- by a PACE Parent

When we first met with Ross and Lisa about PACE, we were a family in crisis.

My relationship with my eight-year-old son Adam (name has been changed to protect the child’s privacy) has always been rocky, but his performance in school and homework issues had become a source of daily battles. We knew Grade 4 would be even more challenging than Grade 3 and that we needed help.

At such a young age, Adam was already having a difficult time at school. He was easily angered and frustrated. He took out his aggression on us. Our home was not as happy as it could be. I had given up, my husband had given up, and Adam had given up.

We’d tried counselling and moved Adam into a private school but nothing so far had helped. My husband Steve and I were very sceptical that PACE could help us and we were further put off with the high price tag. However, we did know Ross and Lisa from church and so we had some degree of trust in them. We were desperate and decided to give PACE a try.

Adam loved going to PACE but the home training portion was very difficult on he and I. I broke down in Ross and Lisa’s office on more than one occasion. But they advised us on methods and taught me how to encourage my son.

We went to Accomplished Learning Centre’s summer video series and watched Richard Lavoie’s, “How Difficult Can This Be?” The video opened our eyes to what our son was experiencing. This new awareness enabled me to be more loving, more supportive, more patient. And Adam responded. Home training improved.

Adam finished PACE in July and has been in Grade 4 for two months. He now loves school and has started to get good grades. He’s reading better; his attention is better. He loves math. He loves science. He loves French. He loves Language Arts. He loves swimming and biking and playing guitar and playing with friends and playing alone. He used to be rather sullen and moody but now he is enthusiastic, excited, and passionate about life.

He’s a different boy. He’s come miles and miles. He just sits down and does his work. He doesn’t freak out any more.

His teacher has read Adam’s file and spoken with his Grade 3 teacher, the learning support staff, and myself regarding his previous school years. She told me, “That is not the boy I see.”

A few weeks ago, Adam brought home a paper he had done at school. I did not recognize the printing and asked whose it was. It was his! It is small, neat, and looks like an adult did it. What a change!

Now, we frequently must tell him to stop reading, turn out his light, and go to sleep! Before PACE, Adam hated reading.

Adam now says:

• “I can do it myself” vs. “Help me.”
• “This is easy” vs. “It’s too hard.”
• “I know how to do it” vs. “I can’t do it.”
• “I love school” vs. “I hate school.”

He’s happy. There’s less whining, crying, complaining, demanding, fighting, and tantrums. He’s content with himself.

Another benefit of PACE is that Adam’s creative side is really starting to come out. His teacher is noticing how unique he is at expressing himself in writing, drawing, play, and on projects. At recess, Adam and several classmates go “jam” in the music room. They compose their own songs and play them for the class.

Whereas before when asked about his day, he’d just say “fine” or grunt, now he talks—elaborating on details. He is eager to share what he learned, what he is going to learn, and his experiences of the day. He communicates and is open about his thoughts and ideas.

He’s really smart! He wants to talk to me and I can now listen. I didn’t listen before. Though it was hard work, PACE’s home training taught me how to really listen to my kid, to understand his needs, and to love him for who he is.

It had to be PACE. Over the summer we did nothing else. There is nothing else that occurred in his life to cause these dramatic changes. Adam is now a wonderful son and student, and I am a better mother. PACE changed our entire family dynamic.

It’s great that Adam is doing well in school but even more important is the fact that we are now a happy family! PACE did that for us.

If you’ve been thinking about PACE for your child but are hesitant because of the cost or you are uncertain that it will work for your child, I would love to speak with you. Please call Accomplished Learning Centre and ask for my phone number.

Samonas Auditory Intervention

In October, Ross and Lisa went to New York City for Samonas Auditory Intervention training.

This program now enables them to work with younger children (5 to 7 years of age), kids with ADHD or autism who lack the attention skills necessary for PACE, and children with auditory processing disorders and/or sensory integration dysfunction. Accomplished Learning Centre can now help kids they’ve had to decline in the past, or for whom they could not offer a guarantee of success.

Samonas is considerably less expensive and requires significantly less parental involvement in the home training aspect compared with PACE.

Parents of children who’ve already been tested for PACE and had low auditory analysis skills are encouraged to call Accomplished Learning Centre for a listening checklist to see if Samonas is right for their child.

E-mails from PACE Parents

Ross and Lisa,

Thought we’d let you know that for the first time in Nick’s 10 years, he READ a book out loud for 25 minutes. He was just beaming and wouldn’t stop reading. He now wants to make this a nightly habit! In the past, he was only able to read for 5 minutes before frustration forced him to stop. (Note: Nick is only halfway through the 12-week PACE program.)

- Alyson and Mike C.

Lisa and Ross,

I would just like to take this time to thank you so much for all your hard work and what the PACE training has done for our family.

You both got to know our son very well over his three months of training and I was amazed by the genuine concern and love that you both displayed so naturally. You took the time to get to really understand him and always saw all his positives and potential. He loved coming to see you both for training and always left with a huge smile on his face.

Thank you for always being there when we were having our doubts. Your availability and words of encouragement helped my husband and I through the training and to finally understand our son’s needs. Not only were you our son’s trainers in PACE but you also developed a very special friendship with him.

We thank you for all your support, all your encouragement, all your understanding and most of all your integrity and love. You are an extremely professional couple that has been blessed with the gift to understand children, to lift their little spirits up, to show them how to succeed and feel good about themselves, to set them free from their challenges and allow them to celebrate life again.

GOD BLESS you both and remember just stay as you are and keep on doing what you are doing!

- Carol K.

Richard Lavoie – LIVE! Info: www.sd34.bc.ca

Dec. 1: The Impact of Learning Disabilities on the Family – An Evening for Parents and Professionals. Info/Registration: (604) 599-5341.

Dec. 2: A Dozen Strategies That Don’t Work for Kids with LD and a Dozen That Do – Surrey School District Focus Day Conference. Info/Registration: (604) 590?2255. (Open to out-of-district teachers and parents.)