Help Cole Make Literacy Accessible for All

Hi, I'm Cole. Those who know me will tell you I am a huge language nerd and life-long learner. I am also an educator on a mission to make effective literacy intervention accessible to every child, particularly those with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Today, I’m reaching out to ask for your support in a cause that touches the lives of countless children across the U.S., and the world, ensuring they have the tools they need to read, write, and pursue their dreams of success into adulthood.

Photo: Cole at Crunch Fitness business partnership event

Our Story

D. was nine when I had the privilege of being her English teacher. Straight out of Northeastern University, armed with a new linguistics degree, I spent a year teaching at a school in Eastern Europe. I can still see D. so clearly, sitting at her desk with her head in her hands, inconsolable. It was clear then that she struggled with reading and spelling in her native language, let alone English. She was the sweetest, most loving and genuine person, and her peers and teachers could not understand her challenge. She tried so hard in school, with little success.

The shame she expressed daily I now recognize in students with severe, undiagnosed dyslexia. It wasn’t until two years later, back in the States, that my former school, Hershey Montessori, sent me to get trained in Orton-Gillingham (OG) to work specifically with dyslexic kids on literacy. It was not a lightbulb moment, but fireworks. I realized that the sequential, multisensory OG approach could be life-changing for anyone struggling to read–from current schoolchildren, to English as a Second Language students, to reeducation for incarcerated adults. There is no limit to the effectiveness of Orton-Gillingham, and I’ve been teaching 1:1 intervention ever since.

Every day, I get to help kids like D.; kids who don’t understand why they process information differently than their peers; kids who see themselves as “incredibly stupid,” as one of my students told me, and who internalize untruths about their intelligence, capabilities, and self-worth.

Photo: H. and Cole doing the short vowel signal drill

Our Mission

That’s why I founded Aansen Literacy. We are dedicated to serving children who struggle with reading and spelling, especially those who cannot easily access the specialized intervention they need. I am passionate about providing struggling students with the resources that are not only effective but also affordable. My mission is to make the proven Orton-Gillingham approach—a method largely restricted to those who can afford expensive private tutoring—available to families at home.

The Urgent Need

With research pointing to 1 in 5 people struggling with dyslexia, and many more who still struggle to read and spell, the lack of support in many schools is more than just an educational gap—it is a crisis. These students are often left to cope without the right help, watching their peers advance while they get left behind. Literacy is the foundation for every other academic discipline and directly related to children’s self-esteem. This isn't just about learning to read or survive school; it's about giving every child the chance to live confidently and thrive in adulthood.

Why Your Support Matters

I've been bootstrapping Aansen Literacy, funding everything from product development to branding and business mentorship out of pocket. I’m making OG accessible first through multi-sensory “sound cards” and an accompanying video course so parents and other educators can teach exactly what I teach. In bringing them to those in need, I am facing substantial startup costs, and I need your support.

Your contribution will directly fund the promotional activities and start-up expenses essential for our pre-sale launch, helping us reach families desperate for a solution within the year. This is the first of multiple Orton-Gillingham tools, including a comprehensive OG teaching manual and online video course, a targeted study app, more multisensory products, and ultimately, a documentary for spreading awareness.

What We Offer

The Impact of Your Contribution

By supporting our GoFundMe campaign, you are helping to:

Photo: L. and his mom, reading together

Who Benefits?

Every donation brings us closer to helping more children like D. From homeschool families to those in traditional education, our products and courses are for the millions of children like her who are currently overlooked by the educational system. We are not here to place blame for the complicated situation many schools and teachers are in; we are simply here to provide support for anyone who is looking for a solution. Regardless of a dyslexia diagnosis, we are here for all struggling readers and their families.

Join Us

I often think of D. as I consider the countless children who are suffering in school every day. We are not just selling products; we are building a movement to advocate for literacy as a fundamental human right. Together, we can ensure that no child's future is limited by access to building strong literacy skills.

Please, take a moment to support our campaign. Share our story with your network, contribute if you can, and help us bring essential literacy tools to children everywhere.

Thank you for your time and support. Together, we can make a lasting difference.

Until everyone can read,

Cole Aansen

Founder, Aansen Literacy

Educator, Advocate, and Entrepreneur

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Photo: E. reading a book to her mom

P.S. All media of my students and their parents have been shared with signed parental consent, as well as consent of the students. Sources for images from the video can be viewed here.