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Dr. Kay, What a complete pleasure it was meeting with you the other day! Your immense knowledge of PA school law, child psychology, and medical issues blew us away. Within a few minutes of speaking with you, a four year weight lifted from my shoulders. I knew we had come to the right place. We have been so mistreated by our school district that it’s hard to know who to trust. From the beginning of our conversation you put Jackson first and we really appreciate that. I kept saying to my husband, the whole way home “this has been a life changing day.” And I truly believe that. We look forward to meeting with you again in a few weeks for your final recommendations. Thanks again, Deana

Your Success Embellished 

I wrote to you a few years ago to thank you for the education and superb guidance you gave us helping our severely dyslexic child. It has been many years now since we first walked into you office in 1988 with our Elizabethtown 2^nd grader. Our school system struggles continued when we relocated to Ohio in 1990. Holding true to what you taught us, we luckily found a wonderful school that utilized the methodology you recommended.  

In 2005 Alex graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS in Architecture. We were surprised with the accommodations provided by the schools office of disability services. 

On May 2 of this year, he received a Master of Architecture, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan. As you can imagine we are very proud and I know some of the credit must go to you. It really began in those tutoring sessions in your office. You work has made a difference in our lives and no doubt has for many others as well. Walt & Lawana

Hi Peg!

It has been 16 years since we last talked and much has happened in those 16 years. It appears that your quest for a school became a reality. The one thing above all else is that your direction made us better informed and enabled us to become an advocate for our son and to persevere on his behalf. This one is a success story and it is to your credit. 

In 1989 we walked into your office with a little 2^nd grader who was in the process of being labeled by the Elizabethtown school district. Your evaluation, direction, and tutoring pointed us in the best direction for our 2^nd grader. We left Pennsylvania moving to Ohio with my work in 1990 and we were still a bit naive. The Dublin, Ohio school district where we located “talked the talk” but they failed to “walk the walk”. Rather than follow the Federal court route we found a school in Columbus that was structured like you had described your plan for a school. The head master at Marburn Academy reminded us of you. In small very individualized groups Alex progressed through their system. Their reading instruction was extremely phonetic utilizing the “Wilson System”  It proved to be exactly what Alex needed. Time flew by and in 1997 Alex transitioned from Marburn to the Dublin City schools to start high school. Dublin was evolving and had actually sent some of their Learning Disabilities instructors to Marburn for training. Under the watchful eye of Marburn and a strict IEP Alex’s transition took place. High school went well. Ironically, Dublin’s LD instructors turned to Alex for assistance with their applications of the “Wilson System” while he was attending high school. 

Alex has been attending The Ohio State University and in two weeks he will graduate with Bachelor’s of Science in Architectural Engineering. His IEP followed him to Ohio State and their Office of Disability services assisted in assuring that the necessary allowances were provided to facilitate his learning. The seed of this success was planted long ago, in your office. Just thought you might enjoy hearing a happy ending. Thank You. Walt

I want to thank you so much for taking the time to test Emily.  She had nothing but good things to say about you...."your cool"...in her words.  She stated it was the first time in many years that someone really understood her and laughed with her.  On the way home she slept like a baby ....... she said she was tired....she said it was a "good tired" !!!!! Thanks so much !!!...Steve....Karen and

Dear Dr. Kay

On September 19, 2007 you evaluated our son. Because of your evaluation and recommendations the school district decided in August 2008 not to put up a fight but to send S. to The Gow School for 7th grade. Stafford testing done at Gow showed  remarkable progress and S.is attending Gow again for 8th grade, once again making progress. He has been referred to as a role model and last year earned  awards.  Thank you so much!   Without you S. would have had no chance for a successful future. Linda

Dear DR. Kay,

Hello how are you? It's been awhile since I last spoke to you and I wanted to give you an update on Justin. He is now three weeks into school at Academy in Manayunk. He adapted very well. We went to the back to school night that was held tonight and rec'd such amazing compliments. I have always been proud of Justin but I couldn't of been prouder of him tonight. I am so excited that my son is finally going to school feeling like an equal and not embarrassed. Thank you for everything you did for us. Thank you for pointing us in the right direction. This has been a long emotional roller coaster. And I'm fully aware that we will have challenges right through to college. But as long as Justin can remain at AIM he will continue to reach for the stars. He deserves this and we will continue to fight for him. He was in the school district for six years and I had never seen improvement. Now he has a chance. Thank You. You're the BEST!!!! Jim & Josephine

Dr. Kay,

My husband and I had our IEP meeting for our son Mark on Wednesday.  Your IEE made a world of difference in the support the school district was willing to offer to him.  Your thorough examination and recommended interventions were key to getting Mark what he needs for middle school. You may already be aware of this, but I wanted to mention two items that may help other clients of yours. Mark is able to access www.bookshare.org free of charge since he has a diagnosed print disability.  The federal government has added Read Aloud also so now he can download a plethora of books instantly so that he can not only listen to them, but also follow along the print with the reading.  His only complaint is that he doesn’t care for the robotic quality of the reading.  Also the 2008 National Mathematics Advisory Panel has a list of recommendations for mathematics programs similar to what the National Reading Panel has done.  The Math Panel’s research has helped us to have our district recognize that our CPM (student-centered, fuzzy) math program is lacking in many areas. Thanks again for providing Mark with an invaluable service. Carl and Pam

Dear Dr Kay, 

We have to thank you from the bottom of our hearts because at yesterday's IEP meeting the team agreed with your recommendations and are placing Samantha into a private school.  We could not believe that they were so agreeable and supportive.  The meeting went so well, no one argued or tried to discount your findings.  They accepted that Sam needs intensive help and are moving forward with getting her into an ESY program with the plan to start private school in September.  So it looks like we succeeded in getting Samantha the help she needs!

We are so grateful for your accurate and thorough testing and recommendations as well as your advice and expertise.  You were never too busy to answer our emails.  You have been so very kind and supportive and have always put Sam's best interest first.  We really can not thank you enough!  You have saved our daughter from a lifetime of struggles, poor self esteem and illiteracy by ensuring she gets the correct program tailored to her unique needs. We could not have accomplished private placement without you and we feel that doors have been opened for our daughter and that she has a bright future ahead of her!Fondly, Crisann, Michael and Samantha

Hello Dr. Kay,

I've often thought about you over the years, grateful for your accurate, insightful and very useful evaluations.  Today my son Sean (age25) asked for some information off your last evaluation of him in 1997 since he wants to be a research subject in a Harvard study on dyslexia. I thought you'd appreciate hearing a success story.

Sean  is gifted, dyslexic, dysgraphic and ADD by your diagnosis, which was very accurate. He is outgoing, vibrant, happy, creative and high energy and has worked tenaciously to compensate for his learning disabilities. He attended Mercersburg Academy, a private high school in central PA, where he was captain of the soccer, lacrosse and wrestling teams. He attended Hamilton College for a year, then transferred to American University in Washington DC, where he graduated with honors. He's an entrepreneur and has started several successful businesses throughout  his college years in Indonesia. (He speaks fluent Indonesian and Spanish.  Doesn't write them much at all). He recently returned to the US to be near his lady love, a PhD student at Harvard. He's waiting to hear from Yale's School of Environmental Science about doing a master's next fall.

Sean's loving life, thriving and considers himself among the blessed.  His elementary school principal recently thanked me for bringing the Wilson curriculum into the school, as they continue to use it with other students.  Your insight, guidance and professional skills helped Garrett and I be better parents and  advocates for Sean.  In turn it has helped Sean become the outstanding and happy adult he is today.  There is no greater fulfillment for a parent then seeing their child living a fulfilling life. Thanks so much for your help when we needed it most. Elena

Dear Peggy,

Back in the mid to late 80's you worked with my mother Grace H. She had fallen and slipped on grapes in the grocery store and was left with brain damage. May I take this opportunity to thank you for the guidance and support you gave her and the rest of our family.   They were most trying times and you were one of the lights in that time of darkness for my father and I.   Many, many thanks! Today my mother is driving a senior citizens bus in the southern end of Lancaster County.  Thanks to you our family saw hope for the future and so did she. Sincerely, Sharon D

Peg -
 
I know your email inbox, like mine, can sometime be overwhelming, but I had to share. Zach applied early decision to Dartmouth College and just received the notice that he was accepted.  He was so excited that tears were running down his face when he got the letter. It probably gets a little repetitive but please know that your work with Zach played a significant part of the success he has obtained and we are extremely thankful that we found you. Enjoy the holidays. John & Connie M.

Dr. Kay:

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the help that you gave my family throughout this entire process.  More than just all of your professionalism but all of your kind encouraging words.  Michael is going to GOW from 2006 through 2010.  He will be a graduate of the GOW school.  We couldn't have done that without you and will be forever grateful. God Bless you and your family.  I couldn't think of a better person I would like to take this journey with than you. Mary

Dear Dr. Kay:

I wanted to give you some feedback on our son whom you diagnosed back in 2000 with NLD and later with Asperger's.  At the time you evaluated him he was entering grade 5.  He remained in public school halfway through grade 6.  We then enrolled him in Lehigh Valley Lutheran School (K-8 with a total of 35 kids in the entire school).  He remained in LVLS through 8th grade and received occupational therapy privately for about 9 months during grade 5.  After graduating from LVLS, he enrolled in Notre Dame High School where he currently attends and in presently finishing grade 10.

I wanted to let you know all the profound and remarkable things that have happened along this journey. By enrolling him in a small private school, this helped him gain his self esteem back.  In grade 7 he began playing electric bass guitar. While attending high school, he began achieving honor roll - both first and second honors many times. He has continued playing his bass and takes lessons regularly and is very musically talented.  He plays in the church contemporary band and he has also begun performing in a rock band with some friends.  He recently auditioned for the LV school for the performing arts and just got notice today he has been accepted! And here's the real profound thing - he wants to go to college!!!!

 We feel our son’s story would have been dramatically different had we not pulled him out of public school.  We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us make the right decision.  I remember the first thing out of your mouth when Terry and I came to get our son’s test results were - “Your son would do very well in a small private school." 

Hello Dr. Kay,

Thank you so much for your time this morning.  Charlie and I really enjoyed meeting with you and we both greatly appreciated your review/interpretation of the testing results.  We have much to digest and are going to read the whole report - I'm sure we will have some follow-up questions for you at some point.  Anyway, thank you again for your time - it was such an informative meeting and we both got so much out of it.  It is really wonderful to actually have someone sit down with us and explain what the results mean. Take care and we'll be in touch.  Have a wonderful holiday and thanks for referring us to Georgia. Ann S.

Hi Peg,

In the words of Deb B. “Your testing gives us a blueprint of our children.”  As ever Peg, thanks for your great words of wisdom.  I don’t know what we’d do without you!  Best, D

Hello, Dr. Kay,

C. has completed his first day at High Road.  He is excited, eager and enjoying school once again.  Toady his class will go bowling for gym class.  There are 9 students in his class and much of his instruction is one/one.  Although he is not completely settled in, it looks like a good fit and most of all the people care.  Much different.

Your assessments were used and your visit to High Road was invaluable.  Frederick Co. played the behavior card last year and we played the deaf card.  A professor from Gallaudet Dr. Donna Morere has taken C. under her wing and tutored him all summer in Fast ForWord.  He has made great strides and his self-esteem seems to be on the mend.  Becky (our attorneyy) was also very aggressive and Frederick County folded at a county-wide IEP with no due process.

Many mistakes were made along the way, but with your help and support and support from the deaf community, C. has finally found a home. Thanks for being part of the village and especially that grueling round trip that you made in visitations last year...it served us well. Be well,   Jo L, Grandmother to C

Dear Dr. Kay:

Wanted to take a moment to bring you up to speed on our trip and how things went in California. From everything I am seeing as a Father, it appears we made out very well. 

Before going out there, at my wife's suggestion, I read Dr. Amen's book. After reading the book, obviously, you know what to expect. Dr. Amen's staff was great and most accommodating. I can't sing too much praise for the California Drivers though!

From what Dr. Amen & staff were able to determine, in the seven areas of the brain which were monitored, five of the seven areas were either under performing or over performing. The meds we had F. on (Wellbutrin SR-250 mg. daily) and Cylert were the incorrect meds to treat what the need was. In layman's terms, we were 180 degrees off what we should have been treating Frank with. 

Since that time, with the recommendations of Dr. Amen & Dr. Rudolph from Amen's staff, we were able to change meds with a treating psychologist here in Harrisburg, a doctor with Pennsylvania Counseling Services.

There have been very positive changes in F's demeanor and just getting along with the family atmosphere. This has been only with one change of prescribed meds. There are a total of four changes for meds & diet with exercise that were the complete recommendations from the Amen Clinic.

In short we are very pleased and very optimistic about the complete "package" as recommended by the Amen Clinic. I look forward to the time when all the meds are in place and we are going full speed. Dr. Rudolph did advise me in private that there were going to be positive changes in Frank's personality, which I can now begin to see, also he is a much happier young man now.

Our experience with the Amen Clinic was so impressive that I have spoken to other families in our area about the positive results. Presently L. family from Harrisburg, who also has an ADD/AHD son, is taking their son to the Amen Clinic on 9/25/03. I believe in the concept, which is, "If you don't know what is broken, then how can you fix it?”.

Dr. Amen is definitely ahead of his time and we are most grateful to you for the recommendation and bringing this man to our attention. It is not cheap but I ask, “How can you put a price on a fruitful, productive, and happy life?” There is no price that is too high to enhance the possibility of making that a reality. Thank you for the recommendation & sharing Dr. Amen with us, Frank D.

Dear Dr. Kay

I had a meeting today with the chief guidance counselor and all of B’s teachers at York Catholic high school. I went over your evaluation with them highlighting your statements that were most pertinent (and that I could actually read unemotionally aloud). Anyway, I thought the meeting went very well. The entire faculty was very supportive, as you might imagine.

I took B to see Dr. Karen Kennedy a psychiatrist with Well Span behavioral health. Karen started him on Zoloft. He is taking Zoloft 25 milligrams. I really think it has done some good. B seemed to be more outgoing in the summertime. He was willing to take more risks and seemed to interact better. He was also less sullen during activities such as golfing (in which B excels immensely). B was actually able to make statements like "Gee, I wish I could hit the ball as well as you, B!" Also, he was actually able to complete a summer reading assignment before we went on vacation - fully 30 days before the start of school! We were at Yosemite Park in California. We went waterskiing. That was an activity for B. Last year B would not get out of my brothers boat. This year he tried and succeeded at waterskiing!. We were climbing the rocks at Yosemite falls. Needless to say, B was way ahead of us in dangerous territory. I had to keep calling him to come back. B was keeping up with me. B turned to me and said "You know, if this was last year I be sitting over there on the bench". He was absolutely correct.

School started two weeks ago and B came home on the first day and told Chris our nanny that he was going to try to be as organized as possible. He cleaned up his desk in his bedroom, he has written all of his homework into his homework book, and he has managed to complete all of his assignments. I put him into advanced math. B clearly understands all of the concepts. He makes incredibly frustrating trivial errors in calculations. We do his math homework every night together. I am trying to get it to sink into his head that writing things down in large legible digits in neat columns results in accurate calculations-performed at speeds far faster than one could possibly do it in their heads. I really think he is beginning to catch on to such a basic concept. B is in a pre-algebra course. Algebra was my favorite subject. I told B that I thought we were going to have so much fun doing his homework this year. He actually managed to smile although admittedly it was a weak smile. However, it gives him 60-90 minutes of 1: 1 interaction with me every night. It's really fun to teach Brad math. He really catches on very quickly. His major issue is accuracy-what a surprise after your evaluation! However, I keep my cool when he makes those trivial errors.  Everything else is easy because he catches on so fast that it is such a joy to teach him -- and I love algebra.

I cannot thank you enough. When I first took B to see you, I really thought I was wasting your time and my dollars. That was the best money I ever spent. Thanks again, Greg F.

Dear Dr. Kay-

Thank you so very much for evaluating E yesterday.  As you know, I was somewhat anxious about her anxiety during evaluation: ) and it was obvious to me that she felt quite relaxed during her assessment; she stated, "Oh, that was fun!  You're obviously quite gifted at what you do.  Thank you for sharing your gifts to benefit our daughter.  Whether or not the results surprise us, I will know that you have been able to obtain an accurate picture. Appreciatively, R

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Last modified: July 11, 2010