Lisa and Ross Pearson share a common goal: to see the end of learning disabilities in their lifetime. Learning disabilities (including Dyslexia and ADHD) and learning challenges do not need to exist because the lacking cognitive skills can be trained. Having worked with learning disabled/challenged adults and children, Lisa and Ross have learned first-hand what a person’s life can be like when he or she struggles with learning.
For children
it results in a lack of self-esteem and the inability to gain the knowledge that is the primary purpose of going to school. It frequently causes friction within the family when the child does not complete homework and fights about going to school. Children usually either withdraw or rebel in response to the constant pressure placed upon them, both at home and in school.
As an adult, it means an inability to succeed in occupational training programs resulting in a life of dead-end jobs. For many adults learning challenges result in an inability to learn new skills in college or on-the-job. They are more challenged when responding to an ever-changing job market and so are frequently under-employed.
Statistics show a strong link between learning disabilities and drug/alcohol dependency, criminal activity, and unemployment. Many states use elementary and high school reading scores to predict future prison populations. It doesn’t have to be like this! Learning abilities can be trained. If you are reading this as the parent of a student who struggles with learning, hopefully you will take the steps necessary to change your child’s future.
Accomplished Learning Centre offers a variety of programs. Because of this, Lisa and Ross are able to provide the child with the most suitable program. This involves considering weaknesses, strengths, personality, family situation, location, family finances, time constraints, etc.
Ross and Lisa are certified in Fast ForWord; Reading Assistant; The Listening Program (TLP); PACE (Processing and Cognitive Enhancement) and MTC (Master the Code); Samonas Auditory Intervention; Interactive Metronome and IM-Home; and Belgau Learning Breakthrough Program (Balametrics). They have both taken the Fundamentals of Dyslexia Correction through Davis Dyslexia International. Lisa is an Advanced Trainer in SOI (Structure of Intellect) and is trained and experienced in ESI (Educational Sensory Integration) and Discover Math. Ross is certified in Integrated Listening Systems (ILS).
Although most of the students who attend Accomplished Learning Centre are just struggling, some have more serious conditions: ADHD and ADD, Anxiety Disorders, Asperger’s Syndrome, Attachment Disorder, Auditory Processing Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Brain Injury (TBI and ABI), Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), Cerebral Palsy, Cognitive Disorder NOS, Disorder of Written Expression, Down Syndrome, Dyslexia, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X, Gifted ADHD, Gifted Learning Disabled, Language Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Mathematics Disorder, Mild Intellectual Disabilities, Neuro-Cognitive Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, PDD-NOS, Proprioceptive Dysfunction, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Sensory Processing Disorder, Tourette Syndrome, Speech and Language Disabilities, XYY Syndrome.
Lisa was nominated for the 2006 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. Her personal story was featured on CBC Venture and in a CTV National News Biography. She was a cover story in Business in Vancouver magazine. She is a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation, is listed in the Canadian Who’s Who, and is a member of Mensa.
Ross received the Scouts Canada Medal of Merit and the Bar to the Medal of Merit for “especially good service in Scouting.” He worked as a child care worker and ran a therapeutic foster home. Ross is past-president of the Boys and Girls Club of Delta and past-president of the Kinsmen Club of White Rock.
Lisa and Ross are dedicated to helping others succeed. They achieve this by keeping informed of the latest scientific breakthroughs in the field of neuroplasticity (brain changing methods) as used in autism, cognitive deficits and disabilities, etc. Ross and Lisa believe in keeping themselves well-trained in the very best methods available in order to provide them with the highest standards, in the quickest time, and at the least cost possible.
Background
Lisa Taylor (before marrying Ross in 2003) founded the business in 1989 as Mission Accomplished Training & Development Centre. In those days, it provided full-time training to women who were returning to the workforce or changing careers, and evening computer courses to the business community.
It was during these years that Lisa began to learn about people who struggled with learning. She worked one-on-one with her struggling students and developed additional materials to help the student learn what was required. It was for these methods that Lisa received recognition by the media.
In 2001 Lisa first learned about methods for identifying the brain’s weaknesses and strengthening them. She immediately started to use these methods with her full-time administrative assistant students and saw almost immediate results. Everyone started learning more, faster!
A year later, prompted by her mentor, Lisa developed LEAP, a program for adults with learning challenges. The changes in her students were incredible! In just three months she saw them blossom as their brains began to work better. Unfortunately, the government funding dried up.
In 2004, now married to Ross with his background in working with kids, Lisa re-branded the company as Accomplished Learning Centres and she and Ross turned their focus to helping kids.
As Ross said, “Working with kids is like building a fence at the top of the cliff whereas working with adults is like being the ambulance at the bottom.”