The Whole Dyslexic Society The Whole Dyslexic Society

Newsletter April 2026

Dear Friends,

Spring is officially here and we are all coming out of hibernation !  Having spent a week in Edmonton in March, I will never complain about rain and wind any more.  The Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Association was very keen for their Early Childhood Educators to take part in our second NeuroInclusivity for Early Years pilot. 

 

Dear Friends,

Spring is officially here and we are all coming out of hibernation! Having spent a week in Edmonton in March, I will never complain about rain and wind any more.

The Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Association was very keen for their Early Childhood Educators to take part in our second NeuroInclusivity for Early Years pilot. Paddy Carson, a Davis Facilitator in Edmonton, generously hosted Julie Brewer, Desi Bissell a Facilitator in Red Deer and myself.  Stacey Smith came to present the two days and Larry Smith was able to film it all.  Everything went very smoothly and a huge thank you to all those who took part and made it happen.  We continue to support the ECEs via 8 Assignments and look forward to all their comments and suggestions.

Personally, I spent a great deal of the time disoriented.  I left in PST … arrived one hour ahead in MST… the clocks changed for BC and Alberta over the weekend. My laptop decided to stay in BC time, which was now PDT, one hour behind Alberta…my phone wanted to be the new MDT so one hour ahead of my laptop…and I decided my watch was going to be the local time wherever I was. While there, I had to coordinate three Zoom screenings, one in UK time, so GMT, and two in BC time from Alberta! Hope that’s confusing enough.. and all I can say is thanks heaven for Laura!

We have a great deal of VERY EXCITING NEWS… where to start ?

WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking is being screened at the Pasadena Film Festival, in North Hollywood on April 11 and Kelly Conlin, our Director is going! She will have a chance to take questions afterwards. Apparently this festival is well attended by celebrities, so we will give her a list of dyslexic celebrities to hunt out 😊

 
 

Watch Trailer HERE

 

WHO KNEW also made its Pacific debut this month. 

  • March 3– two weeks before Nikki Palamountain’s NZ screening of WHO KNEW, Nikki invited Sue to join her on Radio Hawkes Bay. Listen HERE>

  • Tuesday 17th March at 7pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time,  PACIFIC REGION PREMIERE, hosted by Jan Stead, assisted by Rachel Barwell.

  • and again on Friday 20th March at 8pm to allow for different time zones.

  • Tuesday March 24th:  Rachel Barwell held her first screening in New Zealand. “It went very well tonight - the film was really well received, and people had a lot of deep and intelligent questions and reflections. There were a total of 74 people in attendance, which also included 5 Davis facilitators. We have over 250 bookings so far across the week, so I'm confident A LOT of people are going to be exposed to your beautiful film in NZ, Australia and Africa! this week!

  • Saturday March 28th NZ time, Friday March 27th 7pm Vancouver Island time, Rachel invited Laura O’Neill and Sue to attend a screening. “Yesterday’s Grand Finale was the perfect end to a week that saw over 395 New Zealand families join the conversation.  The questions proved that Aotearoa (NZ) is ready to change the map for our 3D thinkers.”  Laura and Sue were so honoured to be part of this.. it was thrilling to see it well attended.      

Shortly after the screening Rachel was interviewed on Coast Access Radio. Listen Here>

 

Upcoming Screenings!

Wednesday, April 8th, 7PM UK time/11AM Pacific time. This private screening is available at NeuroNavigators by Davis® UK & Ireland. Everyone welcome! Free to join HERE>

April 30th & May 12th, 7PM NZD time. With Rachel Barwell (Davis Facilitator). You can visit her Facebook post HERE> Or, visit her booking form HERE>

 

The next continent is Africa… can you believe it.. because we certainly can’t! 

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 Optik TV and the STORYHIVE YouTube channel all made possible with the support of TELUS STORYHIVE Editions and supporters like you! https://www.thewds.org/documentary-who-knew

 
 

100 Women Who Care, North Saanich Branch:

100 Women Who Care, North Saanich Branch: Some of you may remember the first time Sue went to a meeting of 100 Women Who Care in West Vancouver, the WDS pitch was pulled out of the box, she spoke to it, and we won, $10,000. Two years ago Gisa Straith put in a pitch
for us, it was pulled out, she spoke to it and we were awarded $10,000. 

Shelley Tice, here in North Saanich had joined the Victoria 100WWC and
recently decided to switch to the North Saanich chapter.  She has pitched
for us four times and at the March meeting, she spoke and the WDS was awarded. $22,700 because they have 227 Women Who Care!!! How incredible is that? We are beyond grateful to her. These funds could not have arrived at a better time as we have our AGM on April 25, and still so much to plan. Sue will speak at their next meeting to share how the funds will be spent. Shelley, Julie and I had to celebrate after holding that enormous cheque! Thank you to everyone involved.

If you’re inspired by this model of collective giving, we encourage you to learn more about 100 Women Who Care and consider getting involved in a chapter near you. It’s a powerful and simple way to make a meaningful impact in your community.

Ron Davis’ autobiography, Dummy, is now available on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats.

In this deeply personal account, Ronald D. Davis shares his early life experiences growing up with autism and dyslexia—labeled “dummy” and struggling in a world that didn’t understand how he thought. His journey is one of resilience and discovery, ultimately leading him to unlock the root of his own learning challenges.

Ron went on to become a successful engineer, artist, and the founder of the Davis Dyslexia Association International. His work has helped individuals around the world recognize and harness their unique thinking styles through the Davis® methods.

Dummy reveals a remarkable journey that reshapes how we think about intelligence and learning.

Kudos to Richard Whitehead (Director Davis® UK & Ireland) for taking on the publishing and helping bring this important story to a wider audience.

 

Richard has also launched NeuroNavigators by Davis® UK & Ireland, a community-driven platform designed to support parents, educators, professionals, and neurodivergent individuals at the very start of their journey.

Many families first encounter Davis during moments of challenge. NeuroNavigators aims to meet them earlier—at the stage of curiosity—by offering accessible education and a strengths-based approach before they begin a one-to-one program.

The community provides free webinars on dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and other learning differences; interviews with Davis Facilitators and program graduates; practical tips for parents; and a welcoming space for discussion. It serves as a bridge to deeper engagement with Davis programs and Facilitator training.

NeuroNavigators has also hosted screenings of our documentary, helping to broaden public understanding of dyslexia as a unique way of thinking.

Read more and join here………

SHARON’S CORNER

TECHNOLOGY, a Friendly Foe – Sharon Roberts

In response to increasing concerns over excessive use of screen time, government agencies and school boards have put controls on its use. Despite these efforts, a recent Statistics Canada study has found that nearly 40 per cent of Canadian youth appear to be exceeding screen time recommendations.

The study analysed Canadian youth cohorts at two different points of time: in 2019, when they were aged 12 to 17, and in 2023, when the same group was aged 16 to 21. Average grades were found to be higher among youth who met screen time recommendations in both surveyed years. In addition, those who met the guidelines seemed to have a more positive perception, especially as it pertains to body image.

Generally, screen time for children varies by age, with a strict recommendation of no screen time for those under two years old. For children aged 2-5, limit recreational screen time to less than one hour daily, while children aged 5-17 should have under two hours daily, excluding homework. The reasons why vary, but basically it contributes to memory loss, sleeplessness and emotional regulation. It also triggers addictive dopamine loops according to Stanford Lifestyle Medicine. 

If that is not scary enough to motivate an at-home reduction policy, there is a risk of predators and bullying. The recent ruling against Meta confirms this idea. It has been ordered to pay $375 million after it was found to violate the state’s unfair practices. It was alleged that the company failed to properly safeguard its apps from online predators targeting children. At this time, there is a second ruling in California subject to a substantial fine.

So how can you cut back on screen time? Here are a few ideas:

1.  Be a good role model with your own screen use—on all devices.

2.  Turn off devices for mealtimes, when reading with your child, or when doing things together as a family.

3.  Turn off screens when no one is using them, especially background TV.  

4.  Avoid using screens for at least 1 hour before bedtime and keep all screens out of your child’s bedroom. They interfere with sleep.

5.  Choose healthy activities— like reading, outdoor play, and crafts— instead of screen time.

Sharon Roberts, Davis® Facilitator, Ontario

Calendar:

April 6:  AAHSA Assignment Four - Woosh balls

April 13: AAHSA Assignment Five - Letter Mastery

April 20: AAHSA Assignment Six - Concepts

April 23: South Vancouver Island Child Care online presentation – Julie and Sue

April 25: the WDS AGM and Business Meeting 10am-noon

April 27:  AAHSA Assignment Seven - Picturing to Remember

May 16: AAHSA Assignment Eight - Discussion/Evaluation of Course

Kakamega Kenya Project:

Exciting things are happening in Kakamega! Geoffrey’s vision for inclusive, strength-based education continues to grow. Beyond the existing E-Zee Math Tutoring Centres, a brand-new kindergarten—Kakamega Global Star Academy—has opened, providing children with a supportive, understanding start to their learning journey.

Using principles aligned with the Davis® Methods, children are guided to understand how they learn, develop focus and awareness, and build confidence from the very beginning. Classrooms are designed so that all children learn together, at their own pace, celebrating their strengths and supporting neurodiversity from day one.

You can be part of this growing story. Donations help:

  • “Provide safe and stable learning spaces (rent for the school and centres)

  • Support teachers and staff who work closely with the children

  • Supply learning materials and equipment

  • Continue expanding this inclusive, strength-based model to reach more children”

Every contribution, big or small, makes a lasting difference.

💛 Support the Kakamega Initiative HERE>

To read the full article visit Claire Ashmore’s Growing Choices HERE>

 
 

Notice of AGM - April 25th, 10:00AM - 11:00Am

If you would like to join us please fill in the form HERE>

 

We had a great deal of news this month, we would always like to hear your news and let us know if you would like to come to our AGM!

Wishing you all a fabulous spring!

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

Giving Guide

info@thewds.org

 
 
 
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The Whole Dyslexic Society The Whole Dyslexic Society

Newsletter February & March 2026

Dear All,

February is the shortest month, and it has certainly flown by for us. Following our incredibly mild West Coast winter, it is suddenly spring !

We have a LOT of exciting news for you, so here goes!

 

Dear All,

February is the shortest month, and it has certainly flown by for us. Following our incredibly mild West Coast winter, it is suddenly spring !

We have a LOT of exciting news for you, so here goes!

WHO KNEW  continues its totally unforeseen journey…

We screened the film 7 times during BC’s Family Literacy Week. We were amazed at the response. The list of those registering just kept growing and growing daily… people joining us from Canada, the USA, NZ and Australia. To all those who registered for a WHO KNEW screening.. thank you! Thank you for being interested, for taking part, for being part of a shift in our education system, for sharing your stories.

We have received requests for more Zoom screenings, so we will celebrate our One Year Anniversary of the WHO KNEW Premiere in Sidney, BC, 2025 by screening on Sunday March 8 and Monday March 9, 2026

Please register HERE.

We now have three international film festival awards from Los Angeles, Indianapolis and New York. We are keeping our fingers crossed to be nominated at the Leo Awards in Vancouver.. and our Director, Kelly Conlin, contacted CHEK News (independent, employee-owned, based in Victoria, BC) who now have the non-exclusive rights to show it as many times as they wish for the next three years! Once the documentary is on general release then the real work begins as we send it to teacher training colleges across Canada. 

Here are some of the comments we were thrilled to receive:

  • Just wanting say how amazing your presentation was today. It was so well expressed through visual and audio presentation. You are all to be congratulated. Well done. I am inspired! Such a positive discussion on dyslexia. Keep up the tremendous work. Thank you so much!

  • How excited we were to read the announcement in your January newsletter about your video winning yet another award, the Short Documentary Award at the New York Women’s Film Festival!! What an AMAZING THRILL that must be for you, your years of hard work & dedication are being rewarded, congratulations!!

  • Congrats on a fabulous documentary. Your film maker did a great job. Very high production values, low distractions and very moving with the interview stories. I particularly loved the preschool teacher (so beautiful!) and David the dad. When he cried all my mirror-neurons fired up in sympathy. His daughter was lovely too. I loved the ending with the Rubiks Cube. Such a sweet finale. 

  • Who Knew? is a wonderful documentary. Everything I had hoped for, and more.

  • So lovely to connect with you and others yesterday and to view your lovely film.  It was so heartfelt and that guy who talked about how he studied his spelling words for 10 hours only to get 2 right nearly brought me to tears!

On January 27 Lindsay Hodge, a Facilitator in Lewis County, WA, USA held her private screening, from her press release:

“Her goal was to spread the word about the Davis Methods by screening the new documentary, “WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking”. 

Last year, Hodge initiated a relationship with the Lewis County Autism Coalition (LCAC) and by September 2025, she had moved in as an independent service provider to the The Spectrum and Development Community Center in Napavine, Washington, USA. Her neighbours included the Lewis County Pediatrics and Family Medicine Clinic and the only issue was that no one really knew about Davis Method Solutions.

There were 18 individuals in attendance at the private screening event included her own children. Lindsay provided lunch before she introduced the documentary. There were audible gasps and “Ohs!” heard during the screening… a sign that the audience was engaged… then came the questions. One guest raised his hand and asked, “How long has this been around?” He shared that he was dyslexic, and that he related on a deep level with Davey, the father of Wynne. “That was me,” he said.

“Why doesn’t everyone know about this?” Other participants asked how they could share this information, and providers at the clinic asked how they could refer patients to Hodge or other facilitators. A few participants even asked about the possibility of becoming facilitators themselves.

The clear result of the event was that at least a few more people know that dyslexia is a way of thinking, not a fundamental disability within an individual’s brain, and that there is a way to help those who are struggling as a result of not being taught in the way their brains were born to learn.” Congratulations to Lindsay!

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 TELUSTV, Channel 9, Stream+  all made possible with the support of TELUS STORYHIVE Editions and supporters like you! https://www.thewds.org/documentary-who-knew

 
 

NEUROINCLUSIVITY FOR EARLY YEARS  - OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PILOT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS has become the most incredible series of synchronicities. 

  • Having received a grant from the BC Ministry of Education via BCcampus you may remember we created our first pilot which started in November 2024 which finished in January 2025. We welcomed 24 ECEs both in person and online within BC. It was a huge undertaking, involving an e-learning platform, Power Points, scripts and recordings of the pre and post workshop modules, assignments and an evaluation. Julie and Sue adapted the Davis Learning Strategies for K-3 Teachers Manual and our incredible Canadian DLS presenter, Stacey Smith provided the central two day Workshop.

  • Fired up with success, in the spring of 2025, Julie and Sue presented a session to the Making Tomorrow Conference for Early Childhood Educators in Victoria. One attendee invited Sue to be the Keynote Speaker at the Edmonton Family Literacy Conference last November, and one of those attendees asked if we could provide a second pilot for the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Association. It began on February 7, 2026. This edition had to conform to a budget. Stacey will be recording her live presentation at this event because…

  • We anticipate a considerable demand for this professional development course and Stacey cannot attend each one. Our plan in the third proposed reenactment is that Sue (or any Facilitator in the future) can host the live workshop and play Stacey’s recording. This hybrid version reduces costs and retains the personal connections. ALSO, we are inviting University involvement, knowing that for any professional development to become standard, academic approval is required.

This involves more funding… so we will be grant writing (help) and looking for sponsors, individuals or corporations… please !!! They will appear.

 
 

Over the Pond Richard Whitehead and his team have been busy creating NeuroNavigators, Davis® UK & Ireland

We are so very excited for them.. love the name as everyone who finds a learning challenge in their lives has to navigate their way through a great deal of seemingly contradictory information. We are encouraging you to join. Laura has been involved in the creation, Sue has watched some of the webinars in awe of the information presented.. and its free to join!

‘NeuroNavigators is an online community designed for parents, educators, professionals, and neurodivergent individuals, including employees and entrepreneurs. It’s a welcoming environment where members can explore practical solutions, build confidence, and discover ways to unlock the unique strengths of neurodistinct minds.

At its heart, NeuroNavigators is about connection and real-world support. Members can join discussions, share experiences, ask questions, and access resources that help move from confusion to clarity and from struggle to breakthrough. The space includes a conversation hub, topic-based areas, live webinars, and a growing library of expert-led webinar replays — all designed to evolve alongside the community. Moderators and contributors are Davis® Method experts with decades of experience supporting individuals with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, and Autism.

What makes NeuroNavigators special is the way members show up for each other. The community is grounded in empathy, values lived experience, and focuses on simple, practical strategies that can be applied right away. Every insight and “aha” moment is celebrated, creating an encouraging environment where people feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Whether you’re looking for tools to support a learner, deepen your understanding, or connect with others on a similar path, NeuroNavigators offers a space to learn, share, and grow together — with NeuroInclusivity at its heart.’ It is free to join HERE

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

This is a thought provoking TEDx talk …

https://www.ted.com/talks/yejin_choi_why_ai_is_incredibly_smart_and_shockingly_stupid?user_email_address=3505e51f6bc6d5c178ccc49

INTERESTING:

(1)In recent years, Sweden has begun a remarkable shift in its education system: after a period of intense digitization in classrooms, the country is rediscovering the value of physical books, traditional reading, and handwriting. The change doesn't mean eliminating screens entirely, but rather balancing their use and reducing their presence in the earliest years, where specialists have expressed concern about the impact on reading comprehension, attention span, and the development of basic skills.

The Swedish government has allocated funds for schools to purchase more textbooks and printed materials, while also promoting more reading time and less screen time. Many teachers have begun limiting tablet use and reintroducing activities such as handwritten notes, working with notebooks, and consulting encyclopedias and physical texts. This decision is supported by studies suggesting that children understand information better when they read it on paper, and by signs that rapid digitization has not always yielded the expected results.

Although technology still has a place in Swedish education, the country is moving towards a more balanced model, where digital tools are complementary rather than the central focus of learning.

Source :

- "Sweden Education Shift: From Digital Learning to Pen and Paper", The Think Academy

(2) A productive struggle is needed to store information in our memories… says this TED talk…

https://www.ted.com/talks/priya_lakhani_this_is_how_kids_should_be_learning_with_ai?user_email_address=3505e51f6bc6d5c178ccc49da6645034&lctg=62d1b94f1c794c328c21a124

(3) This article provides the background to Ron’s original discoveries:

https://davismethod.com/what-causes-dyslexia-understanding-disorientation-and-dyslexic-perception/

SHARON’S CORNER

Goal Setting and Doing: The Perfect Match

When children create goals it helps give their dreams direction and their efforts purpose. When they learn to set simple, achievable goals, they begin to understand the value of planning, perseverance, and self-belief. They also see the consequence of their efforts - good or bad. Goal setting encourages children to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, take responsibility for their choices, and celebrate their progress. All of this builds confidence and motivation and involves the new buzz word “executive functioning skills.”

Often setting goals followed by a reward system isn’t the hard part.  The actual doing and fulfilling of the requirement is when they run into difficulty. However, it can be accomplished by following a few simple tips.

Start with the child’s interests and strengths and keep goals

  • as few,

  • as simple and

  • as age appropriate as possible.

You will want to introduce simple habits for preschoolers e.g. ‘put away toys every day.’ While single skilled tasks are good for early elementary children, e.g. ‘empty and put away the contents of your back pack’, tweens and teens could handle multi-step goals with some independence e.g. ‘improve your mark in a particular subject by one letter this term’.

Whatever is decided help them to be precise. Instead of making the goal as ‘be better at piano’, suggest ‘practice piano 15 minutes 5 times per week’. That way they are focused on the effort.

Break big goals into tiny steps and celebrate each small win. This can be helpful when saving money for some big ticket item. Try to set a clear time frame and a measurable marker. Involve the child in the planning and preferably let them take the lead, allowing the experience to be a learning experience.

Calendar:

Feb 4: Sue was interviewed by Nikki Palamountain, a Facilitator in Hawkes Bay, NZ, for her radio slot, Dyslexia Unpuzzled.

Feb 7: Module 1 of the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Association’s Professional Development pilot

Feb 12: Sue spoke at the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society Conference at the Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver.

Feb 19, 22: Davis® UK & Ireland screened WHO KNEW as part of their NeuroNavigators Community launch.

Feb 21: Module 2 of the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Association’s Professional Development pilot

March 3: Sue’s Interview with Nikki Palamountain on Radio Hawkes Bay, NZ.

March 5/6:  2 Day in person workshop for the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Association’s Professional Development pilot

March 8, 9:    Anniversary screenings of WHO KNEW Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking, on Zoom, register HERE

March 12: Professional Development presentation to Regent Christian Online Academy

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.

IN CONCLUSION

We always knew this, but recently it has become even more apparent that one of the benefits of being a dyslexic is that we become magnets for other dyslexic individuals and they are SO very cool and interesting! 

We are blessed to meet incredibly curious, creative, empathetic problem solvers, often a great sense of humour and wise beyond their years. When they share their ideas, it’s like watching popcorn pop! Long may it continue… so thank you for being you !!!

Sue and the Board of the WDS

Giving Guide

info@thewds.org

 
 
 
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