About Us


Oregon IDA Dyslexia

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

We are proud to reflect on a successful year and present to you the 2021 Annual Report for the International ...

Annual Report 2020

We are proud to reflect on a successful year and present to you the 2020 Annual Report for the International ...

Annual Report 2019

We are proud to reflect on a successful year and present to you the 2019 Annual Report for the International ...


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.

 

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