October 2022
Dear Everyone,
Dear Everyone… wow… we got the warm summer days we desperately needed, and some of us are enjoying slightly chilly mornings followed by lovely warm afternoons! We hope you all had fabulous summer holidays and have managed a smooth transition into the school routine. We have lots of news for you….
OCTOBER IS DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH… and we Davis Facilitators are hoping to make an impression/improve awareness worldwide.
We are creating The Davis Worldwide Koosh Ball Toss !!! Do you remember those Tik Tok or FB films that appeared during CoVid to help us feel connected ? Well, Facilitators and their students are creating one with Koosh balls. We’d love you to join us! Visit our instruction page HERE.
As ever we hope you will be part of our PINS becoming the universal symbol for dyslexia as they are a positive reminder of our Gift of Dyslexia.
They can start a conversation towards everyone is learning able… some children just don’t learn the way they are taught. Send friends, family teachers to this 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.
She hopes that these shirts will also spark conversation and show solidarity with anyone who identifies as being neurodiverse. Her vision is that if a person sees one, for the first time in their life, they would feel they’re not alone in their differences but a part of something they can be excited about; they would feel united with individuals and families across the globe.
With every t-shirt sold, $5 will be donated to the Whole Dyslexic Society to use towards the many services offered and as a bonus in October every order will include a WDS Gift of Dyslexia Universal Symbol Pin.
Click this LINK to see, and buy her exciting products.
OUTREACH
As Sue has moved to Vancouver Island, she has started free – in person – information talks – such a treat to see real people !
Following on from her TEDx talk, Sue is taking a TED Ed Masterclass, with a view to lessons going out on the TED Ed site.
Tristan is gathering speakers for a new round of Podcasts – all suggestions welcome ! Sue is hoping for Joe Rogan (ADD) and Russell Brand
If anyone would like a Pro D Presentation at their school – please just drop us a line – in person or on Zoom, no problem.
COMMUNITY.. we are delighted to say that we now have a significant connections with:
Daily Wonder HomeLearning program. Sue was interviewed by Jennifer on Instagram. The link is HERE but be warned, her film quality is very blurry...not sure why !
The message is clear enough. Sue is offering a free interview/assessment to their members, and in return they are offering one free homeschooling unit to anyone who is referred by us.
SO if anyone is contemplating homeschooling and would like to see what is out there and might have a leaning towards Waldorf education, let Sue know. Contact Sue HERE. Visit Daily Wonder Homelearning HERE.
The Industry Trades Association has been funding Davis Dyslexia Correction programs over the past couple of years and now they want us to be part of a conversation about how best to support those with learning differences, including those on the Autism Spectrum… very exciting !
Sue has given 3 presentations to The Pathfinder Youth Centre Society. Each time there are more than a dozen young people who are the best audience ever!
School has not been their best experience and for them, it is such a relief to find out that there is nothing wrong with them, it was just the system than let them down.
We need more bursary money to be able to help them !!! Here is a LINK to an email Sue received, and we have permission to include this in the ‘need’ section of our Grant Applications..
FUNDRAISING
As mentioned, Sue and Laura have submitted grant applications to the Vancouver Foundation, Telus and the Disability Alliance.
As part of this onerous task, Laura created this fantastic bar graph which shows that since 2003 we have received $104,650.00 for bursaries and issued $104,643.00.
This is a terrific record as our administrative costs have always come out of our general funds rather than the actual bursary fund…this is quite rare in the non-profit world!
So please encourage your friends/families/colleagues to help us through a ‘bursary money dry patch’ at the moment… our $20 for 20 years is open for the rest of this year. Visit our $20 for 20 page HERE.
SUMMER FUN
Nadine's Picture Perfect Learning Solutions offered its first-ever overnight camp this August! Parents, campers, and a few siblings headed up to Camp Klahanie in Goderich for a weekend filled with fun and games. The kids had a blast with the pinata, kickball ice cream, time at the beach, campfires, music, an outdoor movie, and of course our scavenger hunt! This event was open to anyone ages who had taken a program with Nadine through PPLS and siblings were invited as well to join in the fun. We are looking forward to making this event an annual one and can't wait to see what new things are in store for next summer's camp. See photos here
Sue is hoping to get Camp Elphinstone off the ground in 2023.. finally !
ADMINISTRATION
Laura, our intrepid Administrator, despite challenges this summer that would have knocked out the faint hearted, is excited to be attending several workshops from which we will benefit:
Digital Marketing Bootcamp
Blumberg Charity Law Institute conference, October 3rd
Small Charities Masterclass with Canada Helps
She is investigating:
SFU certificate program for non-profit Administrators
Imagine Canada who provide Charity Accreditation. We would work with coaches throughout the application process. It is cost prohibitive at the moment (costs to get accredited and then a yearly 500.00 fee).
The accredited charities are organizations like Autism Canada, Unicef, YMCA, etc. They work with us in 5 key areas: Board Governance, Financial accountability and transparency, Fundraising, Staff Management, Volunteer involvement.
West Vancouver Foundation’s Thriving Non Profits. There is funding support through WVF as the program is $1000.00. It would help us investigate and develop multiple revenue streams.
It consists of Online, Peer Learning and there is a coach for our organization.
She has met with Foundation Search and Grants Advance. We are so blessed to have her skills, creativity and dedication working for us.
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.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL – your Board – Sue, Laura, Paddy, Nadine, Sharon, Julie, Gisa, Tristan
Our Giving Guide:
Our $20for20 Fundraising Campaign Page with Canada Helps. Visit our donation page HERE.
Purchase our Gifted with Dyslexia Pins. Purchase our Pins Here
TruEarth Eco-Friendly Laundry Soap and Products. 20% of all sales go to our Society. Please follow the link to our Tru-Earth product page to purchase. Tru-Earth Eco-Friendly Products Here
See how donations can result in tax credits by reading the article below. Read More…Tax Benefits of Charitable Donations
We have Note Cards for sale at The Card Project. Visit The Card Project Here
Partial proceeds go to The WDS from sales and rentals of Ed Roman’s highly acclaimed “Red Omen” video. For more information on renting or buying Red Omen click here
We gratefully accept donations through our Canada helps charity page. We have a variety of donor options. Thank you !
Canada Helps - General Fund
Canada Helps Tribute - Donate in honour of or in memory of a loved one.
Canada Helps Securities - A donation of securities or mutual funds is the most efficient way to give charitably. Since capital gains taxes don't apply, our charity receives the full fair market value when the security is sold, and you get a tax receipt which reflects your larger contribution. This allows you to give more and get more.
We are a registered charity with the PayPal Giving Fund. You can donate to our organization using your PayPal account with no fees. Thank you ! PayPal Giving Fund
Photo Credits: Photo by Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz on Unsplash, Photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash, Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash, Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash