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Facts and Questions
Pertaining to DYSLEXIA!
The Freemasons of Louisiana are proud to introduce
you to our new primary philanthropy. In the year 1998
we adopted the Dyslexia Training Program which is a
Grand Lodge Program conducted on a cooperative basis
with the local Constituent Lodges. The Grand Lodge agency
with primary responsibility for the program is the Masonic
Learning Center of Louisiana and its board of trustees.
Approximately ten [10%] per cent of our children are
affected by dyslexia to such an extent as to require
attention beyond that which is afforded in a normal
classroom situation.
For purposes of the Dyslexia Training Program the Board
defines "dyslexia" as a learning disorder in persons
who are intelligent, who suffer from no other physical,
emotional, psychological or psychiatric conditions which
act as an impediment to learning but who, nevertheless,
are unable to learn to read, write, spell and comprehend
the language as expected from exposure to a normal classroom
experience.
The Dyslexia Training Program presents a multi-sensory
program of instruction which emphasizes phonics and
is taught by a teacher/facilitator to classes of limited
size using a number of teaching aids including video-tapes,
workbooks, writing frames, linkage paper, three-dimensional
letters, flash cards, wall charts, dictionaries and
other items. The material is presented in cursive writing.
The program consists of 350 hours of classroom time
which is conducted one [1] hour per day, five [5] days
per week excluding holidays.
In order that the students may all be age-appropriate,
be familiar with cursive writing and comply with the
elements of the disorder, we accept only those children
who are in grades 4, 5, or 6, who have not yet attained
the age of thirteen years, who are free of other impeding
conditions and who have a full-scale I.Q. of at least
90 as determined by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale
for Children, Third Edition.
The prospective students are screened by the Board
or its designee in an effort to eliminate those children
who obviously will not qualify. Those students who are
accepted, after screening, are examined by a qualified
psychologist. Final acceptance depends, in part, upon
the results of that examination.
Our classes are conducted by a teacher/facilitator
who is certified to teach in Louisiana. The classes
are held in different physical facilities. Some classrooms
are situated in a Masonic Lodge Hall, some are conducted
in space which has been provided for that purpose by
a church, school or other entity.
No charges are assessed to the student or the parent/guardian
for the training given the student. If, however, a parent
or other interested person or group wishes to make a
contribution, of whatever size, to the tax-exempt charity,
such donations are gladly accepted and applied to the
promotion of this undertaking.
The testimonials received from parents, teachers and
others concerning the progress of the students enrolled
in the Dyslexia Training Program have been most gratifying.
For further information call the Masonic Learning Center
of Louisiana at: [318] 487-4986 or [318]443-5610 or
you may email to the Grand
Lodge Office.
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