Teaching Teachers and Empowering Parents

2023 Fall Newsletter

Mary Cancelmo

From the President

Back to school is always exciting, but for parents of children with learning differences it comes with some (or a lot!) of anxiety. Will this year hold a breakthrough?

In California, legislation requiring dyslexia screening has been signed into law by Governor Newsom and takes effect January 1, 2024. Recent data shows that 32 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws or changed policy to require evidence-based reading instruction. California, too, is moving towards embracing programs based on the “science of reading.”...continue reading

Help Us Find Out What Is Changing!

To get a sense of what individual districts are doing to make the shift to structured literacy, our friends at Decoding Dyslexia CA request your input. They ask that you please take a few minutes to complete this form about implementation of evidence-based instruction at your school or in your district. Please respond by October 15, 2023.

Teacher Training Opportunities

Well trained teachers are key to the effective implementation of any structured literacy program. Check our website for information on a series of virtual Wilson Language Training workshops to be offered in October and November. We also list ongoing training opportunities from BrainSpring and the Institute for Multi-sensory Education.

IDA National Meeting

DyslexiaCon 2023, IDA’s annual conference on reading, literacy and learning is only days away. If travel is not in your plans, remember that you can register for virtual on-demand recordings of the conference, which will become available October 23rd for 30 days. For more information on registering for in-person or virtual sessions click here.

Nancy Cushen White Honored for Service

Long-time IDA Nor Cal board and advisory board member Nancy Cushen White, EdD, will be one of two individuals receiving a newly established award at the opening session of the 2023 IDA annual conference. The Distinction of Service Award was created to recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution as a volunteer in a leadership role for the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) at the local, state, national, or international level.

2023-24 Free Expert Webinars

Once again, the Sacramento County Office of Education, project lead for the California Dyslexia Initiative (CDI), in partnership with Glean Education is hosting a free expert webinar series. These one-hour presentations by professionals in the field of dyslexia and structured literacy are appropriate for teachers, educators and parents. Register for upcoming programs or access an archive of past videos and handouts of webinar presentations since 2021.

Experience Dyslexia^® (If You Haven’t Already!)

IDA Nor Cal continues to offer its popular six-station 90-minute simulation to requesting groups in the SF Bay Area. Simulation materials are also available as a kit for purchase, allowing organizations to offer the program on their own. This high-energy group activity continues to be a valuable introduction to the challenges that students with dyslexia face in the classroom—and an emotional eye-opener for teachers. ...continue reading

IDA NorCal

PO Box 487

Brentwood, CA 94513

1-650-328-7667