Helpful Websites
Recommended Reading The following are a list of books the IDA recommends on Dyslexia, literacy and related topics. All of these books are available via Amazon Smile–a program that donates 0.5% of your eligible purchase to the IDA-UMB. Simply visit smile.amazon.com, enter “Upper Midwest Branch of the International Dyslexia Association” in the search bar, and …
Kelly Turner graduated from Lycoming College with a BA in Sociology and Human Services as well as a minor in Psychology. She previously worked one on one with children with Autism using a behavioral modification program. After raising her children, she took the Orton-Gillingham basic and advanced training through The Reading Center/Dyslexia Institute of MN in Rochester, MN, giving her the ability to work with students of all ages. Along with being an Academic Language Therapist, Kelly is a Practicum Instructor for trainees going through the Orton-Gillingham basic training. She also coordinates the Dyslexia Simulation offered through The Reading Center. Understanding the importance of effective reading instruction, Kelly feels strongly that structured literacy be available for all students.
Kelly Gorman brings to the Upper Midwest Branch, 36 years of teaching and leadership from around the country at all levels from elementary, middle, high school and university levels in general and special education. Since retiring, Kelly has spent her time and lifelong learning skills increasing her knowledge of dyslexia and helping parents advocate for appropriate specially designed instruction for their dyslexic learners.
Through her familiarity with Special Education processes, especially the assessment and IEP processes, she has helped parents advocate for accommodations/adaptations, assistive technology, measurable, observable goals, and instruction based on the science of reading. Kelly believes serving on the Board of Directors of IDA-UMB is an opportunity to help create positive change and increase success for dyslexic learners.
Mona Dougherty worked in the field of Dyslexia for over 30 years. Her son was not diagnosed until entering the 5th grade. Being told he was reading at a K level at that point was devastating. That is how she began her journey.
Mona’s educational background includes earning a Certified OT Associate Degree; a BS with a major in Audiology; BS with a major in ES, and a minor in Psychology. She is also a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner and Dyslexia Therapist. Mona has worked teaching adults to read in a research collaboration with the University of MN. She has been employed by Wilson Language Training for the last 18 years.
In her capacity with WLT, She has trained teachers from all parts of the country as well as internationally. She has coached teachers to help those in prisons, private schools and large inner-city schools to improve their reading outcomes.
While raising and teaching two children with dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia, Deb Dwyer trained in all four levels of Orton-Gillingham of MN, successfully completing the additional training to become an instructor. In 2019, she completed her Masters in Education in Reading Science at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In addition to tutoring full time, Deb served as the President of Orton-Gillingham of MN for 6 years and is currently serving as a past-president. She continues to teach courses for OGMN. Deb is a board member for IMSLEC (International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council), and coordinates parent and tutoring meetings in her area. She has presented at the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health Conference, public school in-services and community education courses as well as teaching Orton-Gillingham Introductory, Intermediate and Extended Practicum courses.
Before joining Wilson Language as a Literacy Advisor/Literacy Specialist, Candice worked in Chicago Public Schools as a special education teacher, case manager, diverse learner administrator, and special education administrator for structured literacy.
Candice passionately believes that ensuring all students have access to high-quality, evidence-based, science of reading aligned literacy instruction is the cornerstone for achieving equity in education.
Justine Gibbon is a Title 1 Reading Specialist in Kindred, North Dakota. She is married and has three children, the oldest two have been diagnosed with dyslexia. She is an active leader for ND-DPI’s dyslexia pilot program. ND-DPI’s dyslexia pilot program is ND’s first initiative to implement dyslexia screening and intervention in the public-school setting. The dyslexia pilot program has served hundreds of children, and Justine continues to teach other educators how to effectively screen and implement appropriate intervention for students at-risk for dyslexia. Justine has served as President of Decoding Dyslexia North Dakota for the past four years. She has found it especially rewarding to help parents navigate the public school system who have children struggling with dyslexia. Justine is an active member of International Dyslexia Association and North Dakota Literacy Association. During her free-time she also teaches online continuing education courses about dyslexia at North Dakota State University.
Justine comments, “Learning about dyslexia has changed my life, for the better. I am more successful as a reading teacher, more empathetic with parents, a stronger leader, and most importantly, a more confident and knowledgeable advocate for my own children.”
“As a board member, I would bring connections from DDND and my knowledge and expertise as a public-school reading teacher. I helped build Multi-Level Systems of Support (MTSS) that includes dyslexia screening and intervention in five rural school districts. I understand the difficulties rural communities face when implementing programs. I hope IDA-UMB can push forward state-wide implementation of dyslexia screening and intervention in every public school in North Dakota (and all of the upper Midwest) so those in rural communities or underprivileged families get the support they need. I would be most interested in serving on the Education and Communication committees, but I am willing to learn and serve on any IDA-UMB committee.”
Jennifer Bennett, M.S., is a Licensed Psychologist who focuses her work on neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessment. At BrainWorks, her private practice, she conducts diagnostic evaluations with people ages 5 to 60 who are experiencing difficulties related to learning, attention, information processing, and cognitive development. With 20+ years of assessment experience, Jennifer’s areas of expertise include learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and nonverbal LD), attention deficit disorders (ADHD with and without hyperactivity/impulsivity, sluggish cognitive tempo), auditory processing difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurocognitive difficulties that affect thinking, learning, and communication.
