The Method : Discover the Davis® Difference
A research-based, internationally recogn
ized approach that, in just 5-8 days, equips you or your child with transformative tools to manage challenges faced by neurodivergent learners.
This method was created by Ron Davis, who is both autistic and severely dyslexic, and was not able to read until the age of 38. The method is rooted in his own personal journey of “correcting” his dyslexia symptoms. At 38, Ron made a brilliant discovery—he learned how to stabilize his perceptions, allowing him to read an entire book in just one day. Inspired by his success and a strong desire to help others, he went on to develop a set of mental techniques specifically tailored for neurodivergent thinkers. These techniques harness the unique strengths of the neurodivergent learners, giving them tools to control their perceptions and mental states. The Davis® Method has since transformed the lives of thousands of individuals and their families worldwide. It is now practiced in over 40 countries with remarkable success.
Read more about Ron Davis at theory-davis-methods
The Tools: Once You Discover the Davis® Difference, You Won't Want to Learn Any Other Way.
Davis Orientation® Counseling – a foundational element of the Davis® method and all Davis® programs. This mental technique, enables you to recognize when you are experiencing mental disorientation and allows you to regain orientation and focus. Being able to return your mind to a focused state is essential to accurately perceive 2 dimensional symbols such as letters, words and numerals.
Koosh Balls – The Kooshball exercise is designed to help neurodivergent individuals improve orientation and enhance brain function by promoting midline crossing. This movement strengthens the connection between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, improving coordination and visual processing speed, important for eye tracking and the brain’s ability to process visual input efficiently. Since reading and writing rely on smooth left-to-right eye tracking and efficient communication between brain hemispheres, developing midline crossing skills plays a key role in building these abilities. It’s a fun and engaging way to support cognitive development and strengthen the neural pathways involved in learning.
Davis Symbol Mastery® – a visual-spatial process that builds basic literacy skills. It helps to eliminate triggers which cause confusion and disorientation. Sight words, which frequently appear in text, are common triggers for dyslexia symptoms, because they lack visual images (we call these trigger words). With symbol mastery, you will create three-dimensional clay models of the meaning of the trigger words, so you can form your own visual images and truly master the meaning of these words. Think of it as translating 2 dimensional symbols into pictures so they are easier for you to think with. This simple but effective process eliminates all future confusion around these words and eliminates perceptual distortions. Furthermore, using this multi-sensory way of learning, provides the brain with more pathways to retrieve the same information, supporting working memory and retention.
Davis Concept Mastery – the clay modeling process used for Symbol Mastery is also used to model foundational life concepts. Exploring and integrating key concepts such as self, change, consequence, before vs after, cause vs effect, order vs disorder, time, and sequence significantly enhances executive function skills and various aspects of life for individuals with ADHD and dyscalculia. For them, these concepts are often distorted or not well understood due to frequent disorientations. This element of the program is a crucial component of both the Davis® Mastery for Attention and Davis® Mastery for Math program, yielding truly transformative results.
Dial Setting– a self-regulation tool that puts you in control of your energy level, allowing you to adjust it to best match each task. This makes it easier to stay focused, maintain attention, and enjoy more harmonious social interactions.
Release– a relaxation technique that helps your mind reset to a calm, focused state by releasing built-up tension and stress. This practice enhances focus and fosters an internal environment conducive to learning.
Reading and writing exercises – Designed specifically for non-verbal learners, these powerful exercises help remove the roadblocks that interfere with reading, spelling, and handwriting development, allowing learning to happen naturally and with confidence.
Organizational Skills & Establishing Order – these activities guide individuals in developing essential organizational strategies, helping them create structure and establish order in their daily lives. By working with their natural strengths, these activities enhance time management, sequencing, and task completion.
Recognizing and Changing Unwanted Behaviors – Through engaging clay activities, individuals gain the insight to identify and shift behaviors that may be holding them back. These activities foster self-awareness and provide practical strategies for making positive and lasting changes.
Why You Will Love It
What Makes It Different
LIFE SKILLS BUILDING PROGRAM
Davis® programs equip neurodivergent learners with unique tools necessary to master foundational life concepts, as well as literacy and numeracy skills. Among the Davis® tools are mind orientation, symbol mastery, concept mastery, and self-regulation. These tools are essential for managing disorientations, increasing focus, reducing stress, and improving independence in learning and other everyday life tasks such as sequencing and time management.
NO PHONICS
There is no phonics instruction in any of the Davis® programs. Visual learners struggle with processing speech sounds (phonemes), so phonics based instruction feels unnatural and progress is often very slow. There are also those who do not respond to phonics at all. Additionally, dyslexia impacts a wide range of cognitive functions beyond reading. It may affect memory, coordination, sequencing, time management, and organizational skills. Addressing these challenges requires strategies that go beyond reading instruction.
MASTERY PROGRAM
The Davis® method takes a multi-sensory approach that focuses on a visual understanding of concepts and symbols, and mastering the underlying meaning behind what is being learned, rather than memorization of facts or procedures. This works exceptionally well for visual and kinesthetic learners because it aligns with their natural way of thinking and seeing the big picture first. By engaging multiple senses and connecting ideas in a meaningful way, this process helps to eliminate future triggers for dyslexia symptoms.
NO REPETITION OR MEMORIZATION
Individuals with dyslexia often struggle to retain information they don’t understand. Relying on repetition drills and memorization yields poor results and leaves gaps in comprehension. When being told to simply try harder or repeat tasks, dyslexic individuals develop compensatory strategies, which further exacerbate learning difficulties. Dyslexic individuals learn most effectively through visual representations that convey the meaning of what they are learning.
“The key to success for dyslexic individuals is not to teach them to read and write the way others do, but to help them discover their own unique strengths and learning styles.” – Ron Davis