Spotlight on a Volunteer
by Nancy Redding, M.Ed.

Heidi Renner has been an integral part of NCBIDA for many years. She laughs when asked how she first got involved, and says she was "born into it." Martha Renner, her mother, was very much the backbone of the group beginning in the 1970's.

Heidi is an Art and Educational Therapist and has been in private practice on the Peninsula for over 20 years. She first entered the field when her own son was in kindergarten and one of his friends was struggling in school. She began working with him, using Orton-Gillingham methods. Only weeks after she began her intervention, the young boy started to learn to read, and Heidi says she knew then she had found her calling.

Heidi has come full circle in the organization, as her first job was membership chair, a position which she holds today. She is also currently serving on the Steering Committee of our first ever Dyslexia Dash. In the intervening years, she has held a variety of offices, including branch president. On the national level, Heidi served as Pacific regional representative for over six years.

When asked what she has gained from working with NCBIDA, Heidi replies that she has found invaluable knowledge, wonderful networking, and lifelong friends. She encourages anyone who is working to help struggling readers to get involved by familiarizing themselves with the wonderful people in this organization. We at NCBIDA appreciate the longevity that Heidi has with our group, making her the unofficial historian. Additionally, we value her as a person who will always "step up to the plate" when needed.