We were lucky to catch up with Kathleen Ferrufino recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kathleen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
As a tutor who helps children learn to read, I had a certification from the Wilson Reading System. When I tried to get new clients, parents always wanted someone who was a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT). So, I decided to invest in myself to better serve my students. I just finished the two-year journey to becoming a CALT. This included over 700 hours of working with students, 224 hours of classroom instruction, 10 demonstration lessons, and many papers showing what I learned. Now, the only thing left is the certification exam, which I hope to take next month. I am so glad that I decided to invest more knowledge into myself to help others.
Kathleen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Since we last talked, I’ve focused more on tutoring and therapy for students. Every client wanted me to help their child more than I had expected. So, I adjusted my business to meet their needs. This also made me want to become an expert in dyslexia. I love helping others understand dyslexia better. The more people I meet, the more myths about dyslexia I can dispel. My brand remains committed to educating others about dyslexia and showing how it can be a gift once you see its positive side.
We’ve also changed our name to Dyslexia Insights. I believe this name better represents what I stand for. I can offer insights from my own experience with dyslexia and now, as a therapist and professional.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My reputation is built on sharing my experiences with dyslexia, both the good and the bad. People follow me because I talk about the positive side of dyslexia. Discovering the advantages of dyslexia changed my life and made me want to help others. For example, I show how resilient and empathetic people with dyslexia can be. We can relate to others and help them out. We often have to work longer and harder to reach the same goals, but we keep going and succeed.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Over the years, I’ve grown my client base by sharing that I also have dyslexia and understand what they are going through. This helps me stand out as a therapist. My clients say this is why they choose me, because I can relate to them and provide better support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clearpathdyslexia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiainsights/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-ferrufino-m-ed-3914aa279/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU86_X10yZJQeQXyfh0AoVQ
Image Credits
My husband took the photos. Will Ferrufino