August 2022

Dear All,

It’s that time again…this year’s fundraising campaign is based on $20 for our 20 years. Simplest plan… please donate any multiple of $20 here…

To add fun to the $20 we offer some suggestions to go with your summer holidays or back to school activities HERE…

Let’s make this a bumper year… $20,000 would be a fabulous goal to achieve!

Thank you !

And WHY… WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO… ? This is Why….

“A is graduating this month from High School.... She has found that she has a very scientific brain and has her highest makes and school success in classes such as AP Biology, Environmental Science, and Psychology. She made the choice to take extra math classes through grade 11 and 12 working her way through the workplace programs, and the foundations programs. She has experienced top marks in the class for a few presentations and projects for the first time, and it has given her so much confidence. Last summer she was a tour guide at our little local museum, delivering a strict speech and answering questions. They have asked her back for a more senior position this season. She is off to Central America this fall/winter for travel, and mainly for the ocean and swimming. Her passions include ocean clean up and she going to get involved in beach and coastal clean up. Getting the plastic out of the ocean. She has been accepted to UVic and Camoson College and plans to attend after gap year.”

“On and on I could go, but we want you to know how much your program helped our family all those years ago. Every little skill we learn, and each new approach offers some insight and help. I’ve sure noticed as my kids have matured through the senior levels of high school and how a lot about their education and dyslexia falls into place. It’s less about the reading and writing, and much more about their wonderful skill set of being adaptive and creative and patient and thoughtful. Funny little things they’ve noticed like they never get lost, they always know where they park the car in the city, where as their friends don’t! The kids are both great with money and saving.”

Thank you again ...their Mom

“E returned from his third year of Apprentice Electrical school this spring and is back on the tools. He is one of only two electricians at his level with his company that passed 3rd year school. He works hard and values his education. He now drives a company fleet vehicle, and is starting to train first year apprentices on some job sites, while still developing his own skills and education on bigger more complex homes and buildings.”

From Sue Jutson, Davis Facilitator in Vancouver: Bobby received a bursary from WDS late last year and he went on to do a Reading program with me.  Once he completed it he enrolled at VCC in 2 English classes.  Although depression was a constant for him through the winter especially he remained dedicated and still got A’s in both classes.  So now he has officially graduated from high school, and is starting to believe in what he is capable of - good story, right?But there is more - With this new found confidence and belief in himself he applied to Langara’s theatre program “Studio 58” (theatre is his dream).  This involved an audition for which he was very nervous.  Normally it takes 2 to 3 auditions and applications to be accepted, Bobby was accepted with his first try!  He is now gardening his way (my garden just gets better and better) to an ADHD program so he can manage his life and those important “Life Concepts" in a more regulated way.  Good story continues, right?To add to that….He also received help from the tax expert WDS mentioned to him during his interview AND he got organized with their help, and received some back issued tax credit funding - he bought himself a computer (was using the library ones for his time at VCC), a printer, a  bike, and paid off his debts.  As you can imagine he feels excited about his future.  His confidence in his own abilities has really improved… This brings us to May; there will be more to come, of that I’m sure :)

The tax expert mentioned is T.J.Firenze tj@firenzefinancial.ca, 604.312.8642, who donates her services.

INTERESTING READING:

Dr James Davies, Oxon – author of Psychiatry and Big Pharma: Exposed

Watch HERE

Very long…but fascinating in an eye-opening way.  His voice is an easy listen in an Eddie Redmayne way.

In 2013 dyslexia was added to The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health) and it baffled me… its not a mental disorder…we all know its the result of a natural ability to alter perception in response to confusion and our education system.  Anyway… its in there.  Have you noticed an explosion of mental health issues, this might be why - Dr. Davies says many of the so-called mental disorders are normal, painful experiences.  

SUPERIOR RACE CONFIRMED: Dyslexia isn't a disorder, it's essential to how our species adapt, say researchers….read more HERE,

DEVELOPMENTAL DYSLEXIA ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN ADAPTIVE SUCCESS…read more HERE.

PREVENTION

While we continue to support teachers out there (Wildflower School, Nelson BC, Prairie Christian Academy, Saskatoon, Montessori schools in Victoria, BC) using Davis Learning Strategies with their children, there have been two very exciting developments.

• Cala Dyck, a newly qualified Facilitator in Vancouver, has been working at Southlands School which is a very wonderful ‘outdoor/riding’ initiative. We were able to help fund 3 of their teachers to attend a DLS Workshop and now they are all ready to take their new skills into the new school year.

• Two New Zealand Facilitators have made a connection with a Math teacher in Kenya. They are planning to make the Why Ty series available to tutors and parents and have asked for our help in doing so. We are extremely excited to be part of this very worthwhile project. We honestly didn’t know that we are able to contribute worldwide, but we are, so we look forward to our broader horizons!

COMMUNITY - SUMMER TIPS

Sharon Roberts (Board Director, Ontario) has shared some tips from her summer newsletters:

• Lots of Physical Exercise: We know that exercise boosts memory and thinking skills, but now, researchers have shown for the first time that physical activity can increase the size of children’s brains and improve academic performance. Wahoo !

• Get Out in Nature: Spending time in nature can act as a balm for our busy brains. University of Chicago psychologist Marc Berman, PhD, and his student Kathryn Schertz reported, that green spaces near schools promote cognitive development in children and green views near children’s homes promote self-control behavior. Experiments have found that being exposed to natural environments improves working memory, cognitive flexibility and attentional control, while exposure to urban environments is linked to attention deficits (Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 28, No. 5, 2019). No Nature Deficit Disorder for us !

• Sleep: Healthy sleep is absolutely essential to a brain healthy life. Sleep rejuvenates all the cells in your body, gives brain cells a chance to repair themselves, helps wash away toxins that build up during the day, and activates neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate due to inactivity. My favourite !

• Food: You guessed it.. avoid sugar and processed foods ( as they often have hidden sugars). Sugar has a long-term effect on learning. A comprehensive study at UCLA showed that …..because of the numerous effects sugar has on brain pathways and neurotransmitters, the scientists in the study concluded that sugar “over the long term alters your brain's ability to learn and remember information.” It is recommended that 7 to 10 year old get no more than 24 g of sugar; 11 years to adults no more than 30 g (7 sugar cubes) There are 39 grams of sugar in one 12 oz can of Coke and 21 grams of sugar in 1 cup of orange juice.

• Water. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academics has the following recommendation for kids:
  Children 1-3 yrs: 4 cups per day
  Boys and girls 4-8 yrs: 5 cups per day
  Girls 9-13 yrs: 7 cups per day
  Boys 9-13 yrs: 8 cups per day
  Girls 14-18 yrs: 8 cups per day
  Boys 14-18 yrs: 11 cups per day

All really easy right ?

TUITION EXPENSES - TAX BENEFITS FOR SELF EMPLOYED AND BUSINESS OWNERS. Below is a communication from our friends at Firenze Financial. They have provided our families with help for the Disability Tax Credit application process. Here is a tip regarding tuition expenses and childcare expenses. Contact Firenze HERE.

“As we approach the end of the summer, our focus returns to the upcoming school year.  Therefore, I invite you to consider a few ways that eligible tuition payments can be converted into a valuable taxable benefit for you and your family.

For many business owners and self-employed individuals, this could drastically reduce your family’s yearly expenses.  The financial future is becoming increasingly uncertain; as inflation and debt continue to pressure us all, our family’s future has never been more critical.

Registering your business with a no-cost Health Spending Account with Firenze Financial Services Inc. is one way to save thousands of dollars each year on essential and everyday expenses.

·  Elective and therapeutic procedures.

·  Costs not covered by your extended health plan.

·  Additional eligible expenses such as other childcare expenses, including tuition. And much more.

You must be registered before any expenses can be eligible for these deductions – so do not hesitate. Please get in touch with us today, and we can walk you through the easy set-up.”

Wishing you a beautiful late Summer !

Sue, Laura, Paddy, Nadine, Sharon, Julie, Gisa, Tristan

Our Giving Guide: 

Our $20for20 Fundraising Campaign Page with Canada Helps. Visit our donation page HERE.

Purchase our Gifted with Dyslexia Pins.  Purchase our Pins Here

TruEarth Eco-Friendly Laundry Soap and Products.  20% of all sales go to our Society.  Please follow the link to our Tru-Earth product page to purchase.  Tru-Earth Eco-Friendly Products Here

See how donations can result in tax credits by reading the article below. Read More…Tax Benefits of Charitable Donations

We have Note Cards for sale at The Card Project. Visit The Card Project Here

Partial proceeds go to The WDS from sales and rentals of Ed Roman’s highly acclaimed “Red Omen” video. For more information on renting or buying Red Omen click here 

We gratefully accept donations through our Canada helps charity page. We have a variety of donor options. Thank you !

Canada Helps - General Fund 

Canada Helps Tribute - Donate in honour of or in memory of a loved one.  

Canada Helps Securities - A donation of securities or mutual funds is the most efficient way to give charitably. Since capital gains taxes don't apply, our charity receives the full fair market value when the security is sold, and you get a tax receipt which reflects your larger contribution. This allows you to give more and get more.

We are a registered charity with the PayPal Giving Fund. You can donate to our organization using your PayPal account with no fees. Thank you ! PayPal Giving Fund 

Photo Credits: Photo by Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz on Unsplash, Photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash, Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash, Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash