Newsletter January 2026
Happy 2026 to you all… whether you have goals, or resolutions, or look forward to whatever arises, we all hope it evolves beyond your expectations!
We are off to a great start… from January 24 to January 31 we are contributing to Family Literacy Week – as we host daily free online screenings of our documentary, WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking. This is your chance for a preview, before it goes on general release… do join us, create a viewing party of you wish, popcorn and Kleenex recommended…! You can read more and Register HERE.
WHO KNEW continues to receive international awards!!! Kelly Conlin won this laurel award from the Indianapolis Film Festival for the best female Director! WHO KNEW also attained semi-finalist status at the Paris Women CineFest and the New York International Women Fest, which means we beat out all the other films in our category but did not make it to the official winner category. Not so shabby! We basically made it to the top but not the final one. We will hear from 6 more festivals in January…huge congratulations to Kelly!!!
Until our documentary can be on general release we are taking bookings for private screenings. Contact Sue Hall at info@thewds.org for details. The general release is expected in 2026 on TELUS TV, Channel 9, Stream+ all made possible with the support of TELUS STORYHIVE Editions and supporters like you! https://www.thewds.org/documentary-who-knew
Kakamega Update: Two New Zealand Facilitators, Claire Ashmore and Rachel Barwell introduced Geoffrey Ashiono to Davis methods.
Geoffrey is a primary teacher in Kakamega, Kenya and the full story is HERE. His success has grown in leaps and bounds, to such an extent that he intends to open a school in 2026.
He just needed the first year’s rent to make this happen. He asked for donations of one month’s rent - $160 CAN. We at the WDS donated one month on your behalf, and he exceeded his goal… the school will open… we will continue to enjoy and share his updates.
Can Loop Earplugs Help Neurodistinct and Autistic People with Sound Sensitivity? by Laura O’Neill, Administrator, The WDS
I recently experimented with music festival earplugs to reduce noise in a party setting over the holidays. I had heard they work great for music festivals. There are a few products on the market including Loop Earplugs with variations depending on the setting.
I never considered them in the past because I figured to work, they must have some kind of electronic noise cancelling technology, and I didn’t want a wireless device in my already sensitive ears. I was so wrong!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
ADHD Isn’t Just a Deficit: New Study Reveals Powerful Psychological Strengths
If you want something done, give it to a busy person 😊
Technology in schools
We gave students laptops and we took away their brains.
Very supportive of Davis as it aids individuals taking responsibility for their own learning.
So interesting.. every generation has out performed itself until technology came along and Gen Z and Gen A are underperforming each other!
Calendar:
January 15 – your Board holds its first meeting of the year… agenda items welcome!
January 24-31 – Family Literacy Week - free daily screenings of WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking - RSVP HERE
January 27 – Lindsay Hodge, a Davis Facilitator, Washington State, is hosting a screening of WHO KNEW to fellow professionals in her office building. This is exactly what we were hoping for… spreading our information widely!
February 7 and 21 – Commencement of the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Society’s NeuroInclusivity for Early Years course.
February 12 – Sue is speaking at the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society Conference at the Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver.
March 5/6 – NeuroInclusivity for Early Years core in-person workshop in Edmonton – Davis Learning Strategies for Early Years.
April 23 – South Vancouver Island Child Care online presentation – Julie and Sue
Sponsorship:
We do have a request… we are extremely grateful to have our program sponsorship financed for the next 10 years, thanks to one very generous client. That tells us that we are doing what we are meant to be doing.
We now need to focus on operational costs, which are not huge but essential. Our grant applications have not been successful this year, and we are very open to a corporate sponsor, or several philanthropic sponsors! If you know of anyone who has a personal interest in our work, to whom we could plead our cause, please do let us know… we would be beyond grateful.
So to you from a very grateful, relatively warm, relatively dry part of Canada, again we wish you all a fantastic 2026.
Please keep in touch, we want to know what you need !
Sue, Laura, Julie, Maureen, Sharon, Paddy, Gisa, Del and Tristan.
info@thewds.org
