Newsletter June 2025
This month as our summer arrives, our news takes an international flavour… but first some exciting home news!
Huge congratulations go to our Board Director in Calgary, Del Coburn, who has been accepted for a Junior Fellowship at Massey College, University of Toronto! In his interview he spoke about how he would love to have Sue go to Massey to give a talk on inclusive education. He wondered if we had heard of CBC Massey lectures, or Massey Dialogues… now we have! This is another example of WHO KNOWs where we will be going, but it is definitely upward and onward. Thank you Del, we wish you the huge success for which you are destined !
AND … WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking, the 30 minute short is now entered for these Film Festivals:
Victoria,
Vancouver,
Toronto,
Whistler,
Whitehorse,
St John’s,
New York,
Los Angeles,
Atlanta,
Sedona and
Edinburgh Scotland!
Our Director is now looking for a good fit in England.
This feels so surreal, and so exciting… indeed, who knew?!? To read more & support our Documentary visit our page HERE.
Rachel Barwell (Davis Facilitator, New Zealand) was delighted to share the following poster presentation "At Play in the World of Dyslexia Education: Risking it All." She created it for this year's Conference for Global Transformation, and it chronicles various developments around the world in dyslexia education spaces. Thanks especially to Francisca Adagbon Cisca Ebony-Queen Adagbon for amazing video editing, and to Claire Ashmore without whose enduring partnership in dyslexia education - she couldn't have created this poster!
She hopes you enjoy watching it! You can follow Rachel for more at: https://www.facebook.com/MasterDyslexia
In May, Sue was invited to take part in a Davis UK Webinar Series. Two speakers, Cathie Geraci (Davis Facilitator, Italy) and Tessa Halliwell (Davis Facilitator, UK) gave the most interesting insights into Autism: how to reach a non-verbal autist; how to view an autist and how they view a typical learner. As the rate of autism continues to rise, it is very likely we all know someone on the spectrum.. we will be posting the talks shortly!
Some heartwarming news from Jan Stead (Davis Facilitator, Australia)
I just wanted to share a couple of photos I took of a gorgeous young 9 yr old boy I finished a program with today.
He was so excited when I gave him his Gifted with Dyslexia pin and immediately put it on his soccer jersey and went home wearing it with pride, a huge grin across his face!! You’ve made one young lad on the other side of the world very happy indeed!!!
Fancy being up there with Manchester City !!!
Lovely to see that our message is confirmed by Dr Maryanne Wolfe, UCLA !
Home News
May 13 – Paddy Carson (Davis Facilitator, Alberta) hosted a successful private viewing of WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking in Edmonton and on
May 24 – Nadine Schumont (Davis Facilitator, Ontario) also hosted WHO KNEW at her fabulous Spectrum Acres event near Stratford, Ontario.
Thank you to Paddy and Nadine for piloting our documentary expansion and your feedback. We are now ready to extend the hosting invitation further afield. We are still eagerly awaiting its general release…! If you are interested in hosting a private screening please contact Sue Blyth Hall at info@thewds.org.
Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat
July 1st, 2025 - 4:30PM Pacific
Join us for a look into Chasing Ideal Education: Series 7 -
Episode #6 - Sharon Roberts will be looking at Montessori Education, very ably assisted by Julie Brewer, our very own Montessori Early Childhood Educator.
Join us! To RSVP visit our page HERE
Summer Reading:
Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions by Temple Grandin
This could not be a better summary, found on Facebook:
1. There Are No "Bad" Thinkers—Just Different Kinds
I’d spent years apologizing for "I need to draw this to understand." Grandin’s research revealed: "Verbal thinkers aren’t superior—just louder." Now when colleagues ask for reports, I send infographics. Surprisingly, they prefer them.
2. Your Doodles Are Actually Deep Work
My notebooks were filled with arrows, flowcharts, and weird symbols that looked like chaos. Then I learned: "Spatial thinkers solve problems through sketching." That "doodle" during lectures? My brain’s way of crystallizing ideas.
3. Words Are a Second Language for Some of Us (especially love this one)
Struggling to explain my "mind movies" made me feel stupid until Grandin explained: "Visual thinkers often translate images into words in real-time—it’s exhausting." Now I prep for meetings by drawing first, then finding words later.
4. Traditional Education Fails Visual Brains
I nearly failed geometry until I started building models instead of memorizing formulas. Grandin’s insight: "Schools privilege verbal abstraction over spatial reasoning." My DIY clay mitochondria got an A+ in biology. Take that, standardized tests.
5. "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" Is Neurological
My cluttered desk wasn’t laziness—it was necessity. The book taught me: "For object visualizers, visibility equals accessibility." Now I use clear bins and wall-mounted organizers. My keys haven’t gone missing in months.
6. Visual Thinkers Are the World’s Unseen Problem-Solvers
From the mechanic who sees engine issues to the teacher who maps lesson plans, Grandin shows: "Pattern thinkers spot solutions linear minds miss." My "random" shower insights now get the respect they deserve.
7. Embrace Your Brain’s Native Language
Forcing myself to think verbally was like writing with my non-dominant hand. The liberation came when I:
Replaced to-do lists with color-coded mind maps
Explained complex ideas using napkin sketches
Stopped apologizing for "Let me show you" instead of telling
The Ripple Effect
This book didn’t just change how I work—it changed how I see myself. That "disorganized creative" label? Now I call it "spatial genius." The colleague who rolled her eyes at my storyboards? She now asks for them.
If You Think in Pictures:
Carry a sketchbook—not for art, for thinking
When stuck, ask: "What would this look like as an image?"
Remember: Da Vinci didn’t take notes—he drew revelations
"The world needs all kinds of minds to solve its problems—not just the ones that test well." — Temple Grandin
It is also grant writing time.. please keep your fingers and toes crossed for our success… and send any millionaires our way.. please !!!
Enjoy this fabulous weather and the school holidays!
Sue
Calendar:
June 25: Construction Foundation of BC: Coast Capital Road to Red Seal and Pathway to Completion of Apprenticeship in the Trades… Sue is presenting to the Learning Support Catalysts who work one-on-one with apprentices to support them in building confidence and developing strategies in areas like studying, note-taking, memory, exam preparation, and managing anxiety.
June 26: Sue is presenting to Pathfinder Youth Centre Society… sharing information about learning challenges to students preparing for employment.
July 14-18: Gift of Dyslexia Workshop - Online Pacific time. Read more HERE.
August 11-15: Gift of Dyslexia Workshop - tbc
October 8: Sue has been invited to be a Keynote Speaker (her first Keynote!) at the Family Literacy Conference in Edmonton.
October 23: Sue and Julie will be at a Panel Discussion at the Child Care Resource & Referral Consultant – West Shore Sooke Family Resource Society
November 27: Sue is invited to deliver an Accessibility Bites Session for BC Campus on Adults who are Dyslexic… 12 noon to 12.30 so will have to talk fast!
Have a wonderful month! Sue, Laura, Maureen, Julie, Paddy, Sharon, Nadine, Tristan, Del, Gisa
info@thewds.org
