Past Press Releases
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Repp, INW Dyslexia Alliance
720.280.7423 | Lisa@inwdyslexia.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 3, 2024
“Exploring Dyslexia” Open Forum to be Held at The Spokane Valley Library
INW Dyslexia Alliance is dedicated to the empowerment, support, and advocacy of individuals with dyslexia, their families and professionals.
SPOKANE VALLEY, WASHINGTON – Families and educators are invited to attend an ‘Exploring Dyslexia’ open forum at the Spokane Valley Library on Saturday, February 3rd from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask any questions in a supportive environment and get answers from experienced professionals and parents.
Dyslexia is a condition of neurodevelopmental origin that mainly affects the ease in which a person reads, writes, and spells, typically recognized as a specific learning disorder in children.
At least 1 in 5 people are thought to be affected by dyslexia*.
If you know someone who may be impacted by dyslexia, please consider attending this event to:
Get answers to any dyslexia-related questions
Connect to other families and teachers
Help others reach their full potential, in the classroom and beyond
Established in August 2022, INW Dyslexia Alliance has built a community of support for individuals with dyslexia here in the Inland Northwest. They are dedicated to providing each family with the knowledge and tools they need to confidently navigate their own unique journey. The organization also offers ongoing developmental opportunities for educators and professionals within the field.
To learn more about INW Dyslexia, please visit https://inwdyslexia.org/.
*Source: Dyslexia Research Institute
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2023
INW Dyslexia Alliance and The Salvation Army Kroc Center Host Dyslexia Awareness Speaker Series at The Well
For Dyslexia Awareness Month, The Salvation Army Kroc Center of Coeur d’Alene is hosting a panel of expert speakers sponsored by Inland Northwest Dyslexia. In concert with The Kroc Center’s The Well program, this series will take place in the community wing of the Kroc Center on the first three Wednesdays of October at 6:30 p.m. (Oct. 4, 11 and 18).
COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO – Dyslexia is a condition of neurodevelopmental origin that mainly affects the ease with which a person reads, writes, and spells, typically recognized as a specific learning disorder in children.
In support of Dyslexia Awareness Month, the INW Dyslexia Alliance will address a range of dyslexia-specific topics throughout October:
October 4 – Dyslexia 101 (general public)
October 11 – Overview of the INW Dyslexia Alliance (for caregivers)
October 18 – Dyslexia in the classroom – elementary, middle school, and high school (for teachers)
At INW Dyslexia Alliance, their mission is to support, empower and advocate for individuals with dyslexia, their families, and professionals in the field in the Inland Northwest. This is brought to life by offering services ranging from dyslexia evaluations to literacy intervention, to parent support and other resources. The Kroc is proud to host their expert speakers as part of The Well programming for Dyslexia Awareness Month.
To learn more about The Well at The Kroc, please visit Kroccda.org/thewell. To learn more about INW Dyslexia, please visit https://inwdyslexia.org/.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2023
McInturff & Co Contributes First Six Months of Rent to Local Nonprofit INW Dyslexia Alliance, Enriching Hillyard Neighborhood and City
Established in August 2022, the INW Dyslexia Alliance is dedicated to the empowerment, support, and advocacy of individuals with dyslexia, their families and professionals. The Francis Location will serve as a hub for conducting literacy intervention sessions, evaluations, trainings, and a range of gatherings aligned with the organization's mission.
Spokane, Wash. Local real estate company, McInturff & Co, has generously contributed the initial six months' rent to support the local nonprofit organization, INW Dyslexia Alliance. This donation aims to foster growth and development in the Hillyard neighborhood and the city as a whole.
Kathryn McInturff, owner of McInturff & Co. states, “As Spokane residents and local business owners, we believe in making investments back into our community in ways that enrich and continue to build its future. We couldn’t think of a better way to do that, then to invest in the education and development of our city’s future leaders–starting with our kids.”
After gaining a deeper understanding of the mission and recognizing the potential to contribute towards establishing its inaugural location, McInturff was eager to support this initiative. “We have always been passionate about education and providing equal learning opportunities to students. When we learned about the lack of resources available for kids with dyslexia and the work that the INW Dyslexia Alliance was doing, we knew it needed a permanent place in our community. We were thrilled by the opportunity to support the Alliance in establishing its presence in Hillyard & the Greater Spokane area.”
“Our long term vision is to have small offices across the region, so we can be close to families and reduce travel time,” notes Lisa Repp, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the INW Dyslexia Alliance. “The Francis Location marks a solid step in that direction, and we're thankful for McInturff & Co's generous support. Their belief in our cause and enthusiasm for helping those with dyslexia is truly heartwarming.”
For those interested in learning more about ways to support this cause, please visit inwdyslexia.org/donate. Businesses are also encouraged to connect with Lisa at lisa@inwdyslexia.org to explore potential collaborations, similar to their partnership with McInturff & Co.
"I urge others in the community to rally behind the initiatives of the INW Dyslexia Alliance," McInturff suggests. "Individuals with dyslexia offer a distinct perspective on the world, and it's crucial for them to experience understanding and backing. We admire Lisa and her team's vision for advancing their mission, and we were thrilled to contribute to this important first step!"
Parents and caregivers who suspect their child may have dyslexia can visit inwdyslexia.org for more information, resources, and guidance on arranging an evaluation or literacy intervention with the Alliance.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2023
New local nonprofit seeks to remove financial barriers for children struggling with dyslexia
Spokane, Wash. The INW Dyslexia Alliance is now providing low-cost dyslexia evaluation and intervention services.
The cost of evaluations and intervention for those with dyslexia often makes it unattainable for families. To help alleviate the financial burden, and make reading attainable for all children, the Alliance operates with a Client Assistance Fund (CAF). Whenever possible, this fund is used to drastically reduce the cost of evaluation and intervention.
In March 2021, Lisa and Drew Repp’s son had just turned 8 and was diagnosed with dyslexia. “We knew reading was difficult for him, but knew nothing about the difficulties he was facing each and every day at school. Our son is a very bright boy who began falling further and further behind beginning in 1st grade. We felt alone in our parenting, frustrated, and desperate to find the right kind of support to help him learn to read.”
If your child is facing similar challenges and behind in reading or struggling with school, they may be one of the roughly 20% of people who are estimated to have dyslexia. Without early identification and effective interventions, dyslexia's impact is more significant for both the affected individual and society. “These students deserve our support,” says Repp, who is now Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Alliance. “I have seen the hope that comes from identifying what our child is struggling with and understanding that we’re not alone in our parenting journey. Finding comfort in knowing our child is receiving the appropriate instruction for their learning difference is invaluable and I’m excited to help many more families get to this point and beyond.”
Parents and caregivers who suspect their child may have dyslexia are encouraged to visit inwdyslexia.org for more information, resources, and details on how to schedule an evaluation or literacy intervention.
The next community gathering hosted by the Alliance will be held Tuesday, September 19 from 10-11:30 at The Hive, Studio E (23 S Regal St, Spokane, WA 99202).