Our Masonic Philanthropy

The Dyslexia Training Program

The Freemasons of Louisiana are proud to introduce o our new primary philanthropy. In the year 1998 we adopted the Dyslexia Training Program which is a Grand Lodge Program conducted on a cooperative basis with the local Constituent Lodges. The Grand Lodge agency with primary responsibility for the program is the Masonic Learning Center of Louisiana and its board of trustees.

Approximately ten [10%] per cent of our children are affected by dyslexia to such an extent as to require attention beyond that which is afforded in a normal classroom situation.

For purposes of the Dyslexia Training Program the Board defines "dyslexia" as a learning disorder in persons who are intelligent, who suffer from no other physical, emotional, psychological or psychiatric conditions which act as an impediment to learning but who, nevertheless, are unable to learn to read, write, spell and comprehend the language as expected from exposure to a normal classroom experience.

The Dyslexia Training Program presents a multi-sensory program of instruction which emphasizes phonics and is taught by a teacher/facilitator to classes of limited size using a number of teaching aids including video-tapes, workbooks, writing frames, linkage paper, three-dimensional letters, flash cards, wall charts, dictionaries and other items. The material is presented in cursive writing.

The program consists of 350 hours of classroom time which is conducted one [1] hour per day, five [5] days per week excluding holidays.

In order that the students may all be age-appropriate, be familiar with cursive writing and comply with the elements of the disorder, we accept only those children who are in grades 4, 5, or 6, who have not yet attained the age of thirteen years, who are free of other impeding conditions and who have a full-scale I.Q. of at least 90 as determined by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition.

The prospective students are screened by the Board or its designee in an effort to eliminate those children who obviously will not qualify. Those students who are accepted, after screening, are examined by a qualified psychologist. Final acceptance depends, in part, upon the results of that examination.

Our classes are conducted by a teacher/facilitator who is certified to teach in Louisiana. The classes are held in different physical facilities. Some classrooms are situated in a Masonic Lodge Hall, some are conducted in space which has been provided for that purpose by a church, school or other entity.

No charges are assessed to the student or the parent/guardian for the training given the student. If, however, a parent or other interested person or group wishes to make a contribution, of whatever size, to the tax-exempt charity, such donations are gladly accepted and applied to the promotion of this undertaking.

The testimonials received from parents, teachers and others concerning the progress of the students enrolled in the Dyslexia Training Program have been most gratifying.

For further information call the Masonic Learning Center of Louisiana at: [318] 487-4986 or [318]443-5610 or you may email to the This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Facts and Questions About Dyslexia

DEFINITION: A learning difficulty in children and adults who are intelligent, have no other limiting physical or emotional problems, but who, despite a conventional classroom experience, do not learn to read, write, spell and comprehend as expected.

CAUSES: Dyslexia is not a disease which can be caught, prevented or treated with medication. It is believed to be of constitutional origin arising from defect [s] in the transmitters of the brain.

MANIFESTATIONS: The most common manifestation is difficulty recognizing words. Poor oral reading characterized by substitutions, omissions, additions and reversal of sounds, letters, syllables or words is common. Contrary to popular belief, it is not always characterized by reversals of letters or syllables in written words. Dyslexics may have difficulty with organization [months, weeks, days or proper sequences], directionality [up-down, left-right, etc.] and in learning to tell time.

OTHER PROBLEMS: Dyslexia may occur simultaneously and in conjunction with other learning disabilities such as hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder or even retardation but not necessarily so. Lack of intelligence in any individual is not a symptom of dyslexia. As a matter of fact, the definition of dyslexia assumes adequate intelligence to learn.

INCIDENCE: Estimates of the incidence of dyslexia range from 2% to 30% of the population, the most accepted figure being about 10%. There appears to be an element of heritability involved and the incidence is greater in boys than in girls. This may, however, be only an appearance since girls tend to be less disruptive than boys and, consequently, are not detected.

WHAT HAPPENS TO DYSLEXIC STUDENTS? They are frequently not identified as such and struggle through school. They are often described as “lazy”, “not too bright”, or “slow” with those most severely affected being described as “learning disabled” or “stupid”. They are frequently caused to feel stupid or retarded and many lose hope or become rebellious.

CAN DYSLEXICS LEARN? Yes. They simply have to learn to cope with their difficulty and they learn somewhat differently. In the case of the Dyslexia Training Program, dyslexic children are taught by a teacher/facilitator using a series of video-tapes which were developed by the Luke Waites Child Development Center at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital which embody the Orton-Gillingham approach. The instruction is multi-sensory with an emphasis on phonics. A number of other teaching aids are used. The full course consists of some 350 hours. The program has proven highly effective.

CAN DYSLEXIC PERSONS SUCCEED? Indeed! They are not unintelligent and many have succeeded in all fields. They are often good at hands-on activities. Some famous persons with dyslexic characteristics include such as Thomas A. Edison, Albert Einstein, Gen. George Patton, Pres. Woodrow Wilson, Nelson Rockefeller, Bruce Jenner, Tom Cruise and Whoopi Goldberg.

WHAT DOES THE DYSLEXIA TRANING PROGRAM COST THE PARENT OR CHILD? The only responsibility of the parent is to transport the child to and from the classes. All other expenses are paid by the Masons of Louisiana with the assistance of their friends. If a parent or other relative or interested person wishes to contribute to the Masonic Learning Center of Louisiana to assist in defraying the cost of this program, such contributions are gratefully accepted.