The International Dyslexia Association – Oregon Branch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on increasing public awareness of how dyslexia affects both children and adults. IDA Oregon Branch serves Oregon plus southwest Washington counties of Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania and Klickitat.
The IDA-Oregon Branch was founded on November 2, 1976, by Dorothy Blosser Whitehead and is one of 42 state branches and 22 global partners of the IDA. Our mission is to actively promote effective teaching approaches and intervention strategies for children and adults with dyslexia and related reading disorders. In concert with several state and community partners in Oregon and Southwest Washington, we encourage and support interdisciplinary research into the causes and treatments for dyslexia and advocate for individuals, families and professionals alike. We would love to assist you in finding the information you need to help with your personal or professional dyslexia-related inquiries. Please contact us at info@orbida.org. Our Information and Referral Specialist will get back to you as soon as possible.
2021 Annual Report
Annual Report 2020
Annual Report 2019
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to raise awareness and understanding of dyslexia, promote effective intervention strategies, and support individuals with dyslexia, their families, and professionals in our community.
We strive to create a future for all individuals who struggle with dyslexia and other related reading differences so that they may have richer, more robust lives and access to the tools and resources they need.
SERVICES
The IDA Oregon Branch provides the following services:
- Annual Conference – Day-long conference/workshop featuring nationally recognized speakers, and including several workshops.
- Outreach/Speakers Bureau – Workshops demonstrating multi-sensory teaching techniques are presented on request to educators and parents. Workshops are held statewide and in Southwest Washington.
- Scholarships to State and National Conferences
- Connection to local dyslexia experts, businesses, parents, educators, and professionals. Priceless!
The International Dyslexia Association
The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is creating a future for all individuals who struggle with dyslexia and other related reading differences to have richer, more robust lives by providing access to the tools and resources they need until everyone can read. For 70 years, IDA has been the authoritative voice of current and reliable research and information to educate families and professionals about dyslexia and to inform the practice and policy changes needed to deliver effective instruction to all students. IDA’s global network of home office, 43 branches in the United States and Canada, and 26 Global Partners provide educator training, publications information, and support to struggling readers around the world. IDA’s annual conference attracts thousands of researchers, clinicians, parents, teachers, psychologists, educational therapists, and people with dyslexia.
IDA is creating a future for every individual who struggles with dyslexia and other reading differences – because reading changes lives!
IDA OREGON HISTORY
Presidents
1976 Dorothy Whitehead
1977 Lurena Davis
1978 Sandra Whiting
1979-1980 Doris Eisele
1981 Bernice Peachy
1982 Anne Hay
1983 Dixie McKay
1984-1985 Gloria Zeal Davis
1986-1987 Kay Kaplan
1988-1989 Diana Kerman
1990-1991 Jane Arkes
1992-1993 Dorothy Whitehead
1994-1995 Elizabeth Barton
1996-1997 Lynetta Weswig
1998-1999 Gary Wright
2000-2001 Dale Holloway
2002-2003 Elizabeth Ramsey
2004-2005 Karen Brown
2006-2009 Judy Wright
2010-2011 Cheryl Anthony
2012-2015 Shelbe Park
IDA Board of Directors
1986-1991 Gloria Zeal Davis
2003-2004 Gary Wright
IDA Branch Council Executive Committee
2000-2001 Gary Wright, Branch Council Secretary
2002 Gary Wright, Branch Council Chair-Elect
2003-2004 Gary Wright, Branch Council Chair
Recognized for outstanding service to the IDA Oregon Branch
1995 Gloria Zeal Davis
1995 Victor Flaming
1995 Pat Robb
1996 Dorothy Whitehead
1997 Dale Holloway
1997 Diana Kerman
Dale Holloway Service Award
2009 Dale Holloway
2010 Gloria Zeal Davis and Cherida Collins Smith
2014 Jim Hansen
2016 Myrna Soule
2017 Judy and Gary Wright
IDA Remy Johnston Award Recipients
2000 Jon Ruff, Remy Johnston Award
2002 Evie Wyrick, Remy Johnston Award
2006 Christopher Killmer, Certificate of Recognition
Key Events in Oregon Branch History
1974 Branch Articles of Incorporation signed (Oregon Branch of The Orton Society).
1975 First Annual Conference (Good Samaritan Hospital, “Beginning Early-Perspectives in Learning”)
1976 Charter awarded on November 2.
1978 First medical dinner.
1981 First branch newsletter published.
1982 Name changed to Oregon Branch of The Orton Dyslexia Society.
1984 Language Skills Seminar developed (later known as Fundamentals of Written Language).
1985 Gloria Zeal Davis elected to ODS Board of Directors.
1986 Dale Holloway created the Reversals Groups at Lewis & Clark College.
1988 Branch sponsored lecture by Dr. Zdenek Matejcek; Portland offered as site for 1991 national conference.
1990 Multisensory tutor training program launched.
1991 42nd National Conference (“Peak Performance”) held in Portland; Gloria Zeal Davis was national program chair; Diana Kerman was local arrangements chair. Dorothy Whitehead was awarded the Samuel T. Orton Award. Fundamentals of Written Language became a separate entity.
1992 Outreach programs launched by Pat Robb.
1997 Name changed to the Oregon Branch of The International Dyslexia Association. 22nd Annual Conference (“Soaring to New Heights: Succeeding with Learning Disabilities”) held for the first time outside of the Portland area at Chinook Winds Conference Center, Lincoln City.
1998 Branch conducts its first fundraising campaign. Fundamentals of Written Language disbands and transfers the Barbara McAllister Endowment Fund to IDA Oregon Branch for use in meeting the needs of adults. 23rd Annual Conference (“Links to Literacy”) held at Holiday Inn Portland South, Wilsonville.
1999 Branch moves into its first office, located in the 25th & Lovejoy Medical Building in Portland. IDA celebrates 50 Golden Years, and the Oregon Branch celebrates its Silver Jubilee. Oregon Branch establishes first web site (www.aracnet.com/~orbida).
2000 Lynetta Weswig becomes Oregon Branch’s first Information and Referral Consultant, working out of the new office in Portland.
2002 IDA Oregon Branch registers its own domain name and establishes an upgraded web site at www.orbida.org.
2006 31st Annual Conference (“Hope Across the Lifespan”) held at Kingstad Center, Beaverton.
2007 32nd Annual Conference (“Literacy: A Capital Idea!”) jointly sponsored with OSPA (Oregon School Psychologists Association) held at Salem Conference Center, Salem.
2008 33rd Annual Conference (“Literacy Across the Spectrum”) held at LaSells Stewart Center, Corvallis.
2009 34th Annual Conference (“The Four R’s: Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic, Research”) held in cooperation with OSPA at Portland Airport Sheraton, Portland.
2010 35th Annual Conference (“A Day with Anita Archer: Dynamic Vocabulary Instruction”) held at Portland Airport Holiday Inn, Portland.
Sponsors
The Oregon Branch gratefully acknowledges support from Cherida Collins Smith who has generously funded scholarships for Oregon Branch teachers to the IDA national conferences for many years. Dozens of teachers and hundreds of their students have benefited from her extraordinary gifts.
