President's Letter

Dyslexia Dash 2010

As the days get longer and the weather warmer, do your thoughts turn to spending time outside, getting unplugged, and getting in shape? If so, we have just the event for you!

NCBIDA presents its first ever Dyslexia Dash on Saturday, May 1, at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo. It is a chance to jog or walk a 5K course, and also raise money for a great cause. These fun-runs have been sponsored around the country by local branches of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). They are designed to provide a community activity and fundraising event for the benefit of individuals with dyslexia and the educators, family, and friends who support them. Our branch is excited to be presenting a Dyslexia Dash in the Bay Area. We hope you will join us!

EdRev 2010

NCBIDA will have an information booth at the April 17 EdRev 2010 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, sponsored by Parents Education Network. For details about this exciting local event, visit the PEN website. We will be holding a raffle with some valuable prizes, so please stop by the booth.

A Successful Winter Event

Many thanks to all who helped make the February event a big success. Barb Langeloh and Katie Bond organized an informative and well-run day. Nancy Cushen White's update on the latest research on reading instruction was well received by the participants. It was particularly exciting as NCBIDA was able to premiere its newest version of the simulation, Experience Dyslexia®, to excellent reviews. Thanks to the hard work of many people, in particular Cindy Schlichte, Leslie Woodward, and Nancy Cushen White, the revisions are complete and the production nearly finished. NCBIDA was very pleased to offer the event in Marin County and hopes to have a bigger presence there in the future.

New Board Members

Katie Bond, Kelli Takushi-Geyrozaga, Maria Pevzner, and Sherry Sachar were unanimously approved as Board members at the Annual Meeting on February 6. We welcome the unique qualities and experience each of these people brings to the board and look forward to our work together. Katie is joining Barb Langeloh on the Events Committee, Kelli is teaming with John Osner on our Resource Line, and Maria and Sherry, mentored by Christine Goias, will head up the Volunteer Committee. Welcome to all!

Spotlight on a Volunteer

In this edition, we spotlight Heidi Renner, long-time member and volunteer with NCBIDA. There has not been a time in the history of NCBIDA that Heidi and/or her mother, Martha, have not been key players in the organization.

Summer Teacher Training and Scholarships

Several summer Slingerland teacher trainings will be offered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please check the teacher training website for dates and locations for summer training of all local MSLE trainings, as well as information on scholarship applications. Last year we were able to give partial scholarships to seven teachers, and we hope to equal or surpass that this year.

Summer Opportunities for High School Upperclassmen and Graduates from Landmark College

I had the opportunity earlier this year to visit Landmark College in Vermont, a two-year college dedicated to working with LD and ADD students. The number of students with identified learning and attention difficulties attending college has grown hugely in the last decade, and it is very encouraging to see a school dedicated to researching what tools these students need to succeed, and then putting their research into practice on their campus. This college also offers summer programs to high school students, and a transition program to students already accepted at four-year institutions. For the first time ever, several of these summer programs will be offered on the west coast, one here in the Bay Area at the University of San Francisco (USF). For dates and more information, visit the Landmark website.

Sincerely,
Nancy Redding
NCBIDA President