A Drug-Free Approach
Sunny Mayeaux knew something was amiss when her grandson, Destry, was four years old. “He was in the four-year-old program at St. Richard’s and his teacher said he was getting frustrated a good bit.” In kindergarten, Destry was below the reading level and when he wrote his name, he used the same symbols, but it did not spell
D-e-s-t-r-y.
“We took him to University Medical Center for testing, and it was determined something was wrong. They told us he had dyslexia and dysgraphia, which affects handwriting.” Destry’s handwriting was barely legible, and his teacher would tell him to slow down and take his time. But his brain wouldn’t tell his hand what to do.
Finally, Mayeaux heard about a program at Canton Academy and she went to check it out. “It was the DORE program, and it has changed our lives,” Mayeaux said.
A series of relationships and acquaintances led Cameron Ball to the DORE program, which she felt would help her daughter, Conner Beth, with her golf game. The 13-year-old Jackson Academy student is a competitive golfer, and her parents wanted to provide every advantage possible to help her improve her game.
The DORE program is based on brain research, focusing on a drug-free method of targeting the brain to help it work more efficiently. “We heard the program can help athletes with focus and balance from a friend who had a daughter in the program,” said Ball.
Dore works on two areas of the brain: the cerebrum, or “thinking center” and the cerebellum, or “skill development center.” Scientific research has identified the cerebellum as the major area of the brain that processes learning and automating skills. The efficiency of the cerebellum varies between individuals, which means some people find it easier to learn skills than others. When the “skill center” is not working as efficiently as it should, it does not communicate adequately with the “thinking center.” That results in people having problems making a whole range of skills automatic, like riding a bike, playing an instrument, or typing.
The DORE program originated in England, where businessman Wynford Dore was desperate for something to help his daughter, Susie, who was diagnosed as severely dyslexic and became depressed and suicidal. After being told that there was no cure for dyslexia, Dore hired a team of researchers to investigate Dr. Harold Levinson's claim that the cerebellum is linked to the types of symptoms Susie was experiencing. Dr. Roy Rutherford, a friend of Dore's, suggested that an underdeveloped cerebellum may be the cause of Susie's symptoms. The DORE Program was developed for Susie and, after seeing results, the program was made available to others.
DORE director, Joe Stephens, met Wynford Dore at the Harvard Business School Owner-President Management Program, in 1993. Since Joe had worked with individuals with learning difficulties for 25 years, Dore felt Stephens would be the ideal person to bring the DORE program to the United States. Stephens traveled to England where he spent time with the development team and met many excited clients at the DORE Center. Two years ago, he opened an office in Jackson for clients to participate in the program. “Joe is passionate about the program and wants as many people exposed to it as possible,” said Beth Mayeaux, DORE’s director of marketing and sales, who also happens to be Destry’s aunt.
The program consists of a two-to-three hour assessment, followed by 12 to 18 months of individualized exercises. Two ten-minute sessions a day accessed by the client’s own computer is all it takes to stimulate the brain. Clients visit the center, located in The Quarter on Lakeland Drive, about every 90 days to see how they are progressing. Once the program is complete, there is no need for a “tune up.” The results last a lifetime.
What the Ball’s noticed with their daughter, Conner Beth, was a definite improvement in her golf game, but just as importantly, an improvement in her reading skills. “About three weeks into the program, she began reading like never before,” said her mother.
Beth Mayeaux explained that the DORE program is for anyone age seven and up. “Our oldest client was 82! We’ve had athletes and writers who have benefitted from the program, including author C.C. Henley, who suffered with ADD. She went through the program so that she could be more focused and write for more extended periods in a day’s time.”
As for ten-year-old Destry, the changes since participating in the program have been significant. “He began the program at age nine, and it has changed his attitude about school and reading,” said Sunny Mayeaux. “It’s been amazing to watch the gradual transformation. The exercises have been fun for him, and we have even seen improvement in his physical skills as well. Instead of struggling, DORE has made Destry happy to get up and go to school. It’s been a godsend.”
The DORE program is ideal for anyone who wants to increase their ability to learn new skills, but those who particularly benefit from the program are people with Asperger’s Syndrome, as well as people who have ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. “We have clients who travel from Canada, Rhode Island, Florida and other locations around the country to participate in our program,” said Beth Mayeaux.
While the program is primarily a clinical program, where clients come into the center to be assessed and to learn their exercises, the program is finding its way into school systems thanks to Beth Mayeaux’s efforts. The DORE program is currently in Webster County Schools, Simpson County Schools, Union City School District, Pascagoula School District and four schools in Rankin County, as well as six private schools including Canton Academy, the first school partner with DORE. “The program works beautifully in a school setting, because the exercises become part of the curriculum,” said Mayeaux. “It is Joe Stephen’s mission to make the program accessible to all children in Mississippi, regardless of their ability to pay.” DORE also has a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitative Services.
The sports program offers athletes the opportunity to gain an edge on their competition. DORE Sport was developed after elite athletes completed the DORE Program and noted great improvements in their abilities in their sports abilities. DORE Sport is for elite and aspiring athletes, including high school athletes who desire to play on the college level and beyond.
For more information on the DORE program, visit their website at www.doreusa.com, or call 601-326-5550.
