Meet Alyson Young | Owner and Operator at Learning Lab

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyson Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyson, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was a teacher for 10 years and worked with students in kindergarten-second grade. I was passionate about teaching reading and worked toward a certification as a reading specialist. In my training and my experience, Dyslexia was never really mentioned. The science of how we learn to read was not discussed, how common dyslexia is was not mentioned, recognizing the signs was never addressed. It was all about checklists and meeting certain criteria, never about the brain science. I saw so many smart kids who struggled to keep up with reading expectations slip between the cracks. They struggled with reading and spelling but they weren’t failing “BADLY enough” to qualify for the kind of instruction they were entitled to based on their neurological makeup. It was hard to see kids demonstrate negative, undesirable behaviors and feelings of anxiety and depression simply because of a flawed system. I knew there was a need for this particular population of students to get the kind of academic intervention they are entitled to.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets us apart is that we specialize in working with students with dyslexia and ADHD. All instruction is individualized, and multi-sensory. We follow the neuroscience of how these students learn best. We start with an evaluation that identifies each students individual needs and then we teach the way they learn.

What am I most proud of? I am beyond proud of my students’ accomplishments. The families that stick with the program and demonstrate marathon mentality, experience incredible results! The confidence and academic growth is the proof!

It was not easy getting where the business is today. It took a lot of fine tuning on how we educate and communicate what we do to parents. It required a lot of effort to determine who is our ideal client and who is not. It was important for us to learn how to appeal to a very particular niche and speak directly to their needs. I worked with many mentors and coaches to understand how to effectively communicate our specialized expertise.

The main lesson I have learned is my worth. I am not afraid to fire a client that is not a right fit and/or doesn’t see my worth.

I want the world to know that if a child has dyslexia or ADHD they MUST be taught in a very particular way using a very particular approach and this is all backed by science. Packets and more practice from basic “tutors” is not the answer for these type of learners . We provide academic “therapy” I also want the world to know that dyslexia is a gift that comes with many strengths. Once the reading and writing are remediated (early and appropriately) these children can change the world!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
That is a very loaded question. When will I ever have time for a week long trip? Sounds nice though. I’d definitely say we would start most of our days at The Yoga Joint. We would probably spend a lot of time at the beach and in the pool relaxing with possibly some kid free time?…We would go to Las Olas and check out some great restaurants like SALT7, YOLO, Louie Bossies, or Sushi Garage, and also some local spots like Rendevous and Quarterdeck. Maybe we go down to Key Largo for a night or two. Depending on the time of year, maybe some live outdoor music and definitely a boat day! I think that about sums it up. Sounds like a super fun trip.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Fran Rubio-Katz is my mentor and my best friend. She is the founder of Learning Lab (formerly Learning Loft) and encouraged me to take the leap, leave the school system, and make a huge impact on so many children’s lives.

Website: www.learninglabfl.com

Instagram: @learninglabfl

Facebook: @learninglabfl