A Family History of Dyslexia: The Susca Family
A family history of dyslexia led Sam Susca to have her children, Daniel and Reagan, tested for the learning difference. When medical professionals confirmed the diagnosis, Sam immediately called Swift School.
Despite the diagnosis, she knew she had smart children who simply needed the remediation and instruction that Swift School provides.
“I don’t think I was aware of what to look for early on,” Sam said. “I knew both kids were never the best spellers. Daniel always struggled with independent writing, and Reagan would mix up her sounds. However, both kids were always very bright, read on or above grade level, and had extensive vocabularies.”
After her children received a diagnosis of dyslexia and dysgraphia, Sam and her husband enrolled them at Swift School. When they walked inside Swift School’s campus off Grimes Bridge Road in Roswell, Ga., she and her husband saw a transformation almost immediately.
The Susca Family at the 2021 Dyslexia Dash
“I would say we saw a transformation almost immediately, certainly in the first few months. For starters, they began to like school. They hated when I picked them up on time. I remember them telling me that I couldn’t come earlier than 15 minutes late because they wanted to stay longer.”
-Sam Susca
While the social environment changed, the same could be said for the academics since Daniel and Reagan received instruction using methods geared toward the right-brained individual.
“They went from struggling, being discouraged, and feeling “stupid”, to things finally “clicking” for them, feeling empowered and supported,” stated Sam.
A staple of Swift School is the Orton-Gillingham Approach and the teaching of executive functioning skills. Sam noticed both played a vital role in the academic transformation of her children and instilled confidence and joy within them.
“The environment alone nurtured the executive functioning skills that they lacked,” the proud mother said. “The introduction of OG [Orton Gillingham] immediately broke down and identified their phonetic struggles, and the use of multi-sensory tools made it fun and successful for them. They loved being at a school where they were not the only ones who struggled with spelling and reading.”
How did Sam know that Daniel and Reagan loved going to Swift School and spending time with like-minded right-brained students and Orton-Gillingham certified teachers? They did something most students would never do – ask for more homework.
Sam credited the faculty and staff at Swift School for transforming Daniel and Reagan’s educational experience. Swift's teachers constantly discuss self-advocacy, and her children learned how to self-advocate thanks to multiple nurturing and supportive faculty members.
According to Sam, Daniel and Reagan’s Swift School experience was “transformational” and "empowering” as they received the necessary remediation and gained the skills to succeed as learners.
Her message for families at Swift School and those considering Swift School after learning of their child’s diagnosis is simple and powerful: “Not all dyslexics learn the same, and every child is on their unique learning path. What clicks very quickly for one student may take longer for another. Having patience and commitment to their learning process can be difficult but essential. Wherever their dyslexic struggle is, the tools and methods employed at Swift, along with the dedicated and supportive staff, create a winning environment. My children became more confident in their abilities, more self-aware, and are better advocates for themselves.”
Swift School’s mission is to prepare students with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences to be successful in life. Success with dyslexia starts here. Want your child to have a transforming educational experience? Inquire today by emailing admissionassociate@theswiftschool.org or click below to visit the admissions page.