The Whole Dyslexic Society 11/6/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 11/6/24

Newsletter November 2024

An exciting project for 2025: Sharon Roberts and Sue Hall had a conversation which led them to this idea: for 2025 our articles and subsequent 7th series of podcasts, our theme will be CHASING IDEAL EDUCATION.

An exciting project for 2025:

Sharon Roberts and Sue Hall had a conversation which led them to this idea: for 2025 our articles and subsequent 7th series of podcasts, our theme will be CHASING IDEAL EDUCATION. Sharon is researching education in other countries, and in a variety of school systems, such as Waldorf, Montessori, unschooling etc. to see if there is a school that is ideal for dyslexics.

She will also gather components from different sources with which we could create the ideal school system for both those with our perceptual gift, and those without... a NeuroInclusive Education … what a thought, what a goal to aim for !

Part One: Signs… December 1 Come to the Dyslexic Table, 4:30pm….we look forward to you joining us, bring your suggestions and let’s have fun brainstorming! RSVP Here…….

The WDS Program Sponsorships:

we are so honoured and proud that our program sponsorships (previously called bursaries) can lead to an experience such as this, and of course to our donors! Thank you to Maureen O’Sullivan, the presenting Facilitator and to her client for allowing us to share the excitement and the success.

“‘A’ has completed 150 models in her follow up work and I can say as a Mom that the change is huge! Each day she's able to recognize more words and is gaining more and more confidence to read. Even her teacher noticed her improvements and her teacher from last year noted that she looks so much happier and has really blossomed! As a family, we are so happy to see that the program is working. Not only with her reading but also her ability to better manage her emotions and get focused when needed.

Thanks, Maureen and each professional who put in the effort to show these kids that they are competent to achieve EVERYTHING although they have a different way of learning. J.. mom to A.. 7 years old.”

WHO KNEW…? Documentary update

Kelly Conlin, our Director is editing ‘Who Knew…?” and Fine Cut 1 is on its way to our National Screen Institute mentor … we are in the home stretch, it is truly exciting!

The Premiere is booked for March 9, at the Star Cinema in Sidney. This is such a great opportunity to fundraise via an Online and Silent Auction… so one final request to you all.

IF you know of someone who would be willing to donate an item, or a voucher or a service, please put them in touch with us at info@thewds.org. It can be anywhere in Canada.

Thank you, we look forward to replenishing the Program Sponsorship fund! Thank you.

GIFTS… for the Holidays

We are delighted to showcase two books authored by one of our Board, Nadine Schumont, Picture Perfect Learning Solutions, Stratford, Ontario.

Bobby’s Rainbow Mind and Owen’s Rainbow Mind,

The Owen's Rainbow Mind book tour has been a rewarding journey during Dyslexia Awareness Month in October. We have been sharing the message of neurodiversity with local schools and organizations, like the Guides, and the response has been amazing. Kids have been excited to learn about how our brains work in unique ways, and the conversations have been positive. Due to the success of the tour, we are extending our readings. If you're in our area and would like to schedule a book reading for your school or group, we would love to hear from you. Let’s continue spreading the word that our differences are what make us special.

Owen's - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DHRHGXX2

Bobby's - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0D28FFWNT

Millstone Farm and Organics is beyond unique, remarkable and inspiring:

Laurie Kelly mills organic gluten free flours (among many other things) and she has had requests for gluten-free playdough. This led her to create the perfect recipe for the dough, free of any artificial preservatives, to find the perfect natural colourings and the perfect refillable containers. Her husband Mike hand-crafted the beautiful pine boxes for the dough and rolling pin! A nearby craftsman decided to create the most beautiful stamps to complement the playdough…. so much love in every step!

Playdough Stamp Sets

9 Stamp Set in Beechwood Tray $86.99

3 Stamp Set in Beechwood Tray $49.99

Gluten Free Playdough Pots

$14.99: White, black, blue, green, red, yellow

BPA free reusable pots, refills $12.75

Pine Box Sets

Large dough box with 6 colours, silicone mat and a small rolling pin $149.99

Small dough box with 2 Jars $96.99

Visit Millstone at: www.millstoneorganics.com

McTavish Academy of Art

have a very wide selection of the most beautiful Art Kits for our creative children and are kindly donating to the auction that is accompanying or documentary film premiere!

The art kits include all of the supplies, made on Vancouver Island & family owned and operated. Check out these beautiful art kits here………………………………………….

‘COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE’ - Live Chat

December 1st at 4:30PM Pacific time.

Topic:

Chasing Ideal Education: Part 1: Signs

Join Sue Hall and Sharon Roberts for this engaging conversation. You can read Sharon’s article HERE.

RSVP Today!

Calendar:

November 24 – Victoria 100 Women Who Care

Fine Cut Documentary Nov 4

Come to the Dyslexic Table Dec 1 – Chasing Ideal Education, Part 1 - Signs

Documentary submission Dec 9

Online Auction opens Jan 7, 2025

Who Knew... ? Documentary Premiere March 9 and Silent Auction

Thank you for all of your support! Wishing you a warm and cozy fall!

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

Our Giving Guide:

NEW!! We have created some information pages on our website for Legacy Giving and Donor Advised Funds. These are ways in which you can support your favourite charity. You can read all about them on our Giving 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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 9/30/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 9/30/24

Newsletter October 2024

Dear Everyone… Summer is here… school holidays…and we have news and a challenge for you !!!

Welcome to Dyslexia Awareness Month!

We hope your transition to routine is going smoothly… we have a great deal to share with you:

Why We Do What We Do:

“Imagine a child who is bright, creative, and full of potential, but struggles with reading and spelling. She begins to doubt herself, internalize failure, and disengage from parts of her learning. This is not because she isn’t capable, but because the education system isn’t built to support her unique way of thinking. For years her parents are told that everyone learns at their own pace and that she will be fine. By the time she is diagnosed with dyslexia, through tests that show both how extremely bright she is and how much she struggles with the basics of reading and writing, she is too old for school-based reading supports and what is offered isn’t helpful to the way she learns. Instead, her parents need to find tutors, advocate for alternative learning approaches, and help her to learn in a word-based world. Without this support, she is at higher risk of dropping out of school, facing mental health challenges, and feeling marginalized throughout her life.

This little girl, who is now an amazing young woman of 14, is my daughter and without the support of organizations like the Whole Dyslexic Society and other alternatives to traditional learning, she wouldn’t be entering high school this year full of excitement for all the learning that lies ahead with the confidence to advocate for herself. I’m quite certain that she will one day change the world because she thinks in pictures, not words.

Thank you to a very gracious volunteer who is representing us at 100 Women Who Care Victoria”

~~~Victoria…..Thankyou!

Check out our updated website: Laura has changed us over the SquareSpace 7.1 to benefit from an easier way to distribute our Newsletters, a donate widget and much more… let us know what you think… and what you need to see!

It is clear our primary objectives are Outreach and Prevention, while we continue to fundraise for Program Sponsorship (formerly known as Bursaries) (see below) and Community objectives.
On Social Media – for Dyslexia Awareness Month – we are releasing snippets of a conversation about dyslexia which was a requirement for TELUS STORYHIVE on our way to the documentary ‘Who Knew… rest of the title to be decided’… our gratitude goes to Rob, Emily, Josh and Millstone Farm Organics for the filmed conversation!

This leads up to our Save the Date - March 9, 2025 for the Premiere of ‘Who Knew.. …….. ……’ at the Star Cinema in Sidney, BC. Sue and Kelly Conlin, our Director are busy in the editing phase of what promises to improve out outreach dramatically!
We are collecting items for a major Online Auction, which will culminate in a Live Auction Finale at the Premiere. If you have any, please do get in touch with us .. info@thewds.org. Thank you !

October 6-12 is Make a Will Week – our gratitude goes to those who could feature The Whole Dyslexic Society in this way.
October 23, Fish Don’t Climb Trees – second free information talk in Sidney BC.
Nadine Schumont is launching her second book this month, she is sharing her book readings on a local school tour!

Fundraising: Program Sponsorship

As you know we fundraise tirelessly to ensure that the programs we advocate are available to everyone, no matter their financial situation. In the grant writing world, this is not the easiest ask. We are so grateful to have Del Coburn who is also tireless in searching out grants and helping us to write them. We are changing our wording to make this task easier. In future our Bursary objective will be called Program Sponsorship. Nothing else changes, our procedure is identical, it is a semantic that will make it easier to approach more funding bodies. The WDS just applied to Telus Stand with Owners and the Ecclesiastical Community Impact Grant.

Prevention

We were thrilled with the success of the professional development pilot for Early Childhood Educators. Sue has been in communication with the Ministry of Education to extend the pilot for ECEs and take it further into K-3 classes. This is not a speedy procedure. In the meantime, one of the attendees has contacted Julie and Sue because she has a new role as the Outreach Coordinator for the Child Care Resource and Referral for 3 School Districts in the Victoria area. She is very keen to share our information with her ECEs and we are very excited at this prospect.

Also, Capilano University has a brand new ECE Centre on its North Vancouver Campus, and Sue has been virtually introduced to two of the teachers. The idea of brand new ECEs having our Davis Learning Strategies for Early Years in their curriculum is extremely exciting!

While we have hosted many Davis Learning Strategies for K-3 Teachers and will continue to do so, plus the extension of DLS into Early Years, it is obvious that while individual teachers welcome the strategies, our success is minimal. Often a new principal decides a new program will take place in that school, or the trained teacher leaves. We notice that when more than one teacher is trained in a particular school that is more successful and they can encourage each other. However, the education system as a whole is not welcoming us with open arms. Thanks to Del, we are exploring a route to independent research undertaken by an academic institution as we feel this will advance our objective of getting Davis Learning Strategies into schools via the education system.

Outreach

Sue gave a free information session to 30 people in Sidney on September 16. The secret to success for a full house is host the talk in a brewery!

A huge thank you to Small Gods Brewery who were so accommodating and gracious. As she had a waiting list, Small Gods have agreed to host another free talk on Wednesday October 23…….. download our flyer here………….

On Sept 12, Sue and Gisa met with Big Sisters in Vancouver. They shared information about dyslexia and talked about collaborating. They have a Study Buddy initiative and feel both the volunteers and the parents would benefit from hearing what we have to say.

Sue is very encouraged by the continuing support for our documentary ‘Who Knew……..not decided on the rest of the title’.. the Fine Cut will be submitted to TELUS STORYHIVE in November, the release is due January 2025 and already there are Facilitators in the USA and New Zealand hoping to hold their own premiere! We really do seem to be in a very supportive flow!

SAVE THIS DATE… Sunday March 9, 2025 doors open 4pm.

Leaving a Legacy Through Giving

October 6-12 is Make a Will Week in Canada, a time to reflect on how we can secure the future for our loved ones and the causes we care about most. Having a will is a powerful way to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. But it’s also an opportunity to make a lasting impact through legacy giving.

Legacy giving, also known as planned giving, allows you to leave a portion of your estate to a charity that matters to you. Including a charitable gift in your will is a beautiful way to continue supporting the causes close to your heart. It doesn’t require wealth—just a commitment to making a difference for future generations.

For supporters of our charity, legacy gifts help us provide essential services like funding for the Davis Dyslexia and Autism programs, and promoting dyslexia awareness. Even a small percentage of your estate can make a significant impact on the work we do, helping to create a better future for those with learning differences.

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 8/1/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 8/1/24

Newsletter August 2024

Dear Everyone… Summer is here… school holidays…and we have news and a challenge for you !!!

August 2024

The Fellowship of the Gift is back!!

We were so blessed with sunshine and LOTS of wind for our Tall Ship Adventure on Sunday July 28 !?!

I was afraid it would be too windy for us, seeing the forecast for gusts of up to 30kms, but the skip from Mill Bay Marine Group knew we were safe, and we set sail from Port Sidney Marina.

21 of us had the best time…

once we’d listened to the skipper…

some of the kids were hoisting the sails,

steering the ship,

or not

one of the moms provided a vast number of whale cookies, and ‘crab croissants’

Some had to have their Titanic moment,

or just talk about the last time they met pirates!

It was just perfect!

The beautiful wooden, two masted boat had a fascinating history having been built in the 1900s in Denmark, was commandeered by German soldiers in the war, spent some time in the Caribbean and has ended up in Mill Bay/Sidney. She sleeps 12 and I would thoroughly recommend taking a sail in her, the waves splashing over the bow were fun and energising!!!

To be repeated… https://www.mbmg.ca/tallships

SAVE THE DATE! March 9, 2025 from 4 pm – Star Cinema, Sidney, BC

The Film Premiere of “Who Knew…?” AND a fundraising Online/Silent Auction.

Shelley Tice and I have just started working on another exciting community event and we couldn't wait to share it with you.

Our TELUS STORYIVE documentary is premiering on March 9, 2025, at 4 pm in Sidney and we hope to see as many of you there as possible. More details will come shortly, but for now please mark your calendars. We are hoping that other communities will also celebrate the film's release and will keep you posted on details as they become available.

The film launch is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness around dyslexia and at the same time reinvigorate our fundraising for the WDS and this important work. Here's how you can help. In addition to attending the event, we would welcome donations for the auction. If you have a friend who owns a business or know someone that would be open to donating, that would be fantastic.

Attached is the fundraising letter with the details of the event and how people can get involved. We welcome all donations big and small, including items that can be bundled together into larger baskets. We need to keep track of who we ask, so as not to duplicate and annoy.. so please let us know who you are connecting with.

Tickets to the Premiere will go on sale in January 2025 and
the Auction will first open online in February 2025,
closing at the Silent Auction on opening night (March 9th at the Star Cinema in Sidney).

Thanks so much for all the support and please feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas.

DOWNLOAD LETTER HERE

With Gratitude….Sue, Laura, Julie, Nadine, Sharon, Paddy, Gisa, Tristan and Del…

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Donate Today

The Whole Dyslexic Society 6/18/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 6/18/24

Newsletter July 2024

Dear Everyone… Summer is here… school holidays…and we have news and a challenge for you !!!

July 2024

Dear Everyone… Summer is here… school holidays…we have news and a challenge for you !!!

We will be brief… you have lots of fun to get to… Sharon Roberts wrote an article for our July 1 Come to the Dyslexic Table about sneaky ways to continue learning during the holidays and have fun at the same time. The podcast will be published shortly HERE.

There are 52 skills listed HERE … you can add to them, make up your own challenges…challenge your parents/siblings you can take photos of your achievements along the way and/or keep a Journal.

Just put your name and age on the list (some of the skills are age appropriate and will need adult assistance). Please be safe while you have fun.

Learning is fun, it’s a good feeling when you learn something new…and you never know when your new skill might come in useful.

So lets get started… you’ve got till August 31, 2024.

Our Documentary, latest working title “Who Knew… unexplored insights into learning challenges”

Our wonderful Director, Kelly Conlin sent me the interviews to make sure we didn’t say anything we shouldn’t have said, and now she is starting the magical editing.

The next task is Distribution… and needless to say I know nothing about distribution, so our conversations have been very enlightening.

The first step was to book a venue for our ‘Premiere’ event next year.

The Star Cinema in Sidney is happy for us to book one of their theatres, we can have the Silent Auction in their foyer, and Small Gods Brewery, directly over the road can provide a welcome drink!

SAVE THIS DATE… Sunday March 9, 2025 doors open 4pm.

CELEBRATIONS…

We always LOVE celebrating our wonderful students and this month we celebrate literary, musical and artistic skills !

Polar Expressions Publishing run student poetry and student short story competitions for children K-Gr5. Wynne had her poem published in the latest anthology.

‘Wynne Jones has two brothers (twins) and a hamster named Buttercup the Brave. She has always liked poetry.

Writing poetry makes Wynne joyful and happy, as if music is streaming through her.’

Not too shabby for a talented, creative girl with the gift of dyslexia ! Congratulations Wynne, aged 8.

Here is a guitar recital by Oliver Conwright, 13, "Sultans of Swing": he made his own backing track onto his loop pedal so that he would have the rhythm guitar while playing the licks and solo. Watch HERE. Totally amazing!

Lastly, and definitely not least(ly)…I worked with Lacey a long time ago, she is an accomplished Visual Artist, with a degree in Industrial Design and is also a Tattoo Artist.

This is her tribute to sweet Keela, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge last October.

Not to overlook our talented Facilitators either, thank you Axel Gudmundsson for sharing this!

Around 5,000 years ago, the Sumerians, who lived in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), revolutionized how we perceive and measure time. They developed a sophisticated numerical system based on the number 60, known as the sexagesimal system. This unique system led to the division of an hour into 60 minutes and a minute into 60 seconds, concepts that are still in use today.

The Sumerians' need for precise timekeeping was driven by their agricultural society. Accurate calendars were essential for planting and harvesting crops. They also needed to coordinate their complex religious ceremonies and administrative activities. To aid their timekeeping, the Sumerians made significant advancements in astronomy. They observed the movements of celestial bodies and used this knowledge to create a lunar calendar with 12 months, which closely aligned with the agricultural seasons.

The division of the day into 24 hours, each hour into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds was a monumental achievement. These divisions were not arbitrary but were designed to be practical and easily divisible, reflecting the Sumerians' advanced understanding of mathematics. This innovative approach to time had a profound impact on later civilizations, including the Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans, who adopted and further developed the Sumerian system. The legacy of the Sumerians' timekeeping system is evident in our modern clocks and calendars, demonstrating the enduring influence of their ingenuity on our daily lives.

Credit: Amazing Archeology

‘COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE’ - Episode #15 - Coming September 1st! Topic: How to build the best school possible for everybody.

JOIN US on September 1st at 4.30pm Pacific.

RSVP here…………….

We all wish you a wonderful summer and we look forward receiving your Some-er Challenges entries.

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

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.

Visit our Campaign page here

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 6/6/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 6/6/24

Newsletter June 2024

June is here… although recently it seems to have followed March and April 😊…by the time you read this Newsletter we hope to be basking in warm temperatures and enjoying summer!

June 2024

June is here… although recently it seems to have followed March and April 😊…by the time you read this Newsletter we hope to be basking in warm temperatures and enjoying summer!

Talking of which, on Sunday, July 28, our Davis Program student alumni have a fabulous opportunity to sail on a Tall Ship out of Sidney on Vancouver Island… places are limited... fun is unlimited...

contact Sue Hall suehall@positivedyslexia.com or 604-614-4958.

Your team has been busy .. it’s grant writing time and we are blessed to have Del Coburn leading the charge. Sue is still nudging the Ministry of Education in BC and eagerly awaiting the first edits of the Telus STORYHIVE documentary. She is imagining fundraising film premieres into being for next year.

June 1 was very special for us. Sharon Roberts had been talking to Priti Venkatesan, a Davis Facilitator and teacher at a school in Chenai, India. Priti has been an amazing advocate for Davis Learning Strategies and we were thrilled that she joined us for our Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat.

No matter how many times we discuss DLS we always learn something new. I love that Priti distinguishes between children being learning ready and school ready. She does not believe our education system to be childcentric. When DLS tools are used in a classroom, those on the autism spectrum benefit from the calm energy and absorb the tools by osmosis. My absolute favourite is the ‘Release Chair’ one of her students requested. Watch this short 4 minute clip of our chat with Priti.

Listen to the full episode on Podbean, Spotify, YouTube & our Website.

One of the guests to our Live Chat was Felicia Nagamatsu, who had been introduced to us by Rachel Barwell, a Davis Facilitator in New Zealand. They collaborated on this wonderful short film entitled: Train your Genius … enjoy!

One of the guests to our Live Chat was Felicia Nagamatsu, who had been introduced to us by Rachel Barwell, a Davis Facilitator in New Zealand. They collaborated on this wonderful short film entitled: Train your Genius … enjoy! Watch HERE.

SUMMER READING:

This gem resulted from a Facilitator discussion about the rush to get children reading at an early age….

“There is in fact abundant material showing that there is no valid reason whatsoever for this, as studies show that those who learn to read at 5 (or even 4) do no read better at 8 or 9 than those who learn at 6 or even 7. However, significantly, those who learn to read later enjoy it more and are more likely to do so than those who learn much earlier.

There are always exceptions, I am sure.”

Nadine Schumont’s first book: Bobby’s Rainbow Mind: Exploring Picture Thinking and Beyond.

Discover the vibrant world of 'Bobby's Rainbow Mind' where uniqueness shines bright and differences are celebrated. Through Bobby's colorful adventures, readers are inspired to embrace their individuality and embrace the beauty of neurodiversity. This heartwarming story teaches valuable lessons about acceptance, teamwork, and the power of being true to oneself. 'Bobby's Rainbow Mind' is a captivating read that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

You may have seen a free magazine in your health food shops .. Women’s Voice .. www.womensvoice.com

Go to Find Our Magazine at the top of their home page. Sue discovered two excellent articles:

Attention Fatigue and the Over Diagnosis of ADHD

and Kids and the Sugar Spiral

On the subject of ADHD, those of you who enjoy the Childrens’ Health Defense articles will enjoy:

1 in 9 Kids Diagnosed With ADHD, CDC Says — But Why?

‘COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE’ - Episode #14 - Brainstorming summer holiday ideas - July 1st

and FINALLY… Sharon’s article for the next Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat on July 1 is all about cleverly weaving summer fun with learning, Davis style. Brainstorming summer holiday ideas – sneaky ways to continue learning! We have started a list and look forward to you adding more ideas!

JOIN US on July 1st at 4.30pm Pacific.

To read Sharon’s article and RSVP for your zoom link.

We all wish you a wonderful month, full of summer growth and sunshine and thank you for being part of our like-minded community.

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

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

Visit our Campaign page here

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 5/14/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 5/14/24

Newsletter May 2024

Welcome to May !!! We are so fortunate here on the West Coast of Canada to welcome in all this new growth… all the trees are SO green and the flowers are enjoying the sunshine… my favourite time of the year!

May 2024

Welcome to May !!! We are so fortunate here on the West Coast of Canada to welcome in all this new growth… all the trees are SO green and the flowers are enjoying the sunshine… my favourite time of the year!

As a Society we are also feeling this growth, all the potential that accompanies:

the Early Childhood Educators’ professional development pilot, which has led to the start of a conversation with the Ministry of Education and Childcare in BC at a very significant time…read more below.
the Telus STORYHIVE documentary, which is leading to the possibility of fundraising premieres all over Canada,
Del is focussing his energies on fundraising opportunities in Calgary beside the ever present grant writing,
Sharon is prolific in writing her articles for our ‘Come to the Dyslexic Table’ which lead to more podcasts, and a particularly exciting one on June 1, a Live Chat with Priti Venkatesan in India. Read more and RSVP HERE.
Gisa is pursuing an exciting collaboration with Big Sisters/Brothers…
Nadine is involved in the Davis Method marketing as they launch their ‘from Unknown to Unforgettable’ campaign, and always up for local fun events with her students/families…read more about Kitetastic below.
Julie and I have been spreading the word at two Conferences, Making Tomorrow for ECEs in Victoria and Decoda Literacy in Richmond – the audiences were fantastic – SO open to our information.
Julie and I are also recovering from our documentary filming experience… full story here… Part 1 happened last year, Part 2 is still underway as now the film enters the editing phase where even more magic happens!
Paddy is immersed in her academic thesis which will bring academic ‘weight’ to our endeavours,
Laura keeps all this machinery running smoothly despite considerable challenges.

‘COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE’ - Episode #13 - Guest chat with Priti Venkatesan

We are so privileged to have Priti joining us from India for our next Live Chat .. she has had remarkable success with Davis Learning Strategies for K-3 classroom teachers ... can’t wait to hear how it all happened and if we can repeat her success!

JOIN US on June 1st at 4.30pm Pacific.

You can read the article HERE, please RSVP for your zoom link.

Davis Learning Strategies…In action… In India

Priti Venkatesan has witnessed first-hand the effectiveness of using Davis Learning Strategies for K-3 teachers. One boy was so frustrated with reading and writing that by the time he reached third grade, he was refusing to go to school. When he entered the Indigo section at the Lalaji Memorial Omega International School (LMOIS), he didn’t know the alphabet letters. Once alphabet mastery was completed, he slowly began to read, his socializing skills improved and by the time he was in grade 7, he was completely independent. His personality was transformed and at age 14, he was recently honored as a youth leader.

Our Giving Guide:

Picture Perfect Learning Solutions Neurodiversity Shirts & Merchandise. Nadine Schumont has created a line of shirts and merchandise celebrating neurodiversity. You can view the range of styles and images 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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 4/14/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 4/14/24

Newsletter April 2024

Dear All… as we enter the second quarter of 2024 with a unique Solar Eclipse... and the promise of warmer weather… Sharon Roberts has authored a wonderful article for us: Food for Thought.

April 2024

Dear All… as we enter the second quarter of 2024 with a unique Solar Eclipse... and the promise of warmer weather…

Sharon Roberts has authored a wonderful article for us: Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula. We are all becoming more and more aware of the quality of the food we eat, the glyphosates, the GMOs, the additives and preservatives. Having moved to Vancouver Island, Sue could not be more grateful for the free run eggs and fresh, organic vegetables that appear on nearby farm stands, local meat and fish. Nutrition plays a considerable role in our brain health… we hope you enjoy the article… and if you have views to add to our discussion, please join the May 1 ‘Come to the Dyslexic Table’!

April is busy !!! We are filming our documentary, working title ‘Who Knew?... Everyone is Able to Learn’ April 21-24. Sue is grateful to our National Screen Institute Mentor, Maureen Levitt, to our Director, Kelly Conlin, all the film crew and all the participants. It’s exciting and very much part of our goal to ensure many learning challenges can be prevented.

Sue and Julie presented two sessions at the Making Tomorrow Conference for Early Childhood Educators – April 13 - Victoria. Sue delivered information about our different way of thinking and Julie shared some of her experiences with the ECE Professional Development pilot which included the Davis Learning Strategies for Early Years.. all of which was very well received. It is our hope that we can persuade the Ministry of Education to extend this pilot. We meet the Minister of Education for BC’s Chief of Staff on April 25. All positive energy sent our way is much appreciated!

Sue and Julie have a two part session at the Decoda Conference – April 19 – Richmond

An inspiring story from Nadine Schumont.

I'm excited to share an incredible experience I had during my recent visit to my hometown of Whitbourne, Newfoundland.

While visiting my hometown I had the opportunity to return to my old childhood school, Whitbourne Elementary, and it was a real treat. The kids were so enthusiastic to learn about words and the three parts of every word: how we see, say it, and the meaning of each word.

They were surprised to learn about ADHD and how it can be a gift, helping you to learn faster and think in unique ways. Seeing their excitement and understanding was inspiring.

However, the learning didn't stop there. I also had the opportunity to chat with the Whitbourne Army Cadets and their parents. We talked about the importance of embracing differences and how each of us has something special to offer. It was also inspiring to see both kids and parents open up to new perspectives.

My journey continued with a second visit to Chapel Arm Holy Family Elementary School. The kids there were just as eager to learn and discuss. We had great conversations about diversity and inclusion, reinforcing the idea that our differences should be celebrated. These experiences were a reminder to me of the importance of fostering empathy and understanding in our communities.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to have had these conversations and share the joy of learning differently.

Let's continue to embrace our differences and celebrate the unique qualities that make each of us special.

Nadine…

Licensed Davis® Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Davis Autism Approach® and Davis Concepts for Life® Facilitator, Why Tyrannosaurus But Not If?" Parent Course Facilitator

www.pictureperfectlearningsolutions.com Tel: 519-508-1486

This video found its way to Sue and despite being dyslexic, Sue actually loves language (just not too much of it), and finds the origins fascinating. She hopes you do. ‘ The Alphabet Explained.. the Origin of Every Letter’ RobWords

COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE - Episode #12 - ‘Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula’

JOIN US for our 12th Live Chat on May 1st at 4.30pm Pacific. We’ll be discussing ‘Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula’.

You can read Sharon’s article HERE, please RSVP for your zoom link.

Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula

There are many factors that affect the orientation method which is the key factor in a Davis® program, such as noise, pain and fear. Life happens and much of this we have minimal control over. There is one thing we can control and will affect how we think and use our orientation tools and that is nutrition.

Much of what I suggest is based upon years of working in the health industry, listening to a variety of podcasts and training in nutritional counseling besides personal experience. These suggestions are purely things to consider and of course, when in doubt, go to your medical advisor. Meanwhile I will attempt to sift through the information presented as of now; nutritional science is new and constantly evolving.

In general, most people do better on a higher-protein, lower-carbohydrate diets to enhance focus. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that your body can’t function without. Their job is to carry chemical signals (“messages”) from one neuron (nerve cell) to the next target cell. The lack of, or depleting amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine is often the culprit which decreases attention spans. This is why people with ADHD for example, are provided medications that increase dopamine levels. Altering your diet, according to many functional medicine doctors, can produce similar effects. Dopamine increasing foods are beef, poultry, fish, eggs, seeds (pumpkin and sesame), nuts (almonds and walnuts), cheese, protein powders, and green tea.

Food quality affects how your brain and body work. One way to increase performance is to drink plenty of water as your brain is 80 percent water. Anything that dehydrates it, such as too much caffeine or alcohol, impairs your cognition and judgment. One rule is (with the exception of those who are obese) is to drink half your weight in ounces daily.

It is important to start each day with protein to boost your focus and concentration. Protein helps balance your blood sugar, increases focus, and gives your brain the necessary building blocks for brain health. Eating carbohydrates that do not spike your blood sugar and are high in fiber, such as those found in vegetables and fruits, like blueberries and apples is beneficial. Carbohydrates are not the enemy; they are essential to your health. Bad carbohydrates, the ones that have been stripped of nutritional value, such as sugar and simple carbs, are the problem.

Sugar is not your friend, it increases inflammation in your body (which leads to inflammation in the brain, as well) and erratic brain cell firing. Rule out refined carbs as they are loaded with sugar or substances that are easily broken down into sugar in the body. They trigger a quick spike, then a crash in blood sugar levels that leaves people feeling spacey, confused, tired, and inattentive. In addition, simple carbs spike serotonin levels in the brain, which make you feel temporarily happier and more relaxed. This sounds great, but serotonin can also give people a “don’t worry, be happy” attitude that drains motivation and drive…not exactly the best mindset for work or school, best to stick with smart carbs.

Avoid potential food allergens or sensitivities. A growing body of research shows that potential allergens—gluten, corn, soy, artificial dyes, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and dairy may trigger ADD/ADHD-like symptoms in some people. Food additives and colorings, such as red dye 40, can cause hyperactivity in children with no previous history of this problem according to a study in the The Lancet. Research from the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands showed 85% of children who followed an elimination diet showed an improvement of 50% or more and no longer met the criteria for ADHD. (https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/the-surprising-role-diet-plays-in-add-adhd).

If you do your own meal preparation and limit most of your grocery shopping to the outer aisles of the grocery store, you will have made great inroads into choosing brain optimizing foods. The only thing remaining is to watch pesticide use and note where your meat comes from. You are not only what you eat, but also what the animals you eat ate. For example, fish is a great source of healthy protein and fat but can also contain mercury levels. The larger the fish, the more mercury it probably contains, so go for smaller varieties. Safe fish choices with the highest omega-3s include wild Alaskan salmon, sardines and anchovies.

With the numerous distractions that are a part of your everyday life, it can be difficult to pay attention to the task at hand especially if a challenging nutrient deficiency is added to the equation. Sometimes you might need a supplement. For example, if fatty fish is not part of your diet, then you might need to take Omega 3’s. If you don’t eat plenty of dark green leafy vegetables, you’ll likely need magnesium and some research suggests most of us are deficient in this mineral.

We cannot always rely on our food to be of good quality. Many natural health practitioners suggest we take a multivitamin, Omega 3 fish oils and vitamin D daily. There are other supplements that can influence learning. There is no one size fits all solution and you may want to try supplements such as curcumin, grape seed extract or L-theanine. If you google these items on how any of these items affect the brain, you will find some convincing research. I personally found grape seed extract very effective.

One fairly new supplement is Lion’s Mane that I personally take especially when feeling a bit of brain fog. It is a mushroom that may be valuable for a child’s developing brain. According to research, its primary bioactive compounds, hericenones and erinacines, actively stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), a critical element for maintaining and organizing neurons in the brain. NGF supports neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections, which is crucial for learning and adaptability. (https://becomelucid.com/blogs/news/lions-mane-mushroom-for-kids#:~:text=Lion's%20mane%2C%20a%20powerful%20mushroom,organizing%20neurons%20in%20the%20brain.)

To summarise:

eat more protein, particularly at the start of the day
eat less carbohydrates
incorporate healthy fats
eat vegetables and fruit
avoid sugars which can be disguised as high-fructose corn sweetener, dehydrated cane juice; dextrin; dextrose; maltodextrin; sucrose; molasses; and malt syrup
keep your grocery shopping to the outer aisles of the grocery store
cook from home as much as possible, eliminating processed foods
drink plenty of water
investigate some supplementation.

Happy Eating and Learning 😊!

Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/

Sparklebuds also came to our attention: “an educational initiative dedicated to providing specialized learning resources for children with ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, Gifted Students, and more”. They sent us three magazines to have a look at, and while we will not be listing them on our website, just let us know if you would like to see one. www.sparklebuds.com

CALENDAR

Making Tomorrow Count Early Childhood Conference – April 13 - Victoria
Decoda Conference – April 19 – Richmond
Come to the Dyslexic Table May 1st at 430PM Pacific
Save the Date – Fellowship of the Gift – Summer Camp June 2

We all wish you a wonderful month, full of sunshine, beautiful blooms, fabulous food, fun and success in whatever you enjoy and thank you for being part of our like-minded community.

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

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

Visit our Campaign page here

Nadine Schumont from Picture Perfect Learning Solutions in Stratford, Ontario is happy to announce the release of her “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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 3/7/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 3/7/24

Newsletter March 2024

March is quite an exciting month already… hail, rain, sun, snow, wind, chilly, sunny…

March 2024

March is quite an exciting month already… hail, rain, sun, snow, wind, chilly, sunny… but not to be deterred we started with our AGM meeting on March 2.

This my Chairman’s Report:

Looking back at February 2022, I can see it was the start of an expansion. We had just received funding for Laura’s administrative role. This year, 2023, we were SO grateful that the funding was renewed, and we were able to build on all the solid foundations she had put in place.

As programs were slow, with my move to the Island, there was no escape... it was grant writing time. We applied for many… and to my astonishment we had some success.

BC Campus granted us $93,500 to create an Early Childhood Educators’ Professional Development Pilot. We already had the Davis Learning Strategies for K-3 teachers, and Julie Brewer had been using the tools and strategies with her students, so we knew it would work for the 3-5 year olds. 60 ECEs expressed interest and 12 took the whole course. Stacey Smith, the DLS presenter, did a fantastic job Online and In Person. Julie added her experience and tips, we created before and after modules, assignments and an evaluation. A very new and exciting experience. We have been thrilled with the results and really hope it will be adopted by the Ministry of Education and Child Care in BC.

Telus StoryHive granted us $21,000 to create a documentary… another completely new experience. Thankfully, a wonderful film-maker appeared on cue, and we sent our ‘practice’ film to them in December. This year, 2024, it gets real. We have an incredibly experienced mentor from the National Screen Institute, who lives in Victoria! She has found us an experienced Director, and I am trying to learn how to be a Producer writing a ‘treatment’… totally beyond my pay grade! This whole process is a very fine example of how I think compared to how other people think… but we are in very good hands. The final documentary will be released at the end of the year on Telus Optik and we can send it to film festivals… and use it as a fundraiser…such a huge gift!

All this time, we needed more bursary funds, so Gisa asked the North Shore branch of 100 Women Who Care if they would help us. She made a compelling pitch and we gratefully received $9,600.00. So many of the generous women had grandchildren who were struggling at school and able to relate to our need.

With so much excitement, I feel we made all our deadlines by the skin of our teeth, with huge thanks to our dedicated Board… Laura, Julie, Sharon, Nadine, Paddy, Gisa, Tristan and … a new Director, Del Coburn. Del was introduced to us by Maureen O’Sullivan, a facilitator in Ontario. He is a social science University student in Calgary who has worked with non-profits and is very happy to research and write grants for us, he’s another total gift. The grants will be focused on autism funding to begin with, and we have plenty of other requests lined up for him!

We continue with the Newsletters, enriched by Laura’s art finds and Sharon’s articles which become the topic for our 1st of the month Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chats, and then morph into a podcast. Laura works tirelessly on the social media postings, and Sharon adds to them regularly. We hope to start our Summer Camp weekends again this year.

This is a long report because it’s been such an incredible year, and we are beyond grateful to all those who have supported us. We have a lot to look forward to. The new Davis branding will be part of the excitement… and the documentary.. and… whatever we can do to ensure everyone has an opportunity to fulfill their potential.

After the AGM we had a General Meeting to brainstorm ideas for the rest of this year.

Gisa will be in contact with Big Sisters (maybe Big Brothers later) to see if we can help Big Sisters to help Little Sisters who have a study buddy.

Sue expressed a wish for a major sponsor, and our intrepid fundraiser, Del, is looking into this…Sue has some leads too.

Del is amassing research data to present to secondary educators/corporations/youth institutions… we are SO lucky!

Sue is tying up the ECE pilot and hoping to make best use of the momentum to have it operating widely next September.

She is very excited that the filming of the documentary will start in April. Our National Screen Institute mentor and our Director are suggesting it could go to Film Festivals. We could even have Film Premieres in University theatres, libraries… which would be excellent fundraising events.

As fast as Sharon writes her articles for the Newsletters, Sue creates the podcast and Tristan posts them.

Julie is happy with the bursary interviews and has allowed Sue to drag her to 2 Pro Ds already this year, with 2 Conference sessions to come.

Paddy is busy writing her PhD thesis, and Nadine is busy helping Davis with the marketing side of the re-branding!

Laura holds us together, and besides that she is now involved with Davis UK team and likes the idea of bridging our connection with them.

We wish you all a very exciting year too, your Board, Sue, Laura, Julie, Sharon, Nadine, Gisa, Paddy, Del and Tristan.

Would you notice not having $20 a month?
We sure would notice having $20 a month towards our bursary funds…
The children and adults we help would really notice,
thank you!

For every new monthly donation of $20 or more during
March, Canada Helps will add-on an extra $20. But
only until March 31st!

Visit our Canada Helps Donation Page at:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/14646 and select "monthly"
or our Giving Guide here:
https://www.thewds.org/donate
Thank you for Making it Monthly!

COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE - Episode #11 - ‘ADD & ADHD, What do Dyslexia and ADHD have in common?’

JOIN US for our 11th Live Chat on April 1st at 4.30pm Pacific. We’ll be discussing ‘ADD & ADHD, What do Dyslexia and ADHD have in common?’.

You can read Sharon’s article HERE, please RSVP for your zoom link.

ADD & ADHD: What do dyslexia and ADHD have in common?

Quite a bit actually. They both can have information-processing challenges, working memory deficits, and motor skills challenges. However, the common root cause is disorientation, which will be familiar to those in the Davis world - a state of mind in which your thinking/perception and your reality, the true facts and conditions in the environment, do not agree.

Everyone disorients but with ADHD, according to Ronald D. Davis in his book, The Gift Of Learning, disorientation is spontaneous. It happens easily and is driven by emotion. Some of these emotions include fear, boredom, curiosity and confusion. This spontaneous disorientation is narrowed down by Davis to two types of emotion, avoidance and engagement.

Whatever the cause of the disorientation, it can affect our attention. This perceptual ability has many positive aspects to it. These include exceptionally creative personalities, good problem-solving skills, lots of energy and ability to hyper focus. On the flip side, being disoriented affects our visionary and auditory processing, balance, coordination and time.

Because these senses are affected, you can observe behaviors such as distractibility, poor organizational skills, chronic lateness, struggles to control emotions, keeping friends and underestimating the time it will take to complete tasks. In other words, it affects executive functioning skills, 'the management system of the brain.’ These skills enable us to set goals, plan and get things done. When people struggle with executive function, it impacts them at home, in school and in life.

Some obvious signs of ADD / ADHD include frequent interruption of others or talking over them, poor self-control, blurting out thoughts without thinking, acting recklessly or spontaneously without regard for consequences and behaving in socially inappropriate ways (such as not being able to sit still during a long meeting). Emotionally individuals with ADD/ADHD can be easily flustered and stressed out, possess short, often explosive tempers, have self-esteem issues, have trouble staying motivated and be hypersensitive to criticism. For a child, it may look like not knowing how to share toys, take turns, play well with others. They may have problems making or keeping friends and find it difficult to focus and stay still.

Both hyper and hypo activity can be involved in attention issues. Both are products of spontaneous disorientation, and every disorientation affects our perception of time. This is why for someone experiencing ADHD, an hour of time can feel as if it is going quickly or slowly. The faster the internal clock goes the slower the outside seems; one hour can seem like two. The senses of balance and motion are reversed when disoriented. Being still seems like moving so a person mimics the feeling and moves which results in a feeling of calmness. If you tell them to be still and stop fidgeting, not only will they not hear you, they might also feel motion sick because they want to move and yet they are attempting to keep still.

There are many arguments over the cause and treatment for ADHD/ADD. Conventional streams see it as a mental health issue that requires medication to increase dopamine levels. Others look for the cause of this lack of focusing, and attribute it to lifestyle factors such as video games, screen time, intolerances to foods such as sugar, colorings, additives, glyphosates. There is evidence that the frequency of screen and video time affects dopamine levels and circadian rhythms. Furthermore, adults are modeling inattention as they multi-task, rushing off to activities, not allowing for time spent time in nature or just being quiet. All likely contribute in some way ... many of these factors affect dopamine levels.

Davis® Attention Mastery provides effective tools to help adults and children age 8 and over to address attention, behavioral, or organizational difficulties. Adults and children gain abilities to recognize and clear up distorted perceptions. That allows them to detect and solve confusions, and then master and internalize concepts that will help them with social interactions and attention issues. These concepts include: self, change, consequence, before, after, cause, effect, time, sequence, and order vs. disorder. We practice using these concepts by applying them to real life situations. This allows one to develop personal insight into the barriers that prevent them from living to their potential.

Young children diagnosed with ADHD often have significant academic and learning barriers, particularly with reading skills and reading comprehension. The Davis tools for attention regulation are part of every Davis program. Since academic difficulties are often at the heart of behavior problems and the inability to sustain focus in a classroom setting, in some cases it is better for children to start with a Davis Dyslexia Correction program. Often, the behavior issues that gave rise to an ADHD diagnosis will dissolve when the child gains the ability to read and understand why much of the confusion that caused the disorientation occurred and how it can be resolved.

Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/

CALENDAR

Make it Monthly during March with Canada Helps
Making Tomorrow Count Early Childhood Conference – April 13 - Victoria
Decoda Conference – April 19 – Richmond
Come to the Dyslexic Table April 1 at 430PM Pacific
Save the Date – Fellowship of the Gift – Summer Camp June 2

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

Visit our Campaign page here

Nadine Schumont from Picture Perfect Learning Solutions in Stratford, Ontario is happy to announce the release of her “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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 2/7/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 2/7/24

Newsletter February 2024

Spring is springing... with the occasional chilly day… but the snowdrops are a sign!

February 2024

Spring is springing... with the occasional chilly day… but the snowdrops are a sign!

We have been very busy writing the final report for the Early Childhood Educators Professional Development Pilot.

It was a rush… although we got accepted last August, once contracts started to go back and forth, and all the requirements complied with… we didn’t get started till October! The 12 participants have been fantastic… assignments and their final evaluation have been gathered… and some of their observations are priceless. The final report goes out February 9.

We encouraged all the ECEs to use the 3 tools, Release, Dial and Focus, themselves before they shared them with the 3-5 year olds…

“this exercise is an awesome self-reflection and self-awareness tool for me to assess how I am feeling and where my emotions/energies are throughout the day.”

Some ECEs use all 3 tools at home, and it does seem that they have the best results in their classrooms. Children know when you’re faking it… so they know when you are truly using the tools too.

“two of our children having conflict on all activities, so .. we did our Release and I said, if we need help or want a toy we are using 5 or 4 to our voice/body. They both calmed down and next day I can see they are both trying to regulate their emotions to one another.”

The Koosh ball toss proved very popular. Some ECEs found that the children were more willing to use their tools if they knew Koosh ball toss was going to happen. ECEs wait to see who has their dial on 5 before they toss the ball… guaranteed motivation!

For the Focus exercise the children needed to understand what it is to imagine. You would think this was not an issue, but they are ‘Covid’ children who haven’t been allowed to play with other children outside their bubble, and maybe had more screen time than is typical. Several games introduced them to the concept of imagining and it even helped some children who “have been unsure how to play with peers.”

One little boy was frustrated because he couldn’t ride his bicycle.. his ECE suggested using all three tools together.. and off he went!

Some of the ECEs would like to continue to the end of their school year, to complete Letter Mastery, Picturing to Remember (what is being read to them) and start Word Mastery. We are hopeful that the Ministry of Education will decide to offer it to all ECEs in BC.

At the moment we are just incredibly grateful to Julie Brewer, who knew it would work because she’d been using/adapting the skills ever since she took a DLS for K-3 teachers. She had so many wonderful suggestions, games, tips, materials to share; to Stacey Smith who embraced the idea of presenting the adapted 2 day Workshop; to DDAI for allowing us to create Davis Learning Strategies for Early Years as part of the pilot; to Laura O’Neill who created the Thinkific learning account for all of the attendees and kept the administration running smoothly. I had fun…creating the scripts and live/recorded Modules, assignments and evaluations. It was all so worthwhile!

https://www.storyhive.com/

TELUS STORYHIVE: Having delivered the ‘practice’ film last December, we are now involved in creating the ‘Main Edition’. I met with our National Screen Institute Mentor, Maureen Levitt, who is wonderful and really good at guiding the project. She is very experienced, and was able to illuminate the path forward which involved us having a Director and creating a ‘treatment’?!?!? At this point, I am in totally uncharted waters, way beyond my pay grade… my picture for ‘treatment’ had medical vibes.

It is turning out to be an incredible lesson… I was given a sheet telling me what a treatment should be… I thought I followed it. Obviously I didn’t. I asked for an example to follow… thought I followed it… no I didn’t. I googled how to write a treatment and found www.docfilmacademy.com which was brilliant, not too many words, slides and examples...the jury is still out on that one. All this time, Maureen had been reading my book, she phoned to say she loved it, it was well written, she liked the sections, she liked the humour…so realising that I can write…led to her ‘aha’ moment. She said that I should write the treatment as I felt it should be written… because that was the whole point of the film… I learn differently!

COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE - Episode #10 - ‘What is Different About a Davis Program?’

Our February 1st Live Chat was on procrastination… I think we should have put it off. 😊

As usual Sharon had written a great article and the Podcast will be published shortly HERE.

JOIN US for our 10th Live Chat on March 1st at 4.30pm Pacific. We’ll be discussing ‘What is different about a Davis Program?’.

You can read Sharon’s article HERE, please RSVP for your zoom link.

What is different about a Davis program?

Davis programs are different. You don’t just enlist, you have to qualify. We do not tutor. We do not use phonics or endless repetition or drill. Instead, we facilitate clients to use their inner strengths/skills/abilities to unfold the cause of their struggles and hence make improvements in a matter of days. Not everyone qualifies to partake in a program and here are the reasons why.

Firstly, programs are conducted by rigorously trained facilitators. Facilitators by definition are people that make things easier. They plan and guide a person to meet their goals whereas teachers use their subject matter expertise to design curricula, presentations, and learning materials. One Google definition states “Facilitators get things done.”

In order to define goals, there is a degree of self awareness involved. Children go to school without clearly defined goals and get taught general things based upon a curriculum designed by adults who deem that at a certain age a child should know certain things. Whereas a person who visits a Davis program, has something in mind they want to fix or improve, a goal. This requires some ability of self awareness and that is why the suggested age to enroll in a program is 8 and up. At that age, children enter a developmental phase known as the age of reason which refers to the developmental cognitive, emotional, and moral stage in which children become more capable of rational thought, have internalized a conscience, and have better capacity to control impulses. Being the right age doesn’t always qualify you for a program. It’s just the first step.

The second qualification in goal setting requires a feeling of meaning and purpose. Without it, you can lose focus. The goals need to be specific and not general e.g. “I want to pass school”. A child needs to break that down into something more concrete such as to be better at spelling , reading, doing division problems or making friends.

This requires the child to use their self-awareness to be aware of how they feel about their abilities. The stronger they feel about their inabilities, the better it determines the motivation of the client. The more emotional they are about their negative experiences, the stronger the motivation is to act in order to experience positive emotions and minimize the probability of feeling negative emotions.

Continuous positive change keeps the program going and we often ask if their goals are being met. That’s why we orchestrate a program to client’s goals because they are the ones “doing it”. So if they are aware that they are having a problem in some aspect of their life and want to fix it there is a good chance they qualify for a program. Intertwined with this goal setting is a desire for change.

The third qualification is finding a good support system to follow up with the program’s inroads. With a child, it is often the parent who assists. The reading and orientation exercises take about 15 minutes a day until child is reading at grade level. The clay work on the sight/trigger words is another matter as it depends upon the client’s goals. Depending upon what was accomplished in the program and client’s goals and schedule, the clay work can take around a year to complete. The more words that get done, the greater results. If the parent has a history of “not being able to work with the child,” they should hire someone who can, and support training is provided for them. Facilitators are there to help following a program but it’s the helper’s responsibility to ask.

In my office, there are three rules that clients follow.

The first is to go slow. This is so they can identify the confusion.
The second is to make mistakes and not to let it bother you. This can be a deal breaker for some as it is embarrassing to make mistakes and feel stupid. However, it is the mistakes that tell us what is going on and once a client knows how to correct them, they often feel relieved In order to relieve anxiety around this, I jokingly say, “You have to make at least five per day”.
The third rule is to have fun!

If all these things are in place, success is on its way!

Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/

Teaching Without Words – Matthew Peterson

Axel Gudmundsson, a Davis Facilitator in the UK sent Sue some material for the STORYHIVE documentary and we thought you might like it, especially the first minute: Watch HERE.

BURSARY FUND

We are receiving a steady stream of requests for financial assistance for Davis Dyslexia Correction Method Programs. In addition, we are expanding our Bursary Program to include Davis® Autism Approach, Davis® Concepts for Life, & Davis® Concepts for Life - Early Years. The Davis Method programs are life changing. They provide the individual struggling with Dyslexia, AD(H)D, and Autism the tools to enable them to learn in a sustainable, successful and empowering way. We accept applications for children, youth & adults. We’ve seen remarkable changes in these individual’s lives where they are thriving and achieving their goals and dreams. Please help us continue providing financial support to these gifted individuals. Be a part of enabling their full potential. Consider donating to our Bursary Fund. We accept cash donations by e-Transfer (info@thewds.org), Canada Helps and PayPal Giving Fund. We have many other options if you’d like to check out our Giving Guide HERE. To read or view some of our testimonials check out our Bursary Program page HERE.

Much love from all of us….Sue, Laura, Julie, Nadine, Sharon, Paddy, Gisa, Tristan and Del…

CALENDAR

Feb 16: Sue and Julie present 2 Pro Day Sessions: Cathedral School, Victoria and Brookes Westshore (return visit!)
Feb 29: Telus StoryHive Treatment due.
March 1: Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat TITLE SHARON
March 2: The WDS AGM .. 10am PST
April 13: Making Tomorrow Count – Sue and Julie are presenting
April 19: Decoda Conference, Richmond – Sue and Julie are presenting

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

Visit our Campaign page here

Nadine Schumont from Picture Perfect Learning Solutions in Stratford, Ontario is happy to announce the release of her “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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 1/4/24 The Whole Dyslexic Society 1/4/24

Newsletter January 2024

Happy New Year to You All ! We hope you are refreshed and have had time to think about all the things you intend to manifest in 2024. Your Board meets January 18 to discuss its objectives and all suggestions are very welcome.

January 2024

happy New year to You All!

We hope you are refreshed and have had time to think about all the things you intend to manifest in 2024.

Your Board meets January 18 to discuss its objectives and all suggestions are very welcome.

We give thanks to Maureen O’Sullivan, for introducing us to our new Board Director, Del Coburn, who is already injecting excitement into our Society, as he appears fearless in taking on some of our fundraising activities. Maureen is keen to ensure there are bursaries available for the Davis Autism Approach programs.

Nadine is part of the new Davis marketing initiative, which is part of the whole new Davis rebranding, launching early in 2024.

Gisa is meeting with representatives of Big Sisters to hear what they are interested in.

Sue has offered to be part of the new Davis Learning Strategies and Davis Learning Strategies for Early Years initiative.

Many Facilitators worldwide are interested in developing this preventative approach… so exciting !!!

WE ARE RIGHT BACK into the Early Childhood Educators’ Professional Development Pilot we created, as of Jan 6… our end of pilot report is due Feb 28.

The whole project has been a rush, we have ‘bounced’ from one self-created deadline to another: we had to create a logo, an advertisement, distribute it, create a Thinkific e-learning platform, plan the format, create a Flow Chart of Modules, create 9 Modules plus assignments, record them, get permission from DDAI for the 2 day workshops, write adaptations to the DLS K-3 Manual, book the in-person presenter, their accommodation, the venue, and send out more assignments, include parents… and now we have the last of the modules plus the evaluations and final report writing. Phew!!!

Huge thanks go to Laura O’Neill, Julie Brewer and Stacey Smith for the above. Huge thanks are also due to the ECEs who are using the self-management tools and already noticing improvements in their centers.

The idea of their success leading to the Ministry of Education and Child Care offering this professional development to all ECEs in BC is beyond wildly exciting!

https://www.storyhive.com/

TELUS STORYHIVE Documentary – Miraculously, we also managed to get the Bonus Edition of the Telus StoryHive documentary in by Dec 6. The full story is HERE. The Telus StoryHive Adventure ! Many lessons have been learned, a new Storyboard needs to be created, and we look forward to the mentorship provided by the Film Institute as of Jan 13.

COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE - Episode #9 - Procrastination

JOIN US for our 9th Live Chat on February 1st at 4.30pm Pacific. We’ll be discussing procrastination and how it shows up in different personality types as well as the added challenges that dyslexic, ADD and autistic learners face when starting, organizing and completing tasks.

You can read Sharon’s article HERE, please RSVP.

LOOKING FOR PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITIES? Donor Advised Funds and Legacy Giving are ways in which you can support your favourite causes through charitable contributions. We have created easy to understand articles on these charitable gifts. Visit Legacy Giving HERE. Visit Donor Advised Funds HERE. Or contact us at info@thewds.org to discuss ways in which we can work together.

Much love from all of us….Sue, Laura, Julie, Nadine, Sharon, Paddy, Gisa, Tristan and Del…

CALENDAR

Jan 6: Module 5.2 for ECEs Professional Development pilot.
Jan 13 - we meet our Film Institute mentor for the StoryHive documentary.
Jan 18: Board Meeting
Jan 21 – 28th – Family Literacy Week
Jan 27th - Parent Evaluation of ECE Pilot
Feb 1st - Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat on Procrastination, 430pm.
Feb 16: Sue and Julie present 2 Pro Day Sessions: Cathedral School, Victoria and Brookes Westshore (return visit!)
Stay tuned for more events and happenings!

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

Visit our Campaign page here

Nadine Schumont from Picture Perfect Learning Solutions in Stratford, Ontario is happy to announce the release of her “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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 12/4/23 The Whole Dyslexic Society 12/4/23

Newsletter December 2023 Holiday Edition

Dear All… here is our bumper December edition!

As our last Newsletter for 2023, its tempting to look back before we start looking forward to 2024 .. can you believe it?

December 2023

Dear All… here is our bumper December edition !!!

As our last newsletter for 2023, it’s tempting to look back before we start looking forward to 2024….can you believe it?

In so doing I’d like to start with our Administrator, Laura O’Neill, because without her none of this would be happening!

It’s all too easy to glide through all our projects, meetings, social media posts, technical troubleshooting, Zoom calls, PowerPoint creations, editing requests, not to mention the basic needs of accountability to the CRA etc. and keeping the financials, and preparing agendas and Board meeting minutes, insurance payments, this MailChimp, our website… and so on... without acknowledging who makes them happen… and thanks to Laura, we do glide! Laura volunteered an incredible number of hours before we were able to pay her part-time and as we all know, there is no such thing as a part-time job, which means that she works full-time for part-time remuneration, and not only that, but evenings and weekends to keep up with our deadlines.

Since we were fortunate enough to get the grants from Telus for the documentary and The Ministry of Education and Child Care for the Early Childhood Educators Professional Development Pilot, we have been wildly time-crunched. It’s also quite amazing how long things take… there’s an idea, Sue drafts it, sends it to Laura and Julie, who send back comments, Laura incorporates the edits, Sue remembers something else, which sparks more thoughts and then there are more edits, Laura puts a document on the Thinkific platform, informs the ECEs, gets emails re the technology, Sue can’t get into Thinkific, so asks Laura to send her the info she needs… and so it goes on… over and over!

So extremely long story short, Laura, we all thank you so sincerely for all that you bring, for going more than the extra mile, keeping us on an even keel, and managing to do it all so graciously.

THANK YOU !

THANK YOU 100 WOMEN WHO CARE OF THE NORTH SHORE

WE ARE IMMENSELY grateful to 100 Women Who Care for their generous donation towards our Bursary Program. We had a growing waitlist of families applying for financial assistance for their much needed Davis Dyslexia Correction Programs. We will be able to help 6 individuals with their generous donation. 6 Individuals who will flourish and thrive instead of struggle and experience defeat. Read more HERE.

Director Gisa Straith accepting our gift on December 4th, 2023. www.100womennorthshore.com

DAVIS INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM 2023

Sue and Nadine went to the Davis Facilitators Symposium in San Francisco... the first one since Covid. It was incredible. Davis is undergoing a major re-fit with two remarkable individuals leading the way in branding and marketing. We are all very excited, and left feeling very much tighter as a unit, very encouraged at the new organisation and the collaborative opportunities. Nadine is a human dynamo… she interviewed and filmed people, got us all way beyond our comfort levels when singing … and turned our embarrassment into joy. She has a gift!

The Early Childhood Educators Professional Development Pilot – ‘NeuroInclusivity for Early Years’ is gathering speed! We advertised, interviewed, informed and then started on the Modules. The first two provided background information about learning challenges and the existing Davis Learning Strategies for K-3 teachers. Sue and Julie added adaptations appropriate for 3-5 year olds to the Manual, and Stacey Smith, in her wonderfully gentle way, presented one Online 2-day Workshop and one In-Person 2-day Workshop in Langford, BC. They all benefitted from Julie adding her practical experience, the games she uses and her practical tips. Sue was blown away by the enthusiasm of the ECEs. It’s easy for us to be excited because we have seen the results. They were excited at the thought of using the self-management tools with their little ones! We will be keeping in touch with them all, discussing the assignments (once we’ve created them) and the evaluations early next year.

https://www.storyhive.com/

TELUS STORYHIVE Documentary – when we came up for air, we suddenly realised that the STORYHIVE deadline for the Bonus edition (trailer) was only a few weeks away. Johua Mansfield of Shiloh Music Studio is busy editing all the wonderful film he took, and Nicholas Wisdom (creator of Sue’s book cover) is working on the art for the thumbnail, and it all comes together by Dec 11…!!! We can’t wait to see how it turns out!

COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE - Episode #8 - Games We Enjoy at The WDS

OUR LATEST PODCAST could be the answer to your Christmas shopping dilemma .. BOARD GAMES… we introduce 30 of our favourites and discuss the advantages of playing Board Games… verbal skills, stress reducing, organisational skills, problem solving, dexterity, learning to lose and to win, inquiry, critical thinking and collaboration and above all FUN !!!

Here is Sharon’s Article HERE, or listen to the podcast episode HERE. Here are the games we discussed:

Find It, Rush Hour, Sink and Sand, Boggle, Monopoly Deal, Conversation Cards, Jenge Maker, Lego Therapy, Connect 4, Storytime Chess, Escape Rooms, Picture Charades, Spot It, Yahtzee, Pictionary, Nowhere To Go, Dixit, Cinco Linko, Labyrinth, Shut the Box, To Get to Ride, Bananagrams, Snatch It, Cobra Paws, Ring It, Quick Cups, Spoons!

ENJOY this fun rendition of Cinderella by Matt Watson.

WE HAD OUR LAST BOARD MEETING of the year on November 30 and were delighted to welcome Del Coburn to our fundraising objective, in particular, for Autism Approach bursaries. It’s already easy to see he is a wonderful addition to our small but mighty band.

Four years ago, Sue’s first visit to one of their meetings resulted in the North Shore 100 Women Who Care donating $10,000 to fund Davis Learning Strategies Workshops for K-3 teachers. Julie Brewer, our Montessori pre-school educator, attended the subsequent Workshop and decided to use the strategies with her 3-5 year olds. She was pleasantly surprised by the results. Fast forward four years and here we are piloting DLS for Early Years, as above. Who knew ?!?

This year, thanks to Gisa’s successful ‘pitch’ to the North Shore 100 Women Who Care, Sue was invited to the December 4 meeting, to let them know who would benefit from the $9,600 donated to our Bursary Fund. We have to wonder where this donation will lead? For now, we are just very grateful for an exceptional end to our year!

It’s exhausting just writing all of this down, never mind putting it all into action ! We hope to get a little rest over the holidays… and we wish you all everything that you wish for yourselves, with plenty of joy and ease and fun and laughter. Thank you for being part of our community… we look forward to taking all this incredible energy into 2024.

Much love from all of us….Sue, Laura, Julie, Nadine, Sharon, Paddy, Gisa, Tristan and Del…

Come to The Dyslexic Table - Live Chat -Next Event will be February 1st about Procrastination

RSVP HERE.

CALENDAR

Jan 21 – 28th – Family Literacy Week

Stay tuned for more events and happenings!

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 9/29/23 The Whole Dyslexic Society 9/29/23

Newsletter October 2023

OCTOBER is Dyslexia Awareness Month… so let’s ensure everyone knows the truth about dyslexia and how to correct it!

October 2023

Happy month of October!

OCTOBER is Dyslexia Awareness Month… so let’s ensure everyone knows the truth about dyslexia and how to correct it!

WE ARE SO BLESSED and proud to have this way of thinking…let’s get our Universal Symbol widely known! Please consider purchasing our pin and sharing it with friends, family and colleagues. Your donation helps support our VISION: ‘that any individual, child or adult, who has the 'gift' of dyslexia, will have the opportunity of reaching their full potential.’

https://www.storyhive.com/

WE ARE EXCITED to announce the making of a documentary film on Dyslexia and our aim to achieve Neuroinclusivity in education. Our project is made possible with the support from TELUS STORYHIVE, and will be available for free on TELUS Optik TV towards the end of 2024. More details to come! We start filming this month - Dyslexia Awareness Month. Check out our short ‘pitch’ film below.

WE KNOW WHAT CAUSES Dyslexia. Watch Dyslexia: Enable The Learning Difference: Sue Blyth Hall: TEDxBearCreekPark

….AND WE KNOW HOW to correct the challenges so the gift can be enjoyed and potential achieved !!! We have curated a large collection of books and websites. Please visit our website at https://www.thewds.org/parental-support for a complete list of resources.

Would you like to help us spread the word?

Share one/some of our YouTube videos. Visit our channel HERE.
Share some of our podcasts…We have 6 series. Visit our channel HERE.
- What dyslexia really is…
- How it can be avoided…
- Talking to dyslexics who are enjoying their gift
- Interviewing TEDx speakers
- The Quiet Warrior – Tom Dutta
- Various topics taken from Come to the Dyslexic Table

We have over 1,000 listens… next target is 5,000 !

And please do help us to continue.. this year has been incredible.

Our BURSARY Fund received an award from 100 Women Who Care which is so gratefully received.

Our OUTREACH is going to benefit enormously from a TELUS STORYHIVE grant for a documentary.

Our PREVENTION objective has been awarded a grant from the Ministry of Education and Child Care via BC Campus to create a professional development course for Early Childhood Educators.

We couldn’t be more grateful ... and busy !

We are on a roll, let’s pick up speed

Visit our Giving Page for many ways you can support our Mission & Vision HERE

Nadine Schumont of Picture Perfect Learning Solutions and WDS Board Director has opened a new Center in Stratford, Ontario; Picture Perfect Learning Center. “We're thrilled to report that our recent open house at the new Picture Perfect Learning Center was a tremendous success! Attendees had a fantastic time exploring our offerings, including information sessions on neurodiverse services, the Davis® method, and specialized tutoring. Our Early Learners Pod and Youth Pod Days received a warm welcome, emphasizing our commitment to tailored learning. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this exciting event! Stay tuned for more transformative learning experiences at Picture Perfect Learning Solutions.” To read more about Picture Perfect Learning Center and programming check out her website HERE.

Come to The Dyslexic Table - Live Chat -november 1st Topic: the Science of Reading.

RSVP HERE.

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
November 9-12 - DDAI Conference - San Francisco - Sue has been invited to be part of a non-profit session.
November 28th - Giving Tuesday

NEW! Series #5: Come to The Dyslexic Table

We are publishing our monthly live chat to our podcast channels on Podbean and Spotify. You can also listen on our website.
Podbean HERE.
Webpage HERE.

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.

Nadine Schumont; Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

Sue Hall; Positive Dyslexia

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

COMING SOON!! All about Legacy Giving and Donor Advised Funds

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.

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 9/12/23 The Whole Dyslexic Society 9/12/23

Newsletter September 2023

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!

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 !!!

***Photo by*** ***GR Stocks*** on Unsplash

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!

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 !

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.

Nadine Schumont; Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

Sue Hall; Positive Dyslexia

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 8/4/23 The Whole Dyslexic Society 8/4/23

Newsletter August 2023

Dear All – there wasn’t going to be an August issue, but now there is, because so many amazing things are appearing… so it’s bullet point style this time with more to follow!

August 2023

Happy month of August!

Dear All – there wasn’t going to be an August issue, but now there is, because so many amazing things are appearing… so it’s bullet point style this time with more to follow!

Maybe start with some laughter?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/234388156206952

Best quote ever from Kerwin Rae …. ‘ADHD is a hypersensitivity to boredom’ !

Sponsor a Family August Challenge

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.

CALENDAR

We thought you might like to see what we are up to:

August 1 – Come to the Dyslexic Table was a lively conversation about Resilience – What’s Change got to do with It? The podcast will be out shortly.

September 1 – Come to the Dyslexic Table will be discussing this interesting article on Auditory Processing! A huge thank you to Sharon for all her research and enlightening, thought provoking articles.

In the Fall – Nadine is hosting an Improv Class with Theatre Sports – unlocking more creative potential !

November 9-12 - DDAI Conference - San Francisco - Sue has been invited to be part of a non-profit session.

OCTOBER DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH

We are planning for our October – Dyslexia Month campaign and focussing on our pins again.

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

OUTREACH AND GRANTS

Telus StoryHive grant awarded:

This month we start our Telus StoryHive documentary mentoring/training… ‘Why the Need for Inclusivity in Education and How’.

If you have a point(s) that you feel we should emphasise… please email us at info@thewds.org.

Grants applied for: BC Campus, Loyal Protestants, Epcor and Domtar … please send positive thoughts their way !

Connection made with Big Sisters who run a Study Buddy program … thank you Gisa … looking forward to where this leads!

Julie found Darius Namdaran of BulletMap Academy…. love his mind mapping! Check out his site HERE.

PAPER: Being of a certain age, I need to see things on paper to read them… not a fan of reading off a screen.

So, sadly I use a lot of copy paper… but just bought Sugar Sheet paper ! Made from sugar cane fibre, no trees involved !

It’s great and you can recycle it ! “The Best Alternative to Not Printing”… and I’m not on commission

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat September 1st: Topic is Auditory Processing Disorder

RSVP here

Sharon Roberts has penned another excellent article for us - this month it is 'Auditory Processing Disorder'.
We will be talking about this at our next Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat on Friday September 1st at 4.30pm (Pacific Time). To read more and RSVP visit our page HERE.

Auditory Processing Disorder Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

I never really began to fully comprehend auditory processing issues until one day I was sitting in a very busy coﬀee shop with my son. High school students were lined up, dishes were clanging, buzzers were going and mixed conversations were overheard. My son, who was about 10 at the time, only remarked about the song playing way oﬀ in the background. This was a song, I literally strained to hear. Yet for him it was as distinguishable as the rest of the coﬀee shop’s noises. No wonder verbal instructions and noisy classrooms were a challenge for him, because if he couldn’t distinguish the dominant noise and drown out the others, how could he pay attention?

People with auditory processing disorder can have a hard time hearing small sound diﬀerences in words. For example one could say, “ Look at the cows over there,” and yet they may hear, “Look at the owls on the stairs.” Sounds may be reversed or jumbled such as the classic ‘pasghettie’ instead of spaghetti. Multiple sounds may be heard as one sound. All of this leads to diﬃculty with phonemic awareness, a skill necessary for traditional reading methods. Not all dyslexics have auditory discrimination problems and symptoms can vary from mild to extreme, but other signs can include, diﬃculty following a sequence of instructions, a weak auditory memory and weak comprehension of something just heard leading to the misunderstanding what others said.

Basically, they will pass a traditional hearing test but with auditory processing, their brain isn’t getting what the ears are hearing, but what it thinks they are hearing. Sounds familiar? It’s a form of disorientation. Instead of having confusion over letters, there is confusion with sounds. This confusion makes processing diﬃcult, makes it hard to think while listening or phonetically decoding and leads to slowness in interacting things heard with things seen.

In addition, because the listening and balance systems are highly integrated, (they share the same vestibular-cochlear apparatus) those who struggle with APD often have diﬃculty with co- ordination. The vestibular system is a system of balance and motion located in the inner ear.

This part of the brain uses both sides of the body to support the child’s balance which allows one to know their place in space. Good balance helps one sit still, concentrate and control the eye movements necessary for reading, writing and coordination.

Auditory issues, like other learning and attention issues can aﬀect a child’s everyday life. For example, does the child mishear sounds and words? Maybe you find the child is easily overwhelmed in noisy environments and copes better in quieter settings? Does your child have trouble with spelling or phonics? Maybe conversations or verbal directions are hard to follow? Separate testing from a typical hearing test is needed to confirm the suspicions.

Therapy and technological equipment is available, but I personally found the techniques behind the Davis Dyslexia Correction® Method very helpful. We had our son retested around 1 to 2 years following his program and he was in the “normal” range. This followed his mastering the sight words and daily implementation of the orientation exercises. I am not sure if I had APD, but I did have problems following lectures and remembering what was said without writing notes. Now, I frequently listen to podcasts and the odd auditory book while driving and seem to retain the important parts, and of course, I was able to do that following a Davis Dyslexia Correction ® Program.

The Davis Program tackles the cause of the learning struggles and gets to the root of the problem, allowing the participant to discover their confusions and correct them. With auditory processing, the orientation procedure combined with introducing symbols that are responsible for the challenges, has the ability to solve the problem. It has the potential, (depending upon the dedication to the follow up) to permit the client to re-enter the workplace or school free from technology, accommodations and coping strategies.

Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/

Enjoy and have a fabulous summer !! 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.

Nadine Schumont; Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

Sue Hall; Positive Dyslexia

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 7/5/23 The Whole Dyslexic Society 7/5/23

Newsletter July 2023

HAPPY CANADA DAY – hoping you all had a wonderful long weekend and your summer holidays are on the horizon! We are taking a little break from Board meetings but there is still plenty for us to do.

July 2023

Happy month of July!

HAPPY CANADA DAY – hoping you all had a wonderful long weekend and your summer holidays are on the horizon! We are taking a little break from Board meetings but there is still plenty for us to do. The sad news is that we didn’t get any funding from the Government’s Community Services Recovery Fund, which is hard to take when there was $400M on offer!

OUTREACH

HOWEVER – the good news is that we rattled off an application for the Telus StoryHive grant of $20,000 for a 25 min documentary – and we got it ! Ironic that we spent weeks on the one we didn’t get and a couple of days on the one we did get. There must be a message in there somewhere? Laura created this ‘pitch’ video which helped us to get the award! Watch HERE. The project’s current title is ‘The Need for NeuroInclusivity in Education and How.’ They give us a mentor, suggest film crew, editors etc. and then launch the film on Telus Optik ! Very exciting ! We could choose our own film crew if anyone has any contacts, we’d love to hear from you.

COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE Live Chat will be on August 1 (missing July 1) – the article crafted by Sharon Roberts is: Resilience – What’s Change Got to do with it? Our clients typically are not comfortable with change… so come and join us – you can register HERE and will receive a Zoom link.

EMERGING AUTHORS, Victoria, BC – Sue was grateful to have her book accepted for the Greater Victoria Library’s Emerging Author event. She wasn’t able to go but her book had a great time HERE.

DYSLEXIA IN THE WORKPLACE: When we talk about dyslexia, we tend to focus on children and their struggles in the education system. Recently ‘Made by Dyslexia’ came out with these interesting statistics:

Although 66% of HR leaders say they understand the value of Dyslexic Thinking - only 14% of dyslexic employees agree, and while 64% of employers feel their recruitment processes identify Dyslexic Thinking - only 4% of dyslexics agree. We think it would be worthwhile to contact the CPHRBC organisation to see if they would be interested in the information we can share. There is HR in all large corporations, and they might decide to donate to us ! Read the research document HERE. On a personal note (Sue) I think its so sad that Made by Dyslexia know about the talents, and yet have no idea, or do not embrace, why both the challenges and talents exist… heyho, one day!

ICE CREAM FUNDRAISER:

Ongoing… details re: the Ice Cream Fundraiser are still in the works… keep thinking of a really great dyslexic ice cream flavour!

COMMUNITY

Nadine has kept our Community Objective alive with a wonderful pottery event. She says “the pottery event on the weekend was a hit! Everyone had such a great time. We had two moms and four kids, along with myself, making a total of seven participants. We all agreed that we would love to go again. Currently, we don't have the final mugs as they need to dry first. After that, they will be dipped in the colors of our choice and then fired to be ready for use. I will be picking them up in five weeks.”

Next time she’s organising some improv ! Sounds loads of fun!

FACILITATING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES:

I find it interesting that your brain wires itself to match your native language. Wiring patterns seem to reflect grammatical characteristics specific to different languages, so looking at their brain scans, are there certain languages that would be easier for us right-brain dominant folk? I know Spanish is the language most likely to sound how it is spelt, but it would be interesting to know if it lights up the right brain more than the left. Read the article HERE.

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat

RSVP here

Sharon Roberts has penned another excellent article for us - this month it is 'Resilience - What’s Change Got To Do With It?'.
We will be talking about this at our next Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat on Tuesday August 1st at 4.30pm (Pacific Time). To read more and RSVP visit our page HERE.

Resilience - What’s Change Got to Do With It? Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

Good mental health is often linked to being resilient. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back from difficult life experiences or challenges, otherwise known as change. The idea of change is something that is often unwelcome by many experiencing dyslexia. Change simply means ‘something becoming something else’ and can be found in both the external and inner worlds. Knowing the difference is the key. Experts believe that resiliency is a taught skill requiring qualities such as confidence, competence, and control.

Some of these qualities can be absent in a dyslexic’s repertoire. The gift of altering your perceptions readily, without the ability to control when needed, undermines one’s confidence as mistakes are a common occurrence. Dyslexia isn’t just a reading problem; it can affect how we follow instructions and conversations and getting along with others. These misperceptions undermine our confidence and competence and without tools to control our imaginations, we can easily let our minds wander to a place filled with anxiety and /or depression. This can be even more magnified because we have that ability to experience our imagination as reality. Meanwhile this ability helps us in other areas such as creative endeavors or sports but is detrimental to bouncing back from unexpected changes.

Confusion is commonplace with a dyslexic person, so structure provides a sense of security or grounding. Changes in their orderliness of environment such as furniture rearrangement, moving households, scheduling changes, feeling rushed or any kind of loss or strife will further lower their threshold of confusion. This is why parents often see emotional outbursts associated with change in their dyslexic child. Being able to “roll with the punches” is a great life skill and a Davis concept program tailored to this need can provide someone with tools to manage themselves while facing a change.

These concepts, often meaningless to a picture thinker, are necessary to acquire some of the ingredients for resiliency such as: viewing change as a challenge or opportunity, relying on past successes, seeing their choices, having patience, confidence, and competence. This helps one adapt to change and become more resilient.

In addition, the Davis Method offers tools to relax and control the perceptual abilities when needed. In addition, we model the concepts of change, consequence, time, sequence and order, to place these abstract concepts into the real world. It goes beyond memorization or understanding.

Ron Davis’s book, The Gift of Dyslexia, says “When someone masters something, it becomes a part of that person. It becomes part of the individual’s thought and creative process. It adds the quality of its essence to all subsequent thought and creativity of the individual”

For example, riding a bike involves more than understanding. It’s the experience of riding it that provides the mastery. The same principle applies to mastering these concepts. Mastery inputs the meaning in a concrete way and provides the experience to fall back upon. Repeated experiences using and applying these tools builds confidence to manage changes and increase resilience. Life is unpredictable and riding the wave makes those ups and downs more manageable.

Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/

CALENDAR

We thought you might like to see what we are up to:

August 1 - Live Chat – Resilience: What’s Change Got to Do With it?

We have #1 Time Blindness, #2 The Invisible Dyslexic, #3 Keyboarding and Cursive Writing on Podbean, Spotify & YouTube

August 23, Creator Info Session #1: Welcome to Telus StoryHive

September 7, Creator Info Session #2 - The Business of Screen Media

September 19,26, October 3,10,17,24 Why Ty Parent Support Course – Online live with Sue Hall

In the Fall – Nadine is hosting an Improv Class with Theatre Sports – unlocking more creative potential !

November 9-12 - DDAI Conference - San Francisco - Sue has been invited to be part of a non-profit session.

January 13, 2024 Creator Info Session #3: Meet Your NSI Mentor

AND FINALLY – A LITTLE OUT OF SEASON – BUT SIMPLY HILARIOUS – thank you to Matt Watson, Vancouver Island for recording RINDERCELLA for us !

Enjoy and have a fabulous summer !! 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.

Nadine Schumont; Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

Sue Hall; Positive Dyslexia

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 6/5/23 The Whole Dyslexic Society 6/5/23

Newsletter June 2023

We are in the midsummer month of June ! Everything is still so lush and green, even my veggie seeds are forging ahead!

June 2023

Happy month of June!

We are in the midsummer month of June ! Everything is still so lush and green, even my veggie seeds are forging ahead!

FUNDRAISING:

We at The Whole Dyslexic Society are also forging ahead with our Bursary Capital Fund goal … more applications to foundations for grants are on their way, and we are investigating the world of legacy giving. Some of you know that T.J. Firenze kindly volunteers her time to help you apply for the Disability Tax Credit; well her husband, Carmelo, was kind enough to talk to us about Legacy Giving and we would like to make a list of financial planners and estate lawyers who would be willing to offer our cause to their clients.

SO please… if you know of someone just email us? Thank you ! info@thewds.org

ICE CREAM FUNDRAISER:

Ice Cream goes hand in hand with summer, right ? Well…next month we plan to announce a competition centred on ice cream flavours… so get those taste buds honed into a new flavour you would love to enjoy, with maybe a quirky dyslexic title … ? more soon !

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Julie Brewer discovered this award … the deadline is very soon, June 9, sorry for the short notice… we have so many students to be proud of! To read more and nominate HERE

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat

RSVP here

Resilience - What’s Change Got to Do With It?Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/

EXCELLENT ARTICLE – ‘Dyslexia and Reading Science’ - as always from Abigail Marshall, DDAI Webmaster. Read article HERE.

CALENDAR

We thought you might like to see what we are up to:

June 7th - Laura attends CRA webinar

June 10 – Nadine is hosting her students to a pottery class !

June 22nd - Laura attends Grant Connect Webinar

August 1 - Live Chat – Resilience: What’s Change Got to Do With it?

We have #1 Time Blindness and #2 The Invisible Dyslexic Podbean, Spotify & YouTube

September 19,26, October 3,10,17,24 Why Ty Parent Support Course – Online live with Sue Hall

In the Fall – Nadine is hosting an Improv Class with Theatre Sports – unlocking more creative potential !

November 9-12 - DDAI Conference - San Francisco - Sue has been invited to be part of a non-profit session.

**A very happy June to you all… always open to all your requests and suggestions… 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.

Nadine Schumont; Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

Sue Hall; Positive Dyslexia

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 5/9/23 The Whole Dyslexic Society 5/9/23

Newsletter May 2023

Happy month of May ! For me, this is my favourite month - everything is so
fresh and green, then there's all the bulbs and trees in bloom, we hope you
are enjoying it!

May 2023

Happy month of May !

For me, this is my favourite month - everything is so fresh and green, then there's all the bulbs and trees in bloom, we hope you are enjoying it!

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat

RSVP here

Sharon Roberts has penned another excellent article for us - this month it is 'Comparing Keyboarding Skills and Cursive Writing'.
We will be talking about this at our next Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat on Thursday June 1 at 4.30pm (Pacific Time). To read more and RSVP visit our page HERE.

So many schools are offering technology for our talented picture-thinkers which sounds like a wonderful idea ... but is it really? Join us - we'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts - and once again, we will compile a podcast from the Live Chat. www.thewds.org/podcasts has links to all our podcasts.

Comparing keyboarding Skills and Cursive Writing: by Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

Few people still write with pen and paper, let alone in cursive script. Keyboarding has taken over this art form. However, researchers believe that cursive writing is important to cognitive development and the brain’s sensor motor region. There’s a substantial learning difference between handwriting cursive letters and typing or tracing those same letters. However, with the abundance of smartphones, laptops and tablets for reading and writing text…is writing cursive still important, or is it an outmoded learning tool? Should we focus on keyboarding skills and ignore teaching cursive writing?

Cursive writing trains the brain to integrate various forms of information at once, including visual and tactile inputs, while applying fine motor skills, according to Dr William Klemm, a neuroscience professor. This provides similar benefits to the brain as learning to play a musical instrument.

While cursive writing involves introducing a new set of symbols, for some dyslexics, it is a faster way to write and the distinction of letters is more clear. It teaches organizational skills and assists children in composing their own thoughts and ideas. Printing is more difficult due to the frequent stop and start motion when forming letters.

One researcher believes cursive writing improves reading and spelling abilities because it requires one to write from left to right so letters will join in proper sequence. This enhances spelling because of the connectivity of the letters, says Virginia Berlinger, researcher, writer and professor of Educational Psychology. Additionally, the hand acquires knowledge of spelling patterns through movements that are used repeatedly in spelling - a similar phenomenon that occurs when pianists or typists learn patterns of hand movements through continued repetition. Pictures of brain activity demonstrate that sequential finger movements used in cursive writing activate massive regions of the brain involved in thinking, language and working memory.

Is learning cursive the right move for your picture thinking child, considering that two dimensional symbols are often their nightmare? In my experience, some prefer it and eliminating it from a curriculum, eliminates options, especially if the Davis tools are being used at the same time.

It’s quite commonplace for clients to have difficulty with printing neatly. There are many reasons for this including intentional poor penmanship - a great way to hide poor spelling or hide uncertainty on punctuation, grammar or sentence structure. Intentional bad handwriting is not necessarily connected to disorientation. It’s also worth noting that sometimes poor penmanship is the result of inadequate instruction to build the necessary skills. Originally, cursive writing was a class in itself, scheduled daily.

For those who just can't do it despite honest efforts, there is hope. As with all of the Davis programs providing orientation is the key to figuring out the cause of the problem. Once we experience the positive effects of being oriented, we also become aware of the experience of being disoriented. The disorientation experienced is a result of some sort of confusion resulting in an emotion. When writing, there are stimuli that make the handwriting messy and these stimuli fall into two basic categories: line and shape triggers and motion triggers. I feel we are missing out in many ways by avoiding cursive writing, what do you think?

Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/

Another Board Director, Julie Brewer joined me, Sue Hall, to present a session at the Sooke Teachers' Association Conference on April 21, 2023. We had so much fun, as the teachers were so receptive. Every time we present a session like this their response is 'we had no idea our students
could think like this!' They seemed to enjoy the information I shared re correction and prevention,
and then Julie was able to share her personal experience as a parent whose child took a correction program ... and a Montessori Pre-School teacher who has been using the preventative Davis Learning Strategies with her 3-5 year olds - some of whom were non-English speaking when they joined her class. Now they are keeping up with their peers - she's surprised, impressed and grateful. We are very hopeful that one day we will have a school piloting DLS for 3 years, seeing the success, and encouraging others to join in.

We thought you might like to see what we are up to:

June 1 - Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat – Comparing Keyboarding Skills and Cursive Handwriting

November 9-12 – Davis Dyslexia Association International Conference in San Francisco – Sue Hall joining the non-profit panel and hosting a break-out session.

typewriter with paper that says funding round — Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

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

So please add your energy to all our grant applications, philanthropic requests and help us to welcome in a very full bursary fund.

We are also working on our own fundraiser for this year… we have a bursary waiting list… there’s a very real need.

**A very happy May to you all… always open to all your requests and suggestions… your Board….**

Nadine continues 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.

Nadine Schumont Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Whole Dyslexic Society 4/7/23 The Whole Dyslexic Society 4/7/23

Newsletter April 2023

Difficult to believe we are one quarter through this year already… do you feel time is going faster than ever ?

April 2023

Difficult to believe we are one quarter through this year already… do you feel time is going faster than ever ?

Funny I should say that… we had our first Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat on April 1, following Sharon Robert’s article on ‘Time Blindness’ in our March Newsletter.

It was fun to hear the various challenges connected to time and many of them relate to time words like ‘when’ ‘then’ ‘now’ ‘before’ ‘after’.

Unless you know the meaning of time, they are also meaningless and will cause disorientation, resulting in missed appointments, flights, meals and often the appearance of being rude.

This was a real team effort, thank you Sharon for the article, Nadine for the discussion idea, Laura for the organising, those who joined us and Tristan who will be posting the edited Live Chat as a Podcast in series 6. Watch this space!

Come to The Dyslexic Table

This month Sharon has written about Invisible Dyslexics, she and I both come under that category. We did OK at school, and now we know we could have done so much better if we’d been taught the way we learn.

RSVP here

The Live Chat discussing our invisibility will take place on Monday May 1, at 4.30pm PDT. The official figures for those with dyslexia range from 10-15% but they only reflect the individuals who get tested.

From my observations, and research undertaken by Dr Linda Silverman (in Upside Down Brilliance) there will be at least as many who go undetected. We estimate at least one third of the population have the gift of dyslexia (used in an umbrella term to encompass dyscalculia, dysgraphia, ADD, ADHD and many more so-called learning disabilities).

I am an Invisible Dyslexic: by Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

Photo by https://pixabay.com/images/id-2304469/

I AM AN INVISIBLE DYSLEXIC – Sharon Roberts

While organising some things recently, I found some old report cards. They provided a sad tale of a student who showed promise and who was eventually categorised as being average, later attending summer school for High School maths and science in order to move forward.

I describe myself as promising because I was an accelerated student; meaning I took Grade 3 and 4 together. I don’t recall any specific testing, but somehow at a young age I demonstrated some above average abilities and was therefore pushed forward… therefore I was smart… right ? That was the argument I gave myself throughout my academic life when the report cards indicated otherwise. I was described as average, not working to my full potential and inattentive.

In my mind, I did try. Doing well was important to me. I managed to get into University, but encountered similar problems, especially with one History professor who point blank said he was disappointed and expected more from me. I avoided courses that focused on multiple choice exams because I just couldn’t do them. I managed to scrape through my LSATS (Law entrance exams – 3hrs of reading and multiple choice questions) despite clocking out after one hour. Needless to say, I didn’t pursue a career in law!

Fast forward 25 years when my son had completed a Davis Dyslexia Correction program and I was about to embark on my training to become a Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator. In training we are provided with the same tools as a regular program would provide. I suspected I had dyslexia but still kept quiet. The quiet whisper in my ear became a roar when I pursued training in nutritional counselling several years later. It consisted of independent study, all exams were multiple choice online and 80% was the pass mark. Thanks to my Davis tools I got 90’s except for Anatomy in the 80’s.

Imagine what I may have been able to achieve academically if I had been introduced to these tools in my early years! Sometimes the symptoms of dyslexia are obvious, sometimes not. Those I refer to as ‘the invisible ones’ get by, are able to read and write, get average grades and float along under the radar. They could have done so much better IF (tried) no…. IF they had been taught the way they learn. You might think that early intervention is the answer… let’s find the potential dyslexics and give them more of what they find difficult already. That is not our solution. What if the classroom teacher could teach the basics of literacy to the whole class in a way that worked for the whole class. Davis Learning Strategies do just that… they provide a safe environment for all children, including the obvious and the invisible dyslexics. They are the key to NeuroInclusivity in school, the end of so-called learning disability labels and the answer to achieving a student’s full potential. Children like me would no longer be seen as lazy, unmotivated and inattentive… happy children, happy parents, happy teachers. www.davislearn.org and www.thewds.org/prevention.

‘COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE’ ..on MAY 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 !

RSVP here

SUGGESTED READING:

Thomas West’s third book – Seeing What Others Cannot See – the hidden advantages of Visual Thinkers and Differently Wired Brains

He wrote In the Mind’s Eye: Creative Visual Thinkers, Gifted Dyslexics and The Rise of Visual Technologies -- in 1991, and Thinking Like Einstein: Returning to Our Visual Roots with the Emerging Revolution in Computer Information Visualization

Click on the image to download your copy!

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:

On Saturday April 22, Nadine Schumont of Picture Perfect Learning Solutions will have a booth at this event in Stratford, Ontario. Drop by and say Hi! For more information reach out to nadine at: pictureperfectlearning@gmail.com

Thanks to a very generous donation, we are delighted to have the funding for our operations this year. We cannot express how grateful we are to the donors until we invent some new words!

Last year, our Society benefitted enormously from having Laura as our part-time paid administrator; not only for the typical admin duties, but her knowledge/skills improved our social media, our data bases, our procedures, our functioning. She is amazingly thorough, ethical, very creative and always works with integrity, having our best interest foremost and we are excited to look forward to more Laura this year!

We thought you might like to see what we are up to:

April 12 – Sue Hall and Sharon Roberts talk with Sky Bridges of APTN TV in Winnipeg.

April 21 – Julie Brewer and Sue Hall present at the Sooke School District Professional Development Day.

April 22 - Stratford Mother’s Day Event to support Autism
April 23 – National Book Day

April 25 – Paddy Carson Edmonton Pro D on Davis Learning Strategies

May 1 - Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat – Finding the Invisible Dyslexic

May 6 – Emerging Authors – Sue Blyth Hall - Victoria

May 6 – Field Trip for Nadine’s Clay Club to a Pottery Studio.

June 1 - Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat – Comparing Keyboarding Skills and Cursive Handwriting

November 9-12 – Davis Dyslexia Association International Conference in San Francisco – Sue Hall joining the non-profit panel and hosting a break-out session.

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

So please add your energy to all our grant applications, philanthropic requests and help us to welcome in a very full bursary fund.

We are also working on our own fundraiser for this year… we have a bursary waiting list… there’s a very real need.

“A very happy April/Spring to you all… always open to all your requests and suggestions… your Board….”

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

For more information click on the button below.

Nadine Schumont Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

Sue Hall Positive Dyslexia

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

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sue Hall 3/1/23 Sue Hall 3/1/23

Newsletter March 2023

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

March 2023

Photo by: https://unsplash.com/photos/1U_n-GgkTyg

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

tpot and flowers on a table with an alice in wonderland book — Z Graphica usplash

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 !

RSVP here

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

letter tiles over a map of the world the whole dyslexic society international projects — Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

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.

Nadine Schumont Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

Sue Hall Positive Dyslexia

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.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sue Hall 1/16/23 Sue Hall 1/16/23

Newsletter January 2023

This is it… our message for 2023 and beyond… NeuroInclusivity!

January 2023

statue of einstein behind a window the WDS neuroinclusivity — Photo by: https://unsplash.com/@wilhazec

This is it… our message for 2023 and beyond… NeuroInclusivity!

While we work with wonderfully neurodiverse individuals, with their own talents and challenges, we aim for NeuroInclusivity. Everyone is learning able, some individuals, namely one-third of the population, just happen to learn differently from the way they are taught.

This year, hopefully with your help, we aim to make sure that as many people as possible know

why so many learning challenges exist,
why current remediation is just an extension of what hasn’t been working,
what the solutions are,
why a NeuroInclusive education system is to be sought after and how it is achieved.

dog raising it's paw — Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Our OUTREACH program would benefit enormously from your help:

let us know, Canada wide, if your circle would like a free information session, in person or virtually
send us the contact information for the teacher who is designated to book Professional Development Day sessions,
let us know of any Conferences, PAC meetings etc. we could apply for,
Sue and Julie will be presenting a Pro D Day presentation at the Sooke Teachers’ Association Conference and have applied to the Montessori Making Tomorrow Conference, both in April.

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

For more information click on the button below.

Nadine Schumont Picture Perfect Learning Solutions

Sue Hall Positive Dyslexia

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.

NEWS:

Already this year we have given our website a facelift. We need to be as NeuroInclusive as possible, so if you see anything which you feel falls short of this, please let us know at info@thewds.org.

Sue’s book, Fish Don’t Climb Trees has been accepted for the Greater Victoria Emerging Authors event… wahoo !

Gisa is applying to the North Shore 100 Women Who Care for Family Summer Camp Funding on our behalf.

The Kakamega Project is taking off and there might even be an orphanage that will take part. How awesome is that? They are introducing Davis methods via the Why Ty course, but would eventually like to expand it to the Davis Learning Strategies and how incredible would that be? Visit our Kakamega Campaign page HERE.

So we are keeping this Newsletter short and sweet…we just want you to know that we are fired up and excited for 2023 and we hope you too have a fabulous year!

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

A 2023 SAVE THE DATE:

Once more, TJ Firenze of Firenze Financial is kind enough to offer us another free information session on the Disability Tax Credit procedure.

So save Tuesday, February 7 at 7pm - will be Online – Visit T.J. HERE.

Follow on Facebook T.J. Firenze - DTC Expert page specific to the DTC and other relevant topics, as well as their Firenze Financial Services page.

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.

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:

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

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.

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

Subscribe to our Newsletter

2024
- Nov 6, 2024 Newsletter November 2024 Nov 6, 2024
- Sep 30, 2024 Newsletter October 2024 Sep 30, 2024
- Aug 1, 2024 Newsletter August 2024 Aug 1, 2024
- Jun 18, 2024 Newsletter July 2024 Jun 18, 2024
- Jun 6, 2024 Newsletter June 2024 Jun 6, 2024
- May 14, 2024 Newsletter May 2024 May 14, 2024
- Apr 14, 2024 Newsletter April 2024 Apr 14, 2024
- Mar 7, 2024 Newsletter March 2024 Mar 7, 2024
- Feb 7, 2024 Newsletter February 2024 Feb 7, 2024
- Jan 4, 2024 Newsletter January 2024 Jan 4, 2024
2023
- Dec 4, 2023 Newsletter December 2023 Holiday Edition Dec 4, 2023
- Sep 29, 2023 Newsletter October 2023 Sep 29, 2023
- Sep 12, 2023 Newsletter September 2023 Sep 12, 2023
- Aug 4, 2023 Newsletter August 2023 Aug 4, 2023
- Jul 5, 2023 Newsletter July 2023 Jul 5, 2023
- Jun 5, 2023 Newsletter June 2023 Jun 5, 2023
- May 9, 2023 Newsletter May 2023 May 9, 2023
- Apr 7, 2023 Newsletter April 2023 Apr 7, 2023
- Mar 1, 2023 Newsletter March 2023 Mar 1, 2023
- Jan 16, 2023 Newsletter January 2023 Jan 16, 2023
2022
- Dec 12, 2022 Newsletter December 2022 Dec 12, 2022
- Oct 1, 2022 Newsletter October 2022 Oct 1, 2022
- Aug 14, 2022 Newsletter August 2022 Aug 14, 2022
- May 18, 2022 Newsletter May 2022 May 18, 2022
- Apr 6, 2022 Newsletter Birthday Edition ! April 2022 Apr 6, 2022
- Feb 18, 2022 Newsletter February 2022 Feb 18, 2022
- Jan 10, 2022 Newsletter January 2022 Jan 10, 2022
2021
- Dec 10, 2021 Newsletter December 2021 Dec 10, 2021
- Nov 17, 2021 Newsletter November 2021 Nov 17, 2021
- Oct 14, 2021 Newsletter October 2021 Oct 14, 2021
- Sep 14, 2021 Newsletter September 2021 Sep 14, 2021
- Jul 18, 2021 Newsletter July 2021 Jul 18, 2021
- May 27, 2021 The Quiet Warrior Show Podcast with Tom Dutta & Sue Hall May 27, 2021
- May 18, 2021 Newsletter May 2021 May 18, 2021
- Apr 3, 2021 Newsletter April 2021 Apr 3, 2021
- Mar 1, 2021 Newsletter March 2021 Mar 1, 2021
- Feb 11, 2021 Celebrating 40 Years - The Ron Davis Story Feb 11, 2021
- Feb 11, 2021 Absurdities of English Spelling Feb 11, 2021
- Feb 11, 2021 "Is there really a ‘science of reading’ that tells us exactly how to teach kids to read?" Feb 11, 2021
- Jan 16, 2021 Newsletter January 2021 Jan 16, 2021
2020
- Dec 4, 2020 Newsletter December 2020 Dec 4, 2020
- Nov 4, 2020 Newsletter November 2020 Nov 4, 2020
- Oct 5, 2020 Dyslexia Awareness Week October 5-9, 2020 Oct 5, 2020
- Sep 18, 2020 Newsletter September 2020 #2 Sep 18, 2020
- Sep 6, 2020 Newsletter September 2020 Sep 6, 2020
- Aug 15, 2020 Newsletter August 2020 Aug 15, 2020
- Aug 2, 2020 North Vancouver Organization Launches Campaign Aug 2, 2020
- Jul 26, 2020 Newsletter July 2020 Jul 26, 2020
- Jun 9, 2020 Newsletter June 2020 Jun 9, 2020
- Jun 8, 2020 The Learning Ally Spotlight on Dyslexia On-Demand Sessions Available Now Jun 8, 2020
- Jun 8, 2020 Canada Helps chance to win $20,000 for the month of June Jun 8, 2020
- Jan 24, 2020 Global Morning News - Month of Giving Jan 24, 2020
2019
- Dec 16, 2019 Sue Hall and one of her students took part in the CKNW Kids Fund Telethon on Giving Tuesday, 2019. Dec 16, 2019
- Dec 2, 2019 100 Women Who Care of The North Shore Support The WDS Dec 2, 2019
- Nov 26, 2019 North Shore Community Foundation Grant Nov 26, 2019
- Nov 26, 2019 Newsletter November 2019 Nov 26, 2019
- Oct 29, 2019 Davis Learning Strategies Basic Teacher Workshops - the missing piece. Oct 29, 2019
- Oct 29, 2019 Thank you Davis Dyslexia and Autism Facilitator’s Association of Canada for your gracious donation Oct 29, 2019
- Oct 29, 2019 Thank you 100 Women Who Care Oct 29, 2019
- Oct 14, 2019 Ed Roman's "Red Omen" - partial proceeds to support The Whole Dyslexic Society Oct 14, 2019
- Oct 5, 2019 What if English were phonetically consistent Oct 5, 2019
- Aug 24, 2019 The Dyslexic Reader Issue 11, 2019, Vol 79 Aug 24, 2019
- Aug 23, 2019 Community Flax to Linen Growing Project Aug 23, 2019
- Jul 1, 2019 The WDS Newsletter - July 2019 Jul 1, 2019
- Mar 1, 2019 The WDS Newsletter - March 2019 Mar 1, 2019
- Jan 1, 2019 The WDS Newsletter - January 2019 Jan 1, 2019
2018
- Oct 1, 2018 The WDS Newsletter - October 2018 Oct 1, 2018
- Jul 1, 2018 The WDS Newsletter - July 2018 Jul 1, 2018
- Mar 1, 2018 The WDS Newsletter - March 2018 Mar 1, 2018
- Jan 18, 2018 Vegas Night in West Vancouver Jan 18, 2018
- Jan 18, 2018 Dyslexia: Learning disorder or gift? Jan 18, 2018
- Jan 18, 2018 Dyslexia Can Be A Gift Jan 18, 2018
- Jan 18, 2018 Unique Program Helps Dyslexics Fulfill Potential Jan 18, 2018
- Jan 18, 2018 It's not always as easy as 1-2-3 Jan 18, 2018
- Jan 18, 2018 Unraveling 'math dyslexia' Jan 18, 2018
- Jan 18, 2018 The Whole Dyslexic Society's Shift Event Jan 18, 2018
- Jan 18, 2018 Seeing dyslexia as a 'gift,' rather than disability Jan 18, 2018
2017
- Dec 1, 2017 The WDS Newsletter - December 2017 Dec 1, 2017
- Oct 1, 2017 The WDS Newsletter - October 2017 Oct 1, 2017
- May 1, 2017 The WDS Newsletter - May 2017 May 1, 2017
- Jan 1, 2017 The WDS Newsletter - January 2017 Jan 1, 2017

An exciting project for 2025:

The WDS Program Sponsorships:

WHO KNEW…? Documentary update

GIFTS… for the Holidays

Millstone Farm and Organics is beyond unique, remarkable and inspiring:

Calendar:

Our Giving Guide:

Welcome to Dyslexia Awareness Month!

Why We Do What We Do:

Leaving a Legacy Through Giving

Our Giving Guide:

August 2024

The Fellowship of the Gift is back!!

July 2024

Dear Everyone… Summer is here… school holidays…we have news and a challenge for you !!!

Our Giving Guide:

June 2024

June is here… although recently it seems to have followed March and April 😊…by the time you read this Newsletter we hope to be basking in warm temperatures and enjoying summer!

Our Giving Guide:

May 2024

Welcome to May !!! We are so fortunate here on the West Coast of Canada to welcome in all this new growth… all the trees are SO green and the flowers are enjoying the sunshine… my favourite time of the year!

Davis Learning Strategies…In action… In India

Our Giving Guide:

April 2024

Dear All… as we enter the second quarter of 2024 with a unique Solar Eclipse... and the promise of warmer weather…

Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula

Our Giving Guide:

March 2024

March is quite an exciting month already… hail, rain, sun, snow, wind, chilly, sunny… but not to be deterred we started with our AGM meeting on March 2.

ADD & ADHD: What do dyslexia and ADHD have in common?

Our Giving Guide:

February 2024

Spring is springing... with the occasional chilly day… but the snowdrops are a sign!

What is different about a Davis program?

Our Giving Guide:

January 2024

happy New year to You All!

Our Giving Guide:

December 2023

Dear All… here is our bumper December edition !!!

Come to The Dyslexic Table - Live Chat -Next Event will be February 1st about Procrastination

Our Giving Guide:

October 2023

Happy month of October!

Come to The Dyslexic Table - Live Chat -november 1st Topic: the Science of Reading.

NEW! Series #5: Come to The Dyslexic Table

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

Our Giving Guide:

September 2023

Happy month of September!

Come to The Dyslexic Table - Live Chat -october 1st: Topic is ‘Dyspraxia’

‘Dyspraxia’ by Sharon Roberts & Rachel Barwell, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitators

NEW! Series #5: Come to The Dyslexic Table

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

Our Giving Guide:

August 2023

Happy month of August!

Sponsor a Family August Challenge

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat September 1st: Topic is Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory Processing Disorder Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

NEW! Series #5: Come to The Dyslexic Table

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

Our Giving Guide:

July 2023

Happy month of July!

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat

Resilience - What’s Change Got to Do With It? Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

NEW! Series #5: Come to The Dyslexic Table

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

Our Giving Guide:

June 2023

Happy month of June!

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat

Resilience - What’s Change Got to Do With It?Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

NEW! Series #5: Come to The Dyslexic Table

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

Our Giving Guide:

May 2023

Happy month of May !

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat