Speech Therapy Services with Dyslexia Central Florida

I was diagnosed at a young age with a series of mental challenges including ADHD, severe dyslexia, dyscalculia; dysgraphia; an extreme phonetic memory disability. (Sound out the word apple, I couldn’t hear where the syllables were located.) 

Tara Gallagher took a child who had no business reading; and turned it into my super power. The short term results were significant. Unable to read simple sentences in the 2nd grade; I graduated elementary school reading at an almost college grade level. This was done with a highly innovative patient centered approach that prioritized my learning strategies over any one particularly methodology. (I was a handful of a student.) 

It’s the longer term results that are impactful. Over the last twenty years since I’ve worked with Tara; my life has been immeasurably changed by her teaching. The accomplishments are impressive: I graduated college at the top of my class. I am a leading authority on Internet standards globally particularly in highly regulated markets like Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the EU. I get to travel the world and speak to people on the benefits of Internet privacy.

It’s not the accomplishments though that stand out to me; it’s the little moments. It’s the curling up with my favorite book at the end of stressful day to escape to the stars. It was finding the authors who helped put me back together after my worst breakup. It was the books that lifted me up, when I wanted to give up. 

Reading is one of the single greatest joys of my life. I owe that joy to the dedication, talent, persistence, and expertise of Tara. She is without a doubt, one of the single greatest teachers to impact my life.

At 17 I had a TBI. I was in a coma for 60 days. They did brain surgery on me and by the GRACE of the GOOD LORD I came out of the coma and they sent me to Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital. At inpatient I couldn't even roll in the bed because my muscles were so weak and I couldn't talk- just groan. But I started therapy and slowly started my recovery. 

I was so excited when I started walking in the pool and my speech was getting a little better. When I started therapy, I was at a 3rd grade level and I was a junior in high school. I was discharged from inpatient and started going to outpatient therapy where I worked with Mrs. Gallagher and many other therapists.  I got to come home every night, my recovery was slow but I was using my walker and going to therapy 5 days a week. The group therapy helped me with some of my short-term memory problems. I started school back as a senior and would only go to school for half a day, then go to therapy. It was a long process and a lot of work but I graduated on time and walked across the stage and got my diploma without my walker!  I have 3 jobs now and I still have a little trouble with my short term memory.