Newsletter September 2023
September 2023
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash
Happy month of September!
Dear All
Hoping that the transition from summer holidays to school is as smooth, joyful and easy as possible. This is definitely our year ! We have had the best news we could wish for!
We have 4 Objectives, 3 of which are thriving this year!
1. Improve Outreach and a grant for a documentary from StoryHive fills that one.
2. We need to Prevent the Challenges – the grant from the Ministry of Education and Child Care via BC Campus fill that one.
3. And NOW thanks to Gisa Straith and her presentation to 100 Women Who Care on the North Shore an award of $9,000+ goes to our Bursary Fund !
HOW INCREDIBLY BLESSSED WE ARE AND HOW INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL !!!
HERE IS more information re the Telus STORYHIVE Anniversary Edition Short Documentary grant that was awarded to The WDS.
The Need for NeuroInclusivity in Education and How (working title)
We are so fortunate to get our message out there, that currently one-third of the population does not have an equal cognitive opportunity. Luckily we know how to achieve that! This link will show you the sort of films they hope we will produce. https://www.storyhive.com/watch-and-discover. LOTS of planning underway…watch this space in October!
Photo by BBC Creative on Unsplash
WE COULD hardly believe our luck when we heard that we have also been granted a substantial sum from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, via BC Campus to create a professional development module for Early Childhood Educators, those working with 3-6 year olds.
This will basically be a version of the Davis Learning Strategies which is currently for K-3 teachers.
We need to reach ECEs, gather a maximum of 24, create an information module for them and for parents.
Stacey Smith and Julie Brewer will deliver the Early DLS in November, then we will mentor the teachers and the whole pilot has to be completed by Feb 9.
IF successful… or should I say… WHEN successful, there is a possibility of the module being extended to all of BC.
Here’s to the start of the end of learning challenges !
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???
Dreams really do come true when the work has been done, and the time is right !!!
This is a major ‘to do’ list alongside the documentary. We are always open to as much help as possible if you have a talent to share with us, please join us!
Just watch our October Newsletter as the excitement develops.
Back on the frontline... for all of you who have taken a program:
…just brush up those tools – Release, Focus and Dial !
…contact your Facilitator for a review/refresher!
…catch yourself disorienting and refocus.
…make sure you have all 3 parts to a word !
Chris Mongomery usplash
Come to The Dyslexic Table - Live Chat -october 1st: Topic is ‘Dyspraxia’
Sharon Roberts & Rachel Barwell have an excellent article for us - this month it is 'Dyspraxia’. We will be talking about this at our next Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat on Sunday, October 1st at 4.30pm (Pacific Time). To read more and RSVP visit our page HERE.
‘Dyspraxia’ by Sharon Roberts & Rachel Barwell, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitators
Going on a first dinner date is nerve wracking enough but imagine doing this while being dyspraxic! Think of all the times you require coordination skills during such an event such as clicking glasses, using two utensils at a time, trying to eat soup with a spoon and keeping the soup on the spoon til it reaches hopefully your mouth. Then after eating, you need to use the washroom which means pulling out your chair while sitting on it, getting up and then putting chair back to the table all in one easy movement and then proceeding to walk effortlessly to the washroom. If only it were that simple for someone who has coordination issues! This simple feat can be quite horrifying and humiliating! And now you are expected to go dancing? UGH!
Dyspraxia is not often talked about like its cousin dyslexia because it doesn’t always affect learning. We often center ourselves on the task of writing, spelling, reading and math. Who cares if you can’t hit a ball with a bat? However, a dyspraxic or overly clumsy child faces humiliation. It is embarrassing to be the last picked for a team or if you get on a team, people getting mad at you because you missed the mark.
Rachel Barwell, a Davis Facilitator n New Zealand would certainly support the claim of embarrassment and humiliation. Often, on first glance, people saw her as being athletic as she stood tall above everyone, but they were soon disappointed to see the physique didn’t match the skill. She ended up sitting on the sidelines.
“People don’t see the strategy that is put into place in a dyspraxic’s mind,” says Rachel. She describes a business type luncheon as “a scramble, balancing a cup of tea with saucer and spoon, having a serious conversation while your shoulder handbag is constantly slipping “ a stressful enough activity, “but then to be offered a muffin on top of it, is a sheer juggling feat... and of course people like to talk with you once you just bit into some food”… a great story line for a Mr. Bean sketch, she says.
A dyspraxic child finds it harder than other kids to join in playground games and will often fidget more than other children. Some find it more difficult learning a new skill which others do automatically, for example, cutting a straight line with scissors, pasting cut outs without getting glue all over the place. Then there’s getting dressed, buttoning or zipping up clothing often makes them the last one out for recess. It’s embarrassing!
Of course there are a list of coping strategies (as there are in other areas of learning) for those embarrassed by their clumsiness. One major coping mechanism is avoidance. Children will avoid many sports activities. Adults may avoid getting in and out of a bathtub and choose showering instead or may choose to sit down to dress to avoid falling over. One thing that is common is the fatigue people with these issues face. The conscious effort to try and coordinate and strategize and navigate avoiding clumsy accidents is exhausting.
So if you are one of those who have been described as “accident prone” or never outgrew the “awkward stage” and want to do those things like catch a ball or walk alongside another without bumping into them, there is hope. Ron Davis, in his book The Gift of Learning says dyspraxia is most commonly associated with auditory deficit disorder and it affects 2 to 4 percent of the population. He refers to it as “a clumsy form of dyslexia.” He attributes this clumsiness to a person’s natural orientation being in a very unfavorable place.
Orientation Counseling, provided in all Davis Programs, provides a better option for those struggling with balance and coordination. About midpoint of the program a coordination exercise comes into play where a person uses their orientation tools, stands on one foot and catches koosh balls. This is a great accomplishment of those who are naturally clumsy to do this while maintaining balance and as the program moves forward, the more balanced the person becomes.
But does this really work? According to Rachel, “Absolutely!
When I am oriented (in my case, aligned), I make fewer mistakes in the physical realm - stumbles, bumps, dropped items, cuts, bruises, missed catches, fewer accidents.”
Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/
Rachel Barwell, Davis Facilitator, New Zealand https://masterdyslexia.co.nz/
CALENDAR
We thought you might like to see what we are up to:
October 1-31st - Dyslexia Awareness Month - we have a plan to make sure people are aware!
October 1st - Come to The Dyslexic Table is about Dyspraxia
Throughout October we will continue our Bursary Fundraiser: Sponsor a Family
October 3rd - Say Dyslexia is at the Legislature in Victoria organised by Dyslexia BC
Don’t forget our Universal Symbol for Dyslexia ‘Gifted with Dyslexia’ Pins HERE
November 9-12 - DDAI Conference - San Francisco - Sue has been invited to be part of a non-profit session.
November 28th - Giving Tuesday
Christina Rossi is a very accomplished custom cookie baker – and now we have Gifted with Dyslexia cookies to add to the pins !
Check out Chrissy’s Cookie Jar – this is her Facebook link - HERE.
We are still working on the dyslexic ice-cream idea – do you have any suggestions for us? info@thewds.org
Enjoy and have a fabulous September!! your Board….Sue, Laura, Julie, Nadine, Sharon, Paddy, Gisa, Tristan.
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.
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:
NEW! Canada Helps Bursary Fund Fundraising Campaign for The WDS. The Whole Dyslexic Society’s bursary fund is seeking regeneration. We have four families who have been waiting far too long for a bursary. We know the transformation a Davis program can bring to their lives! Read all about our August Challenge to raise funds for our bursary program HERE.
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 - Bursary 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