Testimonials and Stories


Testimonials & Stories

Unsolicited comments from Rosemary Tuohy:

Thank you, Regina.  You have been so kind to me, plus you are the moving force behind our chapter. 
On a personal level, many, many years ago, you conducted an assessment on one of my closest friend’s sons, Brandon who was in the Yucaipa schools. Not only did it assist the district in developing an IEP program, but about eight years ago, it helped me explain Brandon’ strengths and weaknesses to Brandon’s father and older brother.
They were frustrated and sometimes even angry at things Brandon did or didn’t do. I reviewed all your testing and had a conference with them. They were very surprised at Brandon’s reasoning and memory problems. In fact, they felt bad about all the years they had gotten on Brandon’s case. 
Brandon’s cognitive issues still effect him on the job. However, Darla has raised her sons with excellent social skills, respect, and empathy. For example, Brandon was laid off from a job solely for financial reasons. Instead of reacting with anger, he told the owner how much he appreciated working for them and everything he had learned on the job. 
So, thank you again for your dedication to these children, being a brilliant educator, and sharing your knowledge with us. 

Comments after webinar, Domain General Pathways to Reading Comprehension, speaker Diana Kenney – on May 23, 2022:

Name things you learned from this webinar:

  • I loved the coordination of left and right hemisphere brain functions and the review of mylenation of fibers.
  • I learned about the difference between fluency and speed of reading, and the different challenges for comprehension that correlate with differ LDs.
  • Diana explained the complex details and interconnections between the literacy functions and the processing functions so well.
  • Teaching students about the brain by using a physical model of their hands – this was awesome.
  • Diana did a superb job of providing step-by-step, detailed explanations of the interconnected systems and the effect of a weaker system on the other systems.

Comments after the webinar, Auditory Processing, Decoding, and the Secret to Spelling, speaker Bonnie Terry on September 29, 2022:
Name some things that you learned:

  • There are different types of auditory processing disorders. I had no idea it was broken down into so many parts.
  • Each category of auditory processing was described with valuable examples for clarification. Understanding auditory processing gave me a deeper awareness to the actual learner.
  • I learned that AP difficulties can be a reason a child cannot distinguish between vowel sounds. I have many students with this problem!

Comments after the webinar, Structured Literacy: It Should Be ALL Around Us, speaker Nancy Bley on November 17, 2022:
Name some things you learned:

  • Ensuring that the basic skills are automatic with the students. I loved the idea of dividing students into groups to each master one vocabulary word and share it with the class.
  • The differentiated ways to teach vocabulary were fantastic.
  • I learned that dysgraphia is a sequencing issue and she highlighted that spelling supports vocabulary and reading comprehension.

    Comments after Cynthia Hansen’s webinar,
    Scattered and Brilliant: Executive Function and the Gifted Child  – April 31, 2020
  • From Barbara Callaway:
    • I thoroughly enjoyed Cynthia’s webinar! I saw so much of myself and my husband in her talk, not to mention my son, who did not fall far from the tree. I especially loved her assertion that one person with poor time management skills has magical thinking about arriving on time (me) while the spouse is often just the opposite. Boy, is he ever!Her observations and suggestions were spot on for kids like that, and you really do have to figure out every single person like a puzzle to find what interests them. I’m really going to take her advice to talk less and provide other avenues than just auditory learning.Thank you and Cynthia so much for putting on such a relevant presentation.
  • From Kelly Hibbler:
    • Thank you so much for hosting the Webinar last night! I was attending from Indianapolis, IN! I appreciated the opportunity to attend, and really enjoyed it!
  • From Stacy Yahow
    • My son has ADHD and you have really helped me open my eyes about him spacing off and this entire presentation was awesome.

Video at Annual Conference 2019


Video at Annual Conference 2013


 

“I love IDA! It has been very good to me and my boys. When my boys were young, they had reading difficulties so I joined IDA.  By attending IDA conferences and workshops, I learned SO MUCH about how to teach reading. When I returned to teaching after staying home ten years to raise my two boys, I taught kindergarten and first grade and used the information and skills I learned from IDA. Now that I’m retired, I’m hoping to become active in IDA.”
Kathy Fisher 2017.


“The Tri-County International Dyslexia Association is worth a look.  It supports students and families with a child or adult who has a diagnosis of Dyslexia.  As we know Not understanding the printed page makes getting an education emotionally difficult and can cause anxiety, depression and the desire to avoid school. Tri-County IDA offers webinars, conferences and workshops to aid and educate teachers, parents and students and is a resource for referrals in the community.”   Marc Lerner, MD 2016


“I greatly enjoyed attending the 2016 conference.  I appreciated hearing Mr. Stetkevich and Ms. Fuhrman speak on Universal Design for Learning. I was challenged by Ms. Kennedy’s session on how stress and anxiety disrupts learning. I was touched by Mr. Rodrigues’ testimony and enlightened by Dr. Remick-Waltman’s workshop regarding Developmental Optometrists. It was well worth my drive (3 1/2 hours) to attend.  I look forward to the 2017 conference.”
Vickie Ruiter, 2016


“I am dyslexic and your site has introduced me to my 15 year old lazy messy Dysgraphic son for the first time. I never thought of him as dyslexic but had never heard of dysgraphia. That’s my Jack. Thank you. I am also an Art teacher in a secondary school and have never heard any of the English teachers use this term before. They will hear of it tomorrow. I can assure you. Thanks!!”
Jo Drury, Regular Education Teacher


I have a child with ADHD and Dyslexia. He has always struggled in writing! Listening to the webinar I learned a lot! Understanding who he is and how he thinks makes a difference. I use to think he was just being lazy or just didn’t want to do his work. He can come up with amazing stories but can never get it on paper. After the webinar I feel more confident as a parent having the resources to help him! Thank you for putting this together and sharing all the information!
Keri August 2014


Wow!  I just finished reading the newest edition of The Resource on-line.  (Was I the first?)  It’s beautiful—full of pertinent articles, wake-up colors, and great up-coming events!  I enjoyed every word and thank those responsible for its creation.
Best wishes, Patrice Kaska August 2011


“I wanted to let you know that I have started using the workshop idea with the letters on popsicle sticks and the kids really enjoy spelling and being able to move. Also I have the “SLANT” strategy taped to the desks of a couple of my “zoners” so I can just tap the card and remind the student to attend. It’s so so very helpful – takes less time and verbage to get the back on task. Thanks! The IEB events are the best!”
Gwen Mason, Moreno Valley, May 2005


Comments after February workshop on comprehension:

  • Keep the classes coming. I truly look forward to any training you offer.
  • The multiple strategies were extremely enjoyable.
  • Great strategies: all of the activities are useful and I can’t wait to try them with my students.
  • Andy is a great presenter and I gained new ideas for vocabulary development as well as verification of many of my current strategies.
  • Your workshops are terrific for parents as well and I gained many ideas to use when doing homework with my students.

Comments after March workshop on memory:

  • IEB workshops always terrific: great information, timely and very appropriate for my students.
  • Thank you for such valuable information and resources.
  • Great pacing, variety of inter-active and group work time gave us the opportunity to apply the new learning.
  • The day move very quickly: I received many new ideas that I will use with my class.
  • I enjoyed being introduced to new scientifically based learning strategies.
  • I greatly appreciate the whole Inland Empire board and all those involved in educating us in the field of learning differences. The content was wonderful and I greatly enjoyed participation.

Comments after September workshop on Green Light Teaching Strategies:

  • This was one of the best workshops I’ve ever attended.
  • I will absolutely recommend this workshop to all teachers and administrators.
  • Awesome workshop: the day went by too quickly.
  • I can’t wait to come back for another workshop.
  • Everything was terrific: it was informative and a fun learning experience.

Regarding the October 13, 2012 Children’s Literacy Event:

  • I love the way the stories were presented to the children, the stories were great. My son learned to appreciate reading more now.  Thanks.
    Maria Alonso
  • My daughter is dyslexic and I enjoyed and valued the information and the time you spent to teach us more about dyslexia and what we can do to help my daughter. Thank you.
    Maria Alonso

Thanks For The Memories
By Pam Webb, Resource Specialist; RUSD; Member of IDA Southern California Tri-Counties Branch

As a teacher for more than two decades, I have attended many conferences on many interesting educational topics. In October 2001; however, I attended a conference I will long remember: the 52nd Annual Conference of the International Dyslexia Association in Albuquerque New Mexico. It was unforgettable not only for the overwhelming amount and quality of information I gained, but for the opportunity to rub elbows with hundreds of other people – parents, educators, researchers, and other professionals – who are working to understand and assist individuals who learn differently. Read the full story.


My thoughts on the 54th International IDA Conference November 2003
By Constance Hastings-Clapp

I believe that at least ONE of the important responsibilities we have as parents of children with learning differences is the need to keep ourselves informed. At first thought that would not seem to be too difficult a task considering that we of the 21st century clearly live in the age of INFORMATION. However that reality presents another challenge because, with so much information available we have the additional responsibility of determining whether or not the information is accurate or reliable. And when that information is sought because of its potential relevance to address our precious children’s needs we find ourselves with much more at stake. Read the full story.


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