Bestselling author who 'changed her brain' coming to Peakhurst to speak about life-changing learning program

Lidia Lezon is excited about meeting Barbara Arrowsmith-Young, the Canadian educator whose innovative learning program Mrs Lezon credits with transforming the life of her 30-year-old son Adam.

Born with an intellectual disability, Adam enrolled in the Arrowsmith Program at 3Bridges Community in Penshurst two years ago unable to read and write. Today he's reading basic information, writing with proficiency, and planning his future employment.

"Adam went to school for 12 years and couldn't learn how to read and write but now he is doing it. He's more confident and less anxious; it's made a really huge change in him. He can see that he can do this and is really motivated to see how far he can go," said Mrs Lezon.

Also the author of the international bestseller, The Woman Who Changed Her Brain, Ms Arrowsmith-Young is coming to Peakhurst in March as part of an international tour to promote the third edition of her book, and to present on the latest research on neuroplasticity, learning and her innovative educational approach.

The frustration faced by those with a learning difficulty is something Ms Arrowsmith-Young understands well - she created the Arrowsmith Program in response to the debilitating learning difficulties she experienced herself.

In her first year of school, Ms Arrowsmith-Young was assessed as having a "mental block", which today would be identified as multiple learning disabilities. She read and wrote backwards, had trouble processing concepts in language, continuously got lost and was physically uncoordinated.

She eventually learnt to read and write from left to right but continued to have learning difficulties throughout her educational career, masking the symptoms of her disabilities through heroic effort.

But using the principles of neuroplasticity, Ms Arrowsmith-Young overcame her learning disabilities and then made it her mission to design the program to help other people in similar situations.

The Arrowsmith Program has been in operation in Canada since 1980 and is now being taught in eight countries including Australia where in Sydney alone it's available in six locations.

The program is based on the philosophy that it is possible to address specific learning difficulties by identifying and strengthening weak cognitive capacities. Each student's program is based on a careful assessment to identify that individual's particular learning difficulties and then using specific exercises to target them.

Rosemary Bishop, the CEO of 3Bridges Community, which has been facilitating the Arrowsmith Program for four years, said there were numerous success stories of young people whose lives had been changed.

She said 3Bridges incorporated brain, health and wellness activities into the Arrowsmith Program with a strong focus on building an individual's overall independence, self-confidence and achieving long-term goals with the inclusion of an exercise physiologist twice a week, money skills training, job readiness support, community engagement and relationship building. During a typical week, there are group discussions on current affairs, news and opportunities for questions.

"Our students are here to not only improve their cognitive development, but to fulfil their dreams as young individuals," said Ms Bishop. "This can include moving out of home, continuing education, finding employment and contributing in the community."

Ms Bishop said 3Bridges is also improving the lives and educational abilities of children who were previously unmotivated to attend school, not achieving good grades, and becoming non-compliant in class due to lack of understanding.

"We have many stories of students now regularly staying at school, improving their involvement in class and ultimately enjoying themselves. The opportunity for children in key learning transitions such as primary to high school or senior school is growing in terms of needing additional individualised support," she said.

Mrs Lezon said she had seen the change in her son's behaviour just a few weeks after he started the Arrowsmith Program at 3Bridges. She's looking forward to talking to Mrs Arrowsmith-Young about her experience.

"It will be good to be able to tell her what kind of impact she's had. For years since Adam was diagnosed as being disabled I was looking for something that would work and this is the first time I felt that we can help him improve."

3Bridges Community is hosting Barbara Arrowsmith-Young at the Gardens on Forest, Peakhurst on Monday, 16 March at 6pm. If you would like to learn more about the Arrowsmith program or would like to attend Barbara Arrowsmith-Young's presentation and book launch please contact Matthew Spanko on 1300 327 434 or Matthew.Spanko@3Bridges.org.au

This is sponsored content for 3Bridges Community.