that if you were born with dyslexia, it was something you were stuck with,” Ingrid said.
She started searching for solutions when her youngest daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia as well. Ingrid explained that she worked with professionals to create ReadLS, whichpulls from various different strategies and programs to provide a one-stop shop for dyslexia therapy, with the goal of the program being accessibility.
“I didn’t want any aspect of the program to make any user feel like a failure,” she said.
The program has found hundreds of users in countries like Canada, the United States, Brazil, Australia, and South Africa with pending approval in Norway and Kuwait.
For more about the ReadLS program or to become a content provider, please visit their website at lsworks.org
