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IDA Purpose Statement
 The purpose of The International Dyslexia Association is to pursue and provide the most comprehensive range of information and services that address the full scope of dyslexia and related difficulties in learning to read and write.
In a way that creates hope, possibility and partnership.
So that every individual has the opportunity to lead a productive and fulfilling life, and society benefits from the resource that is liberated.
IDA Mission Statement
 The International Dyslexia Association is an international organization that concerns itself with the complex issues of dyslexia. The IDA membership consists of a variety of professionals in partnership with individuals with dyslexia and their families. We believe all individuals have the right to achieve their potential, that individual learning abilities can be strengthened, and that social, educational and cultural barriers to language acquisition and use must be removed.
IDA actively promotes effective teaching approaches and related clinical educational intervention strategies for individuals with dyslexia. We support and encourage interdisciplinary study and research. We facilitate the exploration of the causes and early identification of dyslexia and are committed to the responsible and wide dissemination of research-based knowledge.
IDA Headquarters
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, IDA has more than 13.000 members worldwide. Members and the public-at-large have access to local resources throughout more than 45 branches in the U.S., Canada and affiliate organizations around the world.
Ontario Branch
The Ontario Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (ONBIDA) is a non-profit charitable organization founded in June 2004. The branch is operated entirely by volunteers, providing free information, support and referral services to the public.
Charitable Registration Number 85713 3078 RR0001
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Sally Shearman (President)
Sally Shearman is President and one of the founders of the Ontario Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. Sally teaches Special Education and has been with the York Region District School Board since 1991. She is a member of the Advisory Panel for the National Early Literacy Strategy, a project of the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network (CLLRNet), and a member of the Advisory Panel for the Effective Reading Instruction Resource Kit, CLLRNet. She has served in a variety of positions at the local and national levels within IDA since 1999. Dyslexia runs in Sally's family and she is passionate about making sure that all children receive research-informed literacy instruction.
Tom Laczmanski (Treasurer)
Tom Laczmanski is a Financial Analyst with Magna International Inc. and is based in the Aurora head office. He has experience in Financial Reporting, Business Planning and Corporate Strategy, and additional experience in Investment Analysis and Treasury. His industry expertise includes automotive manufacturing, consumer goods and investment management. Tom holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University and recently was granted the CMA designation from the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario. He is interested in making a contribution to society by using his financial skills on the board of a non-profit organization.
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Liisa Freure
Liisa Freure is a former elementary school teacher who received her M.Ed. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Liisa’s initial interest in research-based interventions for at-risk students began when traditional methods of instruction did not seem to work for some students. Then, after two of her own three children exhibited early signs of dyslexia, Liisa began to learn all that she could about strategies for intervention and remediation. Liisa now runs a private educational consulting and tutoring practice for students of all ages. In addition to her background in Special Education Liisa is a certified education advocate and an Orton-Gillingham trained remedial language therapist.
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Valerie Fish (Secretary)
Valerie Fish holds a M.H.Sc. degree in SpeechLanguage Pathology. Valerie worked for nine yearsat Toronto’s Riverdale Hospital in the areas of neurogenic rehabilitation and complex continuing care, and has worked as a private Speech Language Pathologist for the past 10 years. In addition to her clinical work, Valerie has been active teaching at the graduate level in the Department of Speech LanguagePathology at the University of Toronto. A proponent of the Orton-Gillingham based approach, Valerie has had a professional interest in the assessment and remediation of dyslexia in school aged children since introduced to the field of dyslexia during her Master’s Degree program in 1986-88.
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Kevin Burgess
Kevin Burgess joined the Board of Directors of ONBIDA in 2008 and is currently Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Kevin has previously served on the Board of the Regina Big Brothers Association, volunteered as an account executive for the United Way of Alberta, Capital Region, and was a committee chair for the Quality Council of British Columbia. Kevin brings over twenty years of business development leadership experience in the management consulting, business solutions, systems integration, and information technology industries. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors and Distinction) degree from the University of Saskatchewan. |
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Cathi Fynn
Cathi Fynn currently functions as ONBIDA’s Bookkeeper. Cathi has performed various accounting functions for the past 30 years including the role of senior accountant with a publicly traded Trust company. Cathi presently administers a public accounting practice and manages a small financial consulting company assisting clients with accounting, tax, computer and financial planning matters. |
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Jan MacLean
Jan McLean worked for thirty years as an occupational therapist. In 1994, she received her M.Sc. in Rehabilitation from Queen's University where she has also taught courses at the Queen's School of Rehabilitation Therapy. After having to travel out-of-province to obtain suitable treatment for her children's dyslexia, Jan founded The Reading Clinic in 2001 to offer intensive, research-based treatment for dyslexia. Her children’s success convinced Jan that this type of service needed to be available in Eastern Ontario, and she became committed to learning the necessary skills to become a specialized reading therapist. Jan's experience as a mother of children with dyslexia makes her sensitive to the concerns and frustrations of parents who have children with reading problems. Jan is a long-time member of the Kingston Learning Disabilities Association and a regular speaker at their conference.
Jessica Rodrigues
Jessica Rodrigues graduated from McGill University with a BA in English-Drama/Theatre and Art History and Communications. Jessica’s passion and dissatisfaction with McGill’s unrecognized and under-funded theatre program pushed her to found the Arts Undergraduate Theatre Society of McGill and sit on the board as Vice President External. Through this organization Jessica spear-headed fundraisers and oversaw the financial success of each performance. Jessica is also involved with Blessings in a Backpack where she attracts corporate sponsorships and creates media aware-ness. After working with a public relations firm, Jessica is currently pursuing a post-graduate diploma in Communications while doing freelance public relations work.
Jason Manett
Toronto, Ontario
Disabilities Counsellor
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