March 2023

Hi there – Spring arrives officially in March – and we are definitely springing into action following our AGM on Feb 25th. 

In a nutshell, we are grateful for all the WDS volunteer time.

We are exceptionally grateful for the funding that allowed Laura, our administrator, to make considerable inroads/improvements in our foundations and social media.

We were able to award 5 program bursaries and subsidise 3 teachers taking a DLS workshop. 

Our Outreach, Fundraising and Community success was minimal. 

We were surprised and honoured to be part of a New Zealand-led Davis initiative in Kenya!

Read the full Chair’s Report HERE.

Steps are already underway to improve our situation:

• We have applied for the Government’s Community Services Recovery Fund ($400M)!

• One philanthropic ‘ask’ has been sent to acquire a capital fund so bursaries can be guaranteed from the interest.

Many more ‘asks’ are on their way.

• We have applied to Telus StoryHive for $20,000 to create a documentary.

• Grants from Canada Post, the Vancouver Foundation, the Victoria Foundation and the Loyal Protestants are also on their way.

We welcome all suggestions as to who to contact !  Thank you!

NEWS

Sharon Roberts is writing an article in each Newsletter… how dyslexia impacts our lives… this month the topic is Time Blindness.

On the first of the following month we will invite you to ‘Come to the Dyslexic Table’ a Live Chat on this topic. See our invitation below the article.

We will create a sound podcast from the Live Chat… and are really excited for us all to feel more connected.

Time Blindness: by Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

I could never warm up to Alice in Wonderland. It was too crazy, too frantic. Time in Wonderland seemed troubled; topsy turvy. It’s not unlike many households today. We live at a frantic pace.

Maybe you find yourself chronically late or overwhelmed when given a project , fearing how long it would take? Do you feel constantly rushed? Does your child struggle to complete homework or doesn’t get ready even with constant reminders? Maybe you just don’t get time?

The phrase coined to identify this behavior is time blindness. It means a person is unable to sense the passing of time and it can make nearly every aspect of a person’s life more difficult.

While technology has provided aids to assist the task of reading, writing or doing math, the ability to manage time and meet deadlines remains challenging not only for that individual but for those who live, work or play with them. Tardiness makes others feel less valued and is often interpreted as inconsiderate, disrespectful or just plain rude.

Being able to shift perceptions (disorient) readily, is an innate characteristic of the dyslexic or ADHD mindset, and the root cause of time blindness. In The Gift of Learning by Ronald D. Davis, he says disorientation is not just limited to visual input but can affect a person’s sense of time. When a person readily disorients, there is no consistency in assessing how much time goes by. There is an inconsistent impression made and the person’s world speeds up or slows down in a way that is out of control.  This is  determined by the speed of their internal clock. I have had clients describe this as walking through a dark tunnel with no light in sight.

The Davis programs address disorientation and through creative and tactile means  introduce the concept of time. Faithful use of the client’s orientation tools when facing situations involving time allows the person to input accurately so the awareness of time passing by is more spot on.  Besides reducing stress, effective time management can achieve a better work/life balance, greater focus, less procrastination and more productivity. One of the key benefits of time management is greater time freedom. When you have greater time freedom, you can focus your time on setting and achieving your biggest goals.  Greater time freedom also ensures you have more time to spend with family and friends; you have more time to deepen relationships and pursue new hobbies. What would you do with an extra few hours in a week? 

‘COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE’ ..on APRIL 1, 2023 at 4.30pm PST, 7.30pm EST to talk about this article. Please join us! Will be so much fun to hear your time challenges and solutions !

HOME TURF:

On Friday April 21, Sue and Julie are presenting a Professional Development Day session for the Sooke School District on Friday, April 21, 2023.

It is open to the public, so do feel free to share the poster!

ONTARIO CHAPTER:

FREE ONLINE EVENT, Davis Learning Strategies 2023, March 9, 3.30pm PST, 6.30pm EST.

Nadine is hosting an information session on Davis Learning Strategies with Julie Brewer, Sue Hall and an Australian Facilitator, Jan Stead. To read more and RSVP please visit Nadine’s page HERE.

Nadine Schumont is representing us at a Mother’s Day event in Stratford, Ontario..

She is also running a summer camp for her students in Stratford.. they can’t wait.. last year’s was so much fun!

FROM THE UK

Tessa Halliwell (Davis Facilitator and Autism Coach) in the UK created this amazing App. She has sketches for most of the trigger words and sometimes more than one meaning for a trigger word. This would be an asset when wondering how to guide your student towards a model that would work.

Here are the links: Apple iPad 

http://bit.ly/PictureGrammarIOS

Android (phone and tablet)

http://bit.ly/PictureGrammarAndroid

INTERNATIONAL NEWS FROM KAKAMEGA, KENYA AND KAZAKHSTAN:

With our wonderful Kakamega Project Team, Claire & Rachel (Davis Facilitators in New Zealand) and Geoffrey (director and lead tutor of the Math E-Zee Tutoring Institute in Kakamega county, Kenya); we are working together to build foundations for 10M dyslexic Kenyans to fully participate in education, work and community life. We’ll bring leading-edge dyslexia education methods using online tools delivered to communities in Kakamega County to start. Providing the much needed support training to remedial tutors and parents to help dyslexic children. Remedial tutors and parents want to help young people to develop effective learning skills, so they can stay in and succeed at school, and progress to higher education and employment.

To read more, meet the team, and donate visit our Campaign page HERE.

We are currently investigating an opportunity to partner with a Davis facilitator in Kazakhstan along with a team of Davis facilitators in the U.K. to bring financial support to a school dedicated to supporting children with learning difficulties (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADD and ADHD) using our hugely successful Davis methods. Learning disabilities are not recognized at the state level so this school is a fee-paying school and desperately needs funding as there are approximately 45 children that need educational grants because they cannot afford the tuition. Sadly, poverty in Kazakhstan has been rising over the past few years. Stay tuned for more on this project.

If you know of any benefactors who would love to get involved with our international projects please contact us at info@thewds.org.

INTERESTING ARTICLES FROM DDAI:

• Mental Imagery and Reading Comprehension by Abigail Marshall

• Frustration! by Kelsie Olds  

• Educational Bias and Dyslexic Learners by Abigail Marshall

• Dyslexia and ADHD: Which Is It or Is It Both? by Arije-Aike de Haas

• “Evidence Based” — But does it work? by Abigail Marshall

Nadine and Sue continue to offer the Why Ty Parent Support Courses.

For more information click on the button below.

View a parent’s testimonial on our YouTube Channel HERE.

FUNDRAISING: – need we say more – our scope widens with our resources.

• Let us know if you have even a slight connection to a philanthropist, corporation, government contact who might be willing to listen to our goal.

Happy spring ! Wishing you all the best and Thank You for your support !

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

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL !  The Kakamega Project.

The WDS & The Kakamega Project team are on a mission ! To provide effective dyslexia education training to developing remedial tutors and supporting parents in Kakamega County, Kenya. We are very excited and honoured to be part of this initiative and look forward to telling you how it is unfolding. Visit our Campaign page HERE.

Nadine Schumont from Picture Perfect Learning Solutions in Stratford, Ontario is happy to announce the release of her new “Neurodiversity" T-shirts and merchandise.

With every t-shirt sold, $5 will be donated to the Whole Dyslexic Society to use towards the many services offered. Click this LINK to see, and buy her exciting products.

Our Giving Guide: 

Picture Perfect Learning Solutions Neurodiversity Shirts & Merchandise. Nadine Schumont has create a line of shirts and merchandise celebrating neurodiversity. You can view the range of styles and the image on the back through her store. For every shirt sold Nadine is donating $5.00 to The Whole Dyslexic Society. Check out her shop 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

Donate a Car Canada. Looking for simple and free car removal? Donate a Car Canada accepts Vehicle Donations for The Whole Dyslexic Society. When you donate your car, truck, RV, boat, or motorcycle to The Whole Dyslexic Society through Donate A Car Canada, it will either be recycled or sold at auction (depending on its condition, age and location). Read more about Donate a Car Canada…….

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

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. TO READ MORE ABOUT DONATING SECURITIES OR MUTUAL FUNDS CLICK HERE

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