“Our guiding question is what if a different way of thinking was your greatest strength?” asks Executive Director Dalbin Osorio. “At DTP, we believe it is.”
This simple yet profound question sits at the heart of everything we do at the Dyslexia Tutoring Program. For over 40 years, we’ve been asking Baltimore’s neurodivergent learners: and their families: to flip the script on how they view learning differences. What if that struggle with reading isn’t a limitation but a doorway to discovering your child’s unique genius?
Reframing the Narrative
Too often, children with dyslexia and other learning differences are told what they can’t do.
They can’t read as fast as their peers.
They can’t spell certain words.
They can’t process information the way their classmates do.
But here’s what we’ve learned after four decades of working with Baltimore’s most creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators: these differences aren’t deficits: they’re superpowers waiting to be unlocked.
At DTP, we’ve witnessed countless students transform their relationship with learning once they understand that their brains simply work differently, not incorrectly. Take Marcus, a seventh-grader who came to us convinced he was “dumb” because reading felt like climbing Mount Everest every single day. Today, he’s not just reading at grade level: he’s discovered a passion for storytelling and wants to become a filmmaker. His dyslexia doesn’t hold him back; it fuels his visual thinking and helps him see stories in ways that linear thinkers never could.
Our Foundation: Educational Equity for All
Founded on the principle that every individual deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive, DTP has been a vital force for educational equity in Baltimore for over four decades. Our starting point was a simple belief: every child should receive assistance, irrespective of their unique cognitive processing.
Educational equity isn’t just about equal access; it’s about recognizing that different doesn’t mean less than. When we provide specialized Orton-Gillingham tutoring at no cost to families, we’re not just teaching reading skills. We’re demonstrating that every child’s way of thinking has value and potential.
Our approach acknowledges that neurodivergent learners often become society’s most innovative thinkers. They’re the architects who design buildings that push boundaries, the entrepreneurs who solve problems others never noticed, and the artists who help us see the world through fresh eyes. By nurturing these different ways of thinking early on, we’re not just helping students succeed in school: we’re preparing them to lead and innovate in whatever field captures their imagination.
The Science Behind the Strength
The Orton-Gillingham approach we use isn’t just a teaching method: it’s a recognition of how neurodivergent brains learn best. This multisensory, structured approach meets students where they are and builds on their natural strengths rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all mold.
When we teach phonics through movement, sight, and sound simultaneously, we’re not just accommodating different learning styles: we’re tapping into the multifaceted way these brilliant minds naturally process information. Many of our students discover that once they master these foundational skills, they become even more powerful learners than their peers because they’ve developed multiple pathways to understanding.
The research backs this up. Studies consistently show that students with dyslexia often excel in areas like spatial reasoning, creative problem-solving, and big-picture thinking. These aren’t consolation prizes: they’re exactly the skills our rapidly changing world needs most.
Community: The Heart of Transformation
What makes DTP truly special isn’t just our methodology: it’s our community. Our volunteer tutors come from all walks of life, united by the belief that every child deserves to discover their potential. These dedicated individuals donate hours of their time each week because they understand that tutoring isn’t just about improving reading scores: it’s about transforming lives.
The ripple effects extend far beyond individual students. When a child begins to see their learning difference as a strength, it changes how their entire family thinks about neurodiversity. Parents who once worried about their child’s future begin to envision new possibilities. Siblings develop greater empathy and understanding. Extended family members start recognizing their own learning differences in a new light.
This community-driven model ensures that our support remains accessible to all Baltimore families, regardless of their economic circumstances. We believe that zip code shouldn’t determine whether a child gets the support they need to thrive. Our free tutoring services level the playing field, ensuring that every neurodivergent learner has the opportunity to discover their strengths.
Real Transformation in Action
The students we serve aren’t just learning to read: they’re learning to believe in themselves. Sarah, now a college junior studying engineering, still remembers the day her DTP tutor helped her realize that her difficulty with traditional reading meant she was naturally wired to think in 3D. Her spatial processing challenges in elementary school became her greatest asset in designing bridges and buildings.
Then there’s David, whose hyperactivity in traditional classrooms transformed into boundless creative energy once he learned to channel it through structured learning. He’s now a successful graphic designer whose dyslexia helps him approach visual problems from unique angles that consistently wow his clients.
These stories repeat themselves week after week in our tutoring sessions across Baltimore. Each success reinforces what we’ve known all along: different ways of thinking aren’t barriers to overcome: they’re gifts to cultivate.
Looking Forward: A Vision for Every Child
As we look toward the future, our vision remains clear: a Baltimore where every neurodivergent learner sees their learning difference as a source of strength, not shame. We envision schools that celebrate different types of intelligence, workplaces that actively seek out neurodivergent thinkers for their unique perspectives, and communities that understand that diversity of thought drives innovation.
This future isn’t just a dream: it’s something we’re actively building, one tutoring session at a time. Every child who leaves our program with improved reading skills also carries something more valuable: the knowledge that their brain is wired for greatness, just differently than others.
Your Role in This Revolution
Whether you’re a parent wondering about your child’s learning struggles, an educator looking for new perspectives, or a community member who wants to make a difference, you have a role to play in this transformation. The question “What if a different way of thinking was your greatest strength?” isn’t just for our students: it’s for all of us.
At DTP, we’ve spent 40 years proving that this question isn’t hypothetical. Different ways of thinking are genuine strengths, and Baltimore’s neurodivergent learners are proof. They’re the creative thinkers who will solve tomorrow’s challenges, the problem-solvers who will build better communities, and the innovators who will lead us into a future where every type of mind is valued and celebrated.
The next time you encounter a child struggling with traditional learning methods, remember: you might be looking at tomorrow’s breakthrough thinker. At DTP, we don’t just believe different thinking is a strength: we’ve seen it transform lives for four decades. And we’re just getting started.