December News

Dear Everyone

Thank you!  Thank you for being you, for supporting us mentally, energetically and sometimes financially!  Every one of our fabulous team values you enormously.

Speaking of the team, this year we welcomed two new Board members, Nadine Schumont and Sharon Roberts, both in Ontario – Sharon has since qualified as a Davis Autism Coach.

FUNDRAISING:  This being the second year of Covid we followed the 2020 example and launched our Walk and Talk the DYS out of Dyslexia in August.  Nadine and Sharon really helped it take off in eastern Canada.  We added an Auction with amazing items, in the most part due to Julie Brewer.

Following on from the Auction we forged a new fundraising link with Tru Earth Eco Products – such a great company reducing plastic in landfills.  Please order via the link on our website, and then we get 20% donated to us by Tru Earth!  There is a banner to this link right at the top of each WDS website page. Think of them for Christmas presents? Visit our fundraising page here.

We published another Podcast series interviewing Sue’s fellow TEDxers. We now have 28 subscribers and 990 listens… www.thewds.org/podcasts.  We have been approached re advertising which is a good sign!

We raised $12,000 – which was fantastic and sounds a lot – however 8 bursaries ($12,000) to 6 Facilitators – and it’s gone already.  2 West Coast, 4 East Coast Facilitators making 9 bursaries in total this year. 

Grants:  We are hopeful the Loyal Protestants will be able to help our bursary fund.  We just heard that the Davis Canadian Facilitators Association have awarded us a bursary for 2021 - thank you!  We’ve applied to RBC for Admin funding because Laura, our Administrator, is paid part-time and often works for us full time. There is no way we could achieve what we do without her, so we need to rectify this!

DLS:  We were able to help 2 attendees with DLS fees (July Workshop) and 1 school in Saskatoon, with their workshop. In return they will be giving us some informal data, so we can encourage others. DLS is an amazing product that would make the lives of teachers so much easier with the best result that the learning challenges won’t have a chance to develop.  Nadine requested a video for teachers who are interested in DLS and need a segue into booking a program – Julie, Sharon and I had fun creating one – www.thewds.org/prevention .

Julie and Sue are working on the next step, an online Pro D presentation covering both what dyslexia is, how it can be corrected and prevented. Julie is focussing on getting DLS into the Montessori School system, Sharon is working on the Mennonite system and Sue is ever hopeful for the Waldorf system and Paddy is an ever present force in Alberta. Stacey Smith in Calgary is our Canadian DLS presenter and online presentations mean we can reach teachers more easily!

OUTREACH:  Sue likes to think of her TEDx as significant Outreach 2,667 views – please do circulate -something to do with algorithms and TED will boost us.  View HERE. WDS has a YouTube Channel too. Visit our channel HERE.

We publish a Newsletter pretty much every month and our postings on Social Media have increased this year. www.thewds.org/newsletters

COMMUNITY:  Sadly, no Summer Camps this year, we live in hope for next year; we ran 2 disability tax credit information sessions for parents with TJ Firenze who is kind enough to donate her services.  Hopefully there will be one in 2022.

CURRENTLY: Nadine is working on ADD and ADHD; Sharon is working on Executive Function; Sue is creating Homeschooling support products – taking Davis further.  Tristan is taking a course on podcasting. 

OUR GOALS FOR 2022:  Gisa, Nadine and I want to focus on getting a major sponsor for 2022.  If you have clients with connections, please let us know, its always who you know, not what you know. We need a major corporation/philanthropist to take us under their wing financially.  Sue will continue  working on materials to support Homeschoolers.  All of us want DLS in at least 3 schools next year.  We will plan another Walk and Talk Fundraiser in 2022.  

and last by definitely not least…

Gifted with Dyslexia PINS

We launched the concept of a universal symbol for dyslexia – from idea to design to production to marketing and distribution.  We had a glitch with the first batch, but they are now better than ever.  

First it was just a fundraiser… then we thought we would like the symbol more than that… it could be an emblem that pulls the Davis family together.  Facilitators have so many products, books, films, apps etc. and yet the general public will not know that we are all part of the same Davis fold. 

Then we thought why not go further with this idea... even if it were added to non Davis materials it would bring a tiny bit of energy closer to the idea of dyslexia being a gift… shifting perception from Learning Disability to us being Learning Able is key.  It is not a trademark, or logo, it is simply a symbol, an emblem – hopefully one day just as well known as the pink ribbon. It says “We support the idea of dyslexia being a gift”.  Corporations could be seen as dyslexic friendly employers !

So firstly, please help us with the actual pins – think stocking stuffers ! www.thewds.org/pins

Secondly, in January we will get good quality digital images out to you all and explore the idea of physical stickers for existing products/companies… images along these lines, you can they can choose. 

Thirdly, this is what we all wish you, and a very much happier 2022 ! 

With love and gratitude, Sue, Laura, Nadine, Sharon, Paddy, Julie, Gisa and Tristan.

Our Giving Guide: 

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