The Purpose

I know what it feels like to be the child who cannot read the way everyone else can.

I sat in the lowest reading groups. I memorized words just to survive. I moved from Maine to New Hampshire in third grade and it was there, in a brand new school, that someone finally noticed something was different. I was identified with a learning disability. But being identified did not feel like relief. It felt like confirmation of something I had already believed about myself.

I also struggled with ADHD. I carried both without the language, the support, or the instruction I deserved.

My own parents were educators. And they did not believe I could handle college.

I went anyway.

I earned my Master's degree in Reading. My special education certification. My 092 administrator endorsement. My Associates through the Academy of Orton-Gillingham. And I built the school I needed when I was seven years old.

But here is what kept me up at night as I built it.

What happens to the child whose family cannot afford what I am offering?

That question is why The Learning Lab Foundation exists.

WHAT IS THE LEARNING LAB FOUNDATION

The Learning Lab Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) scholarship fund created to ensure that financial circumstances never determine whether a child receives the expert dyslexia instruction they deserve.

OG Learning Lab is a premier, specialized program staffed by Connecticut-certified, Orton-Gillingham trained educators. It delivers results. And it carries a tuition that reflects the intensity and quality of that instruction.

The Foundation exists alongside the school with one specific purpose: to make scholarships available to families who need financial assistance so that cost is never the reason a child does not get the support they need.

Every dollar donated to The Learning Lab Foundation goes directly to scholarships. Not overhead. Not administration. Directly to families.

WHO WE SERVE

The Learning Lab Foundation awards scholarships to families who:

•   Have a child with an identified or suspected dyslexia diagnosis

•   Demonstrate financial need that makes full tuition at OG Learning Lab a significant barrier

•   Are committed to their child's attendance and participation in the program

•   Reside in Connecticut or the surrounding region

Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis as funds are available. Families are encouraged to apply and to reach out directly to discuss their situation. Every application is reviewed personally by Sarah Fudge.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

Applying for a scholarship is simple and confidential. We believe the process of asking for help should never feel harder than the struggle you are already navigating.

To apply, reach out to us directly at info@saybrookreading.com with the subject line: Foundation Scholarship Inquiry. Include a brief description of your child's situation and your family's financial circumstances. We will respond within 48 hours and guide you through the next steps.

There is no lengthy form. No judgment. Just a conversation with someone who genuinely understands what your family is going through.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION

The Learning Lab Foundation is powered entirely by the generosity of people who believe every child deserves the right instruction, regardless of their family's financial situation.

When you donate to The Learning Lab Foundation, you are not making a charitable contribution to an abstract cause. You are directly funding a scholarship that will allow a child with dyslexia to walk through the doors of OG Learning Lab and receive the instruction that can change their academic future.

Every amount matters. A gift of any size moves a family closer to access.

CONTACT ME DIRECTLY

I spent years of my childhood in a classroom that did not know how to teach me. I know what it costs a child to go without the right support. Not just academically, but in the quiet, daily erosion of believing you are capable.

No child should go without the instruction they need because their family cannot afford it.

That is the only reason The Learning Lab Foundation exists. And it is the reason I will never stop fighting for it.

If you have questions about the Foundation, scholarship applications, or how to get involved, please reach out directly.

Sarah Fudge, M.Ed.

Founder, The Learning Lab Foundation and OG Learning Lab

info@saybrookreading.com  |  saybrookreading.com