Michigan Branch
International Dyslexia Association
2010 Conference Wrap Up
Saturday, October 9, 2010, turned out to be a gorgeous, sunny day. One hundred twenty-five people from around the state of Michigan gathered at Calvin College in Grand Rapids to attend the Michigan Branch of the IDA’s Annual Conference. Dr. Maryanne Wolf, from Tufts University, gave a thorough and lively keynote on the scientific basis of research’s current understanding of dyslexia, and the path best interventions should take. Dr. Wolf was an engaging speaker, and garnered high praise from participants. After a lunch break, two local speakers--Dr. Troy Mariage from MSU and Dr. Jo Kuyvenhoven from Calvin College--shared their comments and reflection on her talk. Time was also given for discussion and sharing by the attendees. These comments are attached with this newsletter, as is Dr. Mariage’s power point.
Many attendees commented on the high quality of Calvin College’s facility, from the auditorium to the beautiful atrium area for casual gathering, as well as the plentiful food service. Over half of the attendees were IDA members; we encourage those who were not to sign up to receive the full benefits of membership. As well as having increased attendance since the 2009 conference, this conference also had a strong college student presence. As one wrote on their survey, “Listening to Mrs. Wolf made me feel better as a person. I have dyslexia and she made me feel smart. Where was she when my teachers told me I wouldn’t make it in college.” And, while 64% of attendees were from West Michigan, fully a third drove considerable distance to learn from the expert speakers and chat with other colleagues. Here are some comments taken from the surveys:
“I have attended other IDA-MIB fall conferences. You have, in my opinion, a reputation for excellence.”
“Overall, this was a great experience to hear about literacy, reading, and dyslexia. We are happy to have the opportunity to interact with one another. This was a great experience to collaborate with our peers.”
Thank you to all who attended and were a part of making this conference so successful. We look forward to collaborating with you at future events.