Meet the Buchers
One Family Saw the Struggle and Decided to Change It.
Dyslexia & Literacy Advocates was born from something deeply personal.
For Pam Bucher, school was never easy. Reading required more time, more effort, and more courage than it seemed to for others. It wasn’t until adulthood that she was formally diagnosed with dyslexia — finally putting language to something she had lived with for years.
She understands what it feels like to be the slowest reader in the room.
Years later, when her daughter Abby began showing signs of similar struggles, the family recognized them immediately. They knew early intervention would matter — not just for academic success, but for confidence.
Finding the Right Support
The Bucher family turned to the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Harrisburg, where Abby received tutoring grounded in the Orton-Gillingham approach — a structured, multisensory method specifically designed for students with dyslexia and related literacy challenges.
The transformation was powerful.
With structured, systematic instruction, Abby’s skills strengthened. More importantly, her confidence grew.
She was capable — she just needed to be taught in a way that worked for her brain.
But accessing that support required frequent travel to Harrisburg — evenings and weekends spent on the road.
For many families and educators, that kind of commitment simply isn’t feasible.
And that realization planted a seed.
A Question That Sparked a Movement
What if this training could exist here?
What if educators in Franklin and Cumberland Counties could become Orton-Gillingham trained without the burden of travel?
What if more students could be supported within their own schools?
That question became the foundation of the Dyslexia & Literacy Advocates.
Building Local Access
In fall 2023, three teachers from the Chambersburg Area School District enrolled in Orton-Gillingham training through the Children’s Dyslexia Center.
The commitment was significant:
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Several Saturdays in August and September
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Two evenings per week from September through May
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Travel to Harrisburg throughout the academic year
Two educators were unable to continue due to the demanding schedule.
But one completed the full training.
Through early donations to the fund, we were able to offset travel costs and support that educator’s dedication. Today, she uses Orton-Gillingham in her classroom at Scotland Elementary School and provides private tutoring in the community.
One trained educator became proof of concept.
But for true impact, the training needed to come home.
Partnership & Expansion
Recognizing the regional need, the Children’s Dyslexia Center agreed to expand into our area.
The Chambersburg Area School District provided classroom space at the district administration building for in-person instruction.
Educators are now able to:
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Complete training locally
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Conduct their practicum within their own schools
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Tutor students during or outside of school hours
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Apply strategies immediately in their classrooms
A partnership with Shippensburg University’s Office of Workforce Development further strengthened the initiative, allowing participants to earn six graduate credits through READ 593: Selected Topics in Reading – Multisensory Instruction.
Those credits are accepted into Shippensburg’s MEd programs in Curriculum & Instruction and Literacy, creating meaningful academic and professional growth opportunities for educators.
Growing Impact
As of May 2026:
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Nine educators from Chambersburg and Shippensburg have completed Orton-Gillingham training.
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The OG trained teachers now provide tutoring within their schools and privately.
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Enrollment has expanded into additional districts across Franklin and Cumberland Counties.
In the 2025–2026 academic year, educators from:
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Chambersburg Area School District
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Shippensburg Area School District
participated in the READ 593 course.
What began as one family’s journey is now strengthening literacy capacity across multiple districts.
“I can’t even begin to imagine what it would look like if every dyslexic child had the privilege and ability to be taught through Orton-Gillingham.”
Abby Bucher
Looking Ahead: Expanding Access for Every Child
What began as one family’s journey has grown into a regional movement — and we are just getting started.
Our vision is clear:
To expand access to Orton-Gillingham training for educators and increase structured literacy support for students across Franklin and Cumberland Counties.
We are actively working to:
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Secure graduate credit approval for advanced levels of Orton-Gillingham training
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Continue offering READ 593 to educators and community members
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Expand participation across additional school districts
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Establish a local center modeled after the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Harrisburg
A dedicated local center would mean:
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More educators trained
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More students receiving tutoring
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Reduced travel burdens for families
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Increased community awareness of dyslexia and structured literacy
Every educator we train strengthens an entire school.
Every student supported builds confidence that lasts far beyond the classroom.
That future is possible.
And it begins right here at home.
