Children's Dyslexia Center's expansion will double its size, impact

A tutor works with a student at the Children's Dyslexia Centers on Hanson Street. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The Children's Dyslexia Centers at Seacoast Learning Center is expanding and will be holding a grand reopening on Sept. 13 with a ribbon-cutting at 4 p.m. and an open house to follow until 7 p.m.

For the past 14 years the Seacoast Learning Center has provided free one-on-one dyslexia tutoring to struggling readers from Rochester and surrounding communities.

As the center doubles in size, they will be serving even more children and their families. Since 2004, the Seacoast Learning Center has worked with more than 300 families, significantly improving children's reading abilities. In addition, the center trains and certifies dyslexia practitioners through our 14-month practicum. To date, more than 125 dyslexia practitioners have been certified and are now serving in their communities. Starting in 2005, the Seacoast Learning Center partnered with the Rochester School District and area schools to provide dyslexia training to teachers and other staff members.

To give an idea of how much the tutoring helps dyslexia challenged students, a recent press release noted one third-grade student in their second year at the center said, "School is easy because I can spell words better. Now I like to read. I used to not read so much because I didn't like reading."

Since 1994, the Scottish Rite Masons, Northern Jurisdiction, have been national leaders in the effort to help children and their families overcome the obstacles of dyslexia. The Seacoast Learning Center is one of more than 50 active Children's Dyslexia Centers in 14 states. The Centers tackle the challenge of dyslexia head-on. It costs $5,000 to tutor one child for one year. Typically, children require an average of two years of tutoring. To make a donation or for more information go to https://seacoastlearningcenter.org