My Story

Similar to the roaring '20s, my childhood in the 1980s was an era of indulgence and wonder. On a special Thanksgiving Day in 1983, as my aunt hosted dinner, I recall sitting with my favorite cousin at a private table, pretending to sip champagne — really just Welch's grape juice in a fancy bottle.

After dinner, as Rocky III premiered on HBO, I was captivated. The motivational music and Rocky Balboa's struggle in the ring spoke to me. His slurred speech and unwavering determination mirrored the battles I faced in school and reading, feeling each challenge like a physical blow. Yet, just like Rocky, the key was to keep getting up, to keep fighting.

My passion for movies helped bridge my connection to oral language. While audiobooks and my dad reading Aesop's Fables aloud were cherished, movies were more accessible and formed a clearer picture. This love led us to open a video store in 1986, which became a community hub where I bonded over films and helped neighbors and friends.

Despite my straightforward and succinct speech, oral language has always been a challenge. Finding the right words to comfort and describe detailed visuals when the images in my mind are so vivid has been a lifelong struggle. This is a sentiment I believe many with dyslexia, autism, and communication challenges can relate to.

My elementary education was filled with confusion. Tasks that seemed disconnected from real learning — coloring worksheets, clapping out names, and deciphering long and short vowel font with measurement tools like a pencil eraser — all these methods left me questioning and frustrated. Yet, my family's constant emphasis on the value of education and my grandmother's patience with my studies kept me pushing forward.

Despite being discouraged from pursuing higher education after leaving much of the SAT blank, my journey didn't end there. My persistence and strong executive functioning skills propelled me through community college and into Seton Hall University. Although doors to a career in special education law closed due the LSATs, opportunities in elementary and special education opened, reshaping my path.

Throughout my teaching career, I observed the gaps and misconceptions in teaching reading and recognized the limited discussion around dyslexia, autism & speech/language.

As I work toward further post-doctoral certifications in school psychology and applied behavior analysis, my mission remains clear: to demystify learning processes and support students and adults in carving their own paths. My plan to establish a dedicated facility in NEPA is rooted in this mission.

I've gained a wealth of experience across diverse rural, suburban, and urban educational settings. This includes classroom teaching, child study, and administration in public and private schools, as well as working in nursing homes, community volunteering at fairgrounds, tutoring and adult literacy programs, and close customer community engagement through video stores.

Exposure to Open Classroom methods, flexible and customized Orton-Gillingham approaches, the independence of Montessori multi-sensory methods, explicit and direct instruction in special education, and positive behavioral environments have all shaped my approach. Detailed curriculum-based assessments, along with successful implementation of RTI/MTSS prevention and intervention strategies, have enriched my understanding and fueled my drive to advocate for better teaching methods.

Like Rocky, I want to inspire others to find their strength, to stand up against the odds, and to recognize that sometimes, just going one more round can make all the difference.

Let's soar to new heights together!

Stay hungry and go the distance, learn from failure and take care of yourself, and keep going for it all!

Schedule your free initial Zoom meeting to discuss your needs, share your story, and explore how we can help you achieve success.

Gonna Fly Now!

Dr. Dominica — Your NEPA Doc with Dyslexia

Email: ortongspecialist@gmail.com

Text/Call: 570-903-4280