Newsletter July 2026
Dear Friends, WHO KNEW
What an incredible experience! The Leo Awards are BC's version of the Golden Globes, and Kelly Conlin, our WHO KNEW Director was nominated for Direction in the Short Documentary Category!
We had to go .. and it really was exactly as we’d imagined. Sue treated herself to the valet parking (pulling the old lady card😊) and wandered into the crowd of beautiful people, feeling very out of place!! There was prosecco, three photo booths, the round table of 10 fellow nominees, the dinner, more wine, the live band, the presenters reading out the nominees, a 30 second glimpse of our film, lots of whooping and whistling, and then the winner was announced... it was so very cool. We didn’t win our category but even to be nominated is remarkable and an honour to be among talented, creative BC film makers. There were 1,500 entries in 16 categories overall, there must have been at least 500 people at the first night, and then it happened all over again the following night!
WHO KNEW has collected 6 internationally awarded laurels for our Box Art now and there are still a few festivals to hear from. We are beyond grateful to Kelly for entering the festivals as it is a whole new arena for us. Thank you to her production team and to so many wonderful supporters across the world.
WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking is now available to Telus OPTIKTV subscribers.
FUNDRAISING
For the second year we were surprised and incredibly grateful to receive a substantial donation from an anonymous donor via the Dreams into Plans Fund through the Victoria Foundation. It almost hurts not being able to thank the donor in person. It is a remarkable expression of the value that the donor places on our work, so thank you mystery person !
You may remember that 100 Women Who Care in the Saanich Peninsula voted to donate $22,700 to our Society at their last meeting. Sue was invited to talk about the work that we do and we played the trailer for WHO KNEW. We always meet such lovely people who are genuinely interested in the information we share. We are delighted to be able to progress both our Prevention and our Outreach objectives with this funding. Once again thanks to Shelley Tice for the original winning pitch!
PREVENTION
Our Prevention objective is seeing many incarnations.
Before Covid the Society hosted several Davis Learning Strategies for K-3 teachers where they learned to deliver the self-regulation tools and early literacy skills to the whole class, regardless of learning style. The 2001 study reported no children were sent to Special Needs classes, all the reading levels went up and more children were sent to the gifted class.
Thanks to Julie Brewer attending one such workshop, and adapting the strategies for her 3-5 year olds, we launched a professional development pilot for Early Childhood Educators in BC – NeuroInclusivity for Early Years.
Following this success, we were asked to pilot a second workshop for the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Association in Edmonton.
Following that success, we now feel we have an excellent format which will form a third pilot starting in September for ECEs in BC and Alberta.
Then… having heard from fellow facilitators in Italy, the UK and New Zealand, who are working with marginalized cultural groups around the world… we are planning to share all the information we have gained and collaborate to provide the best we can provide.
SUE’s NEW FAVOURITE QUOTE
A colleague in New Zealand sent a document containing this quote and it hit me immediately:
When we design only for one kind of mind, we lose the gifts of all the others.
So very true.
SOME FUN
The English Language – hope this makes you feel grateful for our anomalies!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gwJHuEa9Jc
DISCUSSION
Having watched that… Reading… some may disagree…
Developing a reading habit can broaden vocabulary, boost knowledge and stimulate the imagination. Reading once or more per week is associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline for older adults, a 2020 study found. Regular reading has been shown to alsopromote health. The activity reduces stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms while supporting better sleep. The habit has even been linked to increased longevity — a 2017 study showed more time spent reading is associated with lower mortality rates.
As an added bonus, reading — despite being an individual activity — develops empathy, according to Helmick , who uses they/them pronouns. “Regardless of age … it supports lower anxiety, higher socialization factor and the ability to navigate the world without having to pay the tuition of life experience,” they said. “It gives you a wider variety of life and experience and allows you to enjoy those narratives and those experiences without actually having to live them
“Regardless of age … it supports lower anxiety, higher socialization factor and the ability to navigate the world without having to pay the tuition of life experience,” they said. “It gives you a wider variety of life and experience and allows you to enjoy those narratives and those experiences without actually having to live them.
You may or may not resonate with this follow up information on ADHD medication… your choice…
WHO KNEW down under…
It had three down-under screenings in March, and another, co-hosted by Janette Padinis from Melbourne on 6 June. The Q & A at the end and the discussion was superb. Warm, passionate and engaging with everyone staying online and on camera, talking with each other and to us. Sharing and agreement was generous, affirming and, quite frankly, exciting!! By far the best out of the four screenings. ~~Jan Stead
The screenings went well. The theatre only holds 47 people. I got 20 for the first screening and 12 for the second; only 5 no-shows. I know it clashed with staff meetings and other, but I was happy with the turn out. I then got messages over the week, from people who couldn't come and would like to see it. The most resounding result of course was - those who 'didn't know that they didn't know, what dyslexia was.' And everyone saying thank you for spreading the word, that dyslexia is a gift. ~~Diane Papworth
Join Us in Making a Difference
Support our efforts to bring the message of WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking to more people around the world.
CALENDAR:
September - date to be confirmed – we extend our NeuroInclusivity for Early Years pilot with the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Program
Sept 24 – Julie Brewer and Sue Hall speak to the South Vancouver Island Child Care organisation
October – date to be confirmed - Sue presents at a Professional Development Day on Cortes Island
Always good to acknowledge that we have the ‘gift’ of altering perception, which leads to so many talents.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer, and thank you for your support!
Sue and the Board of the WDS
info@thewds.org
