Conference
2018 IDA-GA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
March 24, Morning and Afternoon Program Options
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Tech Research Institute

This year’s IDA-GA Dimensions of Dyslexia Conference, “Bridging the Gap between Structured Literacy & Assistive Technology” is being held in partnership with Georgia Tech’s Tools for Life. Attendees will visit a hands-on assistive technology lab as well as structured literacy and assistive technology sessions.

Morning or Afternoon Program: $15 IDA Member; $25 Nonmember
Full Day: $25 Member; $35 Nonmember
Children Under 16 will be admitted for free with a registered adult.

Research Study - Parent Feedback Needed
REQUEST FOR PARENT PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH STUDY
How parent-friendly was your child's psychological report?

Parents are invited to participate in an important research study! If a school psychologist , within the school setting , has ever evaluated your child, your opinions are sought regarding your child’s most recent psychological report.

Teacher (and Parent) Training
TEAMQUEST CHALLENGE
Raising Dollars for IDA's Teacher Training Initiatives

Ann Marie Lewis of the IDA Georgia Peachrunners participated in the New Orleans Rock-and-Roll Half-Marathon on March 4 as a part of IDA's TeamQuest Challenge. She has raised $2,805 in donations to go towards the International Dyslexia Association's initiatives to help create a better future for every child and adult who struggles with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. IDA-Georgia is also committed to using TeamQuest funds to support scholarships for teacher training in schools across Georgia.

STRUCTURED LITERACY
TEACHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

We use the term structured literacy to encompass instruction that emphasizes the structure of language, Structured Literacy is systematic and cumulative, explicit, and diagnostic.

The IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading outlines the components of structured literacy and defines what all teachers of reading need to know and be able to do to teach all students to read proficiently.

IDA-GA has just finished updating a now 22-page document to help educators learn of the many structured literacy teacher training opportunities. Cick here to view.
Outreach Events - Free and Open to the Public
OUTREACH
March 6, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Marietta, GA (GRACEPOINT School)
Understanding Dyslexia

This Understanding Dyslexia outreach event will consist of a presentation followed by an open forum with Brenda Fitzgerald. It is designed to educate participants in the origin, characteristics, remediation, and accommodations for the neurobiological disability known as dyslexia. This is the most common reading disability found in the classroom. Brenda will open the floor to Q & A and open discussion. Bring your questions!

Presenter: Brenda Fitzgerald, Ed.S., is a Curriculum Specialist whose area of expertise is reading and any disability that interferes with that process.

This IDA-GA /DDGA / Cobb Dyslexia Network event is free and open to the public.

OUTREACH
March 21, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Sandy Springs, GA (Sandy Springs Library)
Effective Reading Instruction for Children with Dyslexia

Jean DeRosa, M.Ed., will discuss the common signs of dyslexia and what parents and teachers can do to help a dyslexic child learn to read with greater ease and expression and to spell with more confidence. Attendees will learn about what is meant by a structured literacy approach, an instructional approach which incorporates Orton-Gillingham principles.

This IDA-GA / DDGA outreach event is free and open to the public. We'd like to thank parents Laurie Nichols, Heather Chlup, and Carrie Marx for helping to organize this event.

OUTREACH
March 30, 7:00 pm
Cumming, GA ( North Forsyth Middle School Media Center )
Understanding Executive Function with Elaine Francel


• Lost assignments
• Forgotten homework
• Difficulty planning ahead
• Struggling to start assignments
• Challenged to prioritize tasks

Does this sound familiar? Please come and join us to work on strategies for your child to build their own learning system…the key to success in high school, college, and life!

This DNF / IDA-GA / DDGA / Understood Outreach Event is free and open to the public, but we ask that you please register to attend. Please let others know about this event.

Legislation Update
TASK FORCE
Senate Study Committee on Dyslexia
Resolution SR 761

As a direct result of a meeting with a Decoding Dyslexia volunteer after Dyslexia Day at the Capitol, Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) has proposed Resolution SR 761 which seeks to create the Senate Study Committee on Dyslexia.

On February 27, IDA-GA president Karen Huppertz wrote a letter to Senators Millar, Cowsert, Albers, and Watson thanking them for sponsoring SR 761 to study dyslexia within our state.

Click here to learn more about SR 761 . What are your thoughts?
STATE-FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP
Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (SB 10 Waiver)
House Bill 759 Awaiting Passage in Senate

This year, the Georgia legislature considered several bills to improve the educational choices for students with individualized education plans (IEPs), one of which is awaiting passage in the senate. Click here to read a summary by volunteer Hannah Heck of the background of the scholarship, Bill 759 and other legislation, and future efforts and opportunities to engage.
Jewelry with a Message
DYSLEXIA AWARENESS
The pqbd Jewelry Collection

The letters p q b d form this jewelry's symbol, which represents dyslexia. Often misunderstood as reading backwards, or simply reversing letters, this design is a conversation starter about what it really means to be dyslexic. Created to raise awareness and support organizations working with dyslexia, a portion of each jewelry sale goes to IDA. Simply type IDA-Georgia in the box at checkout.

Each piece comes in an organza gift bag with information about the pqbd mission.

International Dyslexia Association - Georgia | 404-256-1232 | info@idaga.org | GA.dyslexiaIDA.org