Parents Instructing Challenged Children (PICC) Supports & Services began offering a variety of intervention programs to Homeschool New York / LEAH members back in 2010. These programs address a wide variety of learning struggles, including (but not limited to) focus/attention; sensory, auditory, and visual processing; speech/language; executive function; gross and fine motor coordination; spelling/decoding; and reading fluency. These programs cannot be accessed through local school district services or even, in some cases, through local private providers. PICC programs are neurodevelopmentally based, science backed, and can be done at home in as little as fifteen minutes each day!
Below is a small sample of parent feedback on PICC programs. Initials are used for privacy.
March 2025 – TLP Spectrum with Learning Ears & Primitive Reflex Program
We started using The Listening Program (TLP) with the Listening Ears (LE) add-on after many years of no answers and desperately needing support for our daughter. She was having a hard time learning to read, retaining any new or old information, not speaking well, not eating well, and getting very frustrated in school and life. She had very low self-confidence and we had very little to offer on our own. This program, along with PICC LEAH’s support, and the Primitive Reflex Program have completely changed our lives! She is calmer, more confident, more motivated, and honestly happier. Her reading has improved by leaps and bounds, she is memorizing her school facts with much more ease, and her speech has become noticeably clearer. We are incredibly thankful and would highly recommend these services to anyone struggling! Such a blessing! C. B.
Aug. 2024 – The Listening Program Spectrum (Age 12) – Genetic Syndrome
I chose to do the TLP program with my daughter who has a genetic syndrome and is developmentally delayed. I was happy with the changes and progress made. The biggest change seen in my student was a decrease in anxiety about events. I was very happy with the support I got. I would recommend the PICC ministry and the TLP Program to other families because I found that it helped my child (and doing the TLP program through PICC helps to make this program affordable). I am very satisfied with this PICC Program! D.S.
June 2023 – The Listening Program (Spectrum) with WAVES Bone Conduction Headphones (Age 16)
My daughter completed the TLP program and experienced growth in many areas. To name a few areas, she became free to thrive in social situations, made progress initiating and completing tasks, and experienced less frustration. She became less sensitive to background noise and is now collaborating vocally in a church worship band. These are all substantial gains that have made life much more peaceful and richer for her. We feel so blessed to have accessed the program and for Mary’s guidance! K.
April 2023 – The Listening Program (Spectrum) with Learning Ears (TLP/LE) (Age 7) -APD / Sensory
When my 8th child turned 6, she was not able to recite her alphabet correctly, and she didn’t know many of the letter sounds consistently. I was puzzled because this had never been the case with any of her older siblings at that age, and I had done nothing different in preparing her for reading than I had done for them. I began officially introducing her to phonics starting with just working on letter sounds. It was slow and frustrating work for both of us, and I began to wonder if she had dyslexia or some other reason for this trouble. She couldn’t seem to retain even a few sight words like “are, the, and one.” I decided that I needed help. I had heard of PICC LEAH and decided to attend an online workshop with them to see if they could assist me. Mary Fratianni explained how “The Listening Program” and the “Learning Ears” add-on had helped many children who were struggling with their brains not processing information that they heard the same as others. I didn’t really understand everything and was somewhat skeptical, but I decided it was worth a try. The first phase of listening was helpful to pinpoint my daughter’s lack of focus. She really struggled to adjust to even just 15 minutes of listening. The headset bothered her. She couldn’t sit still. It was definitely not enjoyable for her. I started trying some of Mary’s suggestions for sensory issues, and, slowly, she began to tolerate her listening sessions more. She still didn’t enjoy them, so we tried giving her something to do with her hands while she listened, and it really helped. Sometimes she would just play with paper dolls, but the listening was working to help her brain to focus. When we finally got to the phase that incorporates Learning Ears, she was ready for the next step, which was reading! I was amazed at the progress we made. She went from reading nothing but a handful of sight words and being very confused about phonetic sounds, to being able to read some basic beginner readers in a matter of weeks. I really had to trust Mary and the program and refrain from including phonics instruction. Now, five months later, I am so glad that I did! My daughter has blossomed as an emergent reader and is able to read at her level, giving me the confidence to say that she is now a thriving reader. Her enjoyment of reading is such a pleasure to see as she discovers words and thoughts all around her now. I would never have believed that she could have progressed so quickly through beginning reading. Her retention has amazed me, and she is even starting to grasp phonetic concepts and sounds without my prompting. I would highly recommend trying this program if you have a struggling reader at any level. My advice would be to become a member of PICC and follow Mary’s counsel. It was hard work for both my daughter and me, but so worth it to persevere! C.G.
April 2022 – The Listening Program (Spectrum) with Learning Ears (TLP/LE) (Age 7 Focus/Attention & Sensory)
My child did the TLP with Learning Ears Program. Mary gave me so much good advice and support throughout the whole program! Anytime there were adjustments needed, she really listened and helped us to make the program fit our needs. My son’s speech and sensory issues improved from this program and Mary’s guidance! Mary cares so much for all children, and she has a huge knowledge base. I am so thankful for all of her help! Thanks, J.M.
December 2022 – The Listening Program Spectrum /Autism Age 8
We appreciate the use of this program through PICC LEAH, as well Mary’s expert support! We have realized that we do have a quite challenging student, and that there are no quick fixes. However, we do feel that the TLP program has been a help for her coping and focusing skills, and we do see improvement! Thank you so much! G.D. & M.G.
June 2019 – TLP Spectrum & The Movement Program – ADD/ADHD/LD
Just wanted to share some news we just found out this afternoon. Our son was up for his 3-year evaluation for special ed this October. Short end of the story, they gave him his evaluation last week instead of waiting for the new school year. The psychologist called today and went over results. He has improved so much, she gave me the option to hold him back with the other kids going into 6th grade instead of moving him to middle school with other special ed students. We used a program called The Listening Program and The Movement Program – OT exercises and eye tracking exercises – that have put him where he’s at now. He’s not on grade level for reading, writing, or math – but he is moving in a good direction! The psychologist sent home his report today for me to read. She didn’t tell me on the phone yesterday that he no longer needs speech! That’s another thing you helped him with last summer. The hard work is paying off and brings tears of happiness when I think about it. Thank you for all the prayers over the past few years. Isaiah 12:2 and Romans 8:28 have been my strength. God is good! Love, L.S. and family
For more information on PICC Supports & Services and all the ministry has to offer, please go to www.leah.org and click on the “Special Needs” tab.
