Paula Horan – Davis Method Facilitator & Advocate for Neurodiverse Learners
My journey
Over 25 years ago, my journey with the Davis Method began with a deeply personal motivation: helping a family member who was struggling in school. Although bright, articulate, and full of imagination, they faced constant challenges in a traditional classroom.
Everything changed when I discovered The Gift of Dyslexia by Ron Davis. I immediately recognised my loved one in those pages and began using the techniques at home. The progress was astonishing—and life-changing.
Motivated by those early successes, I trained extensively in the Davis Method, from England to France to the USA. I became the second Davis licensed Dyslexia Facilitator and the first Davis licensed Autism Facilitator in Ireland.
Who I Work With
Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of individuals—children, teens, and adults—who learn and experience the world differently. My clients include those with:
• Dyslexia
• ADHD / ADD
• Autism
• Other learning differences
• Or simply those struggling with focus, organisation, or confidence
I see beyond labels. Instead, I focus on each person's unique thinking style and their potential when learning becomes accessible and empowering.
Why Davis?
The Davis Method works by aligning with how neurodiverse thinkers naturally process information. It’s not about drilling or memorisation—it’s about clarity, self-understanding, and lasting tools for independence.
For clients with dyslexia:
I remove the fear and frustration often tied to reading and writing. Using visual-spatial strategies, I help clients connect with words and language in a way that feels natural—often for the first time.
For autistic clients:
Through the Davis Autism Approach, I focus on building understanding, meaningful connections, and comfort in navigating the world—on their terms.
For individuals facing life challenges:
The Davis Concepts for Life program supports those who may not have a formal diagnosis but are seeking to build resilience, confidence, and self-awareness.
My Approach
I believe everyone can learn—when they are met with respect, empathy, and the right tools for learning.
Many of my clients come to me after years of feeling misunderstood or left behind. Together, we work to remove the emotional weight of past learning experiences and build a path forward grounded in clarity, confidence, and joy.
Get in Touch
Whether you're a parent looking for support, an adult seeking change, or someone exploring options for a loved one, I invite you to connect.
Let’s have a conversation about how the Davis Method might support your journey or that of someone close to you.
Licensed to provide:
Licensed since: July 20, 2005
Travel: I only work at my own premises
Online services: I only coach in person
Delivery Languages: EnglishEnglish
CONCEPTS FOR LIFE PROGRAM
When we first met Paula, we had tried the traditional mainstream therapies to meet the needs of my struggling teenager, and these talk therapies did not provide an insight as to how to truly help my daughter and enable her to help herself.
From the first time I spoke to Paula, she understood my daughter, our first phone call gave me hope, a path and a new direction. The journey that I would go on with my daughter working with Paula was one I would be forever grateful for.
My daughter did a number of sessions with Paula over a period of months, she was happy to make the effort to return frequently. I think that, in itself, indicates the value my reluctant teenager found in the program. Paula’s work made sense to my daughter- it was logical, it was practical and it helped her.
My daughter learned about herself and the gaps that she needed to fill in herself to understand the way her surroundings worked. It enabled her to merge the way her mind works with the way conventional society works to allow her to achieve what she needed.
Paula opened my eyes up to the way my daughter sees the world and gave me a greater understanding of how life is for my daughter.
Working with Paula was a parenting call that I am proud of. It has truly impacted positively on my daughter‘s life and our family life.
I have recommended Paula to friends, family and work colleagues and will continue to do so.
Thank you, Paula.
DYSLEXIA PROGRAM
I highly recommend Paula's Dyslexia programme, my son Shane attended last year and it has made a big difference to him in developing both confidence, skills in managing his
Dyslexia and the move from primary to secondary school. Paula was brilliant with Shane !
Jacqui Mc Govern
DYSLEXIA PROGRAM
We had no knowledge, understanding or appreciation of the challenges our daughter was met with since she started school. Teachers over the years had various opinions that she was fidgety, easily distracted, not great at spelling, needed to practice more and other comments that unfortunately mislead us to believe her behaviour was due to her being disruptive. The relief she felt, as did we, when we met Paula for the first time, was enormous. Paula very quickly recognised that she had dyslexia and explained in detail what she could offer in terms of re-educating in line with her natural way of learning. Our daughter learned to embrace her dyslexia and developed methods through the Davis programme that allowed her to cope, learn and study in a way that suited her brain. I am so happy to say she is now in 2nd year of a 4yr college degree course and is enjoying it immensely. I am confident that Paula’s expertise, kindness, and patience has contributed to her development and the techniques she used were instrumental in ensuring our daughter stayed in school to obtain her Leaving Cert and progress to college. We are very grateful to Paula and would encourage anyone with questions or concerns about a family member, to have an initial conversation with her and she will certainly open your mind to this gift and how it can be embraced to ensure learning transfers from a stressful action to a positive and fulfilling one.
DYSLEXIA
If you have a child with dyslexia, don’t think about it …. just book in
Paula is wonderful. She makes the whole process enjoyable for the student, shows an incredible level of patience and humour while getting the job done.
The difference in literacy after one week is incredible. The Davis Program takes commitment from both the parent and the student. It’s simple but it’s not easy - the results however are worth it.
She holds the key and once the key is turned it makes school a better and brighter place to be, with endless opportunities.
Lisa & Holly Toner
AUTISM
Our son was diagnosed with a type of Autism called Dual Excellence in his early years in school. In addition to the difficulties presented by autism, he also struggled with literacy. We then began the battle of surviving the school experience. When we met Paula, my son identified literacy improvement as his priority and so we began a journey with Paula. He completed his literacy program first and saw immediate impressive improvements. He then began the Autism program. Prior to this program our son avoided any social interaction even with extended family in our home, could not remember to eat if not reminded, was unaware of hunger signals, could not complete homework assignments on time without assistance, had no friends, only what he referred to as "colleagues" in school, could not be separated from "research" on his phone/ipad even during mealtimes and was prone to impressive meltdowns when required to put it down or engage in any interaction that he found uncomfortable. Today he is an independent learner, he has no problems with self care, eating, washing and grooming generally. He no longer stays up late into the night on his devices. He is on course academically for his desired college course and most importantly to us he will not miss school because he likes to "meet his friends".
I would recommend the program provided by Paula to any struggling parent and child, it takes time and work, but the work is practical and logical and the gain is immense.
Amber R
