Mission and Vision

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The International Dyslexia Association’s Mission and Vision

Work Completed by the Virginia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (VBIDA)

MISSION

“To create a future for all individuals who struggle with dyslexia and other related reading differences so that they may have richer, more robust lives, and access the tools and resources they need.”

VISION

The New Sharpened Vision, identified by the IDA board is to have Structured Literacy in every classroom everywhere and around the world by focusing on the following 5 items:

  1.  Expand the use of Structured Literacy strategies globally.

VBIDA hosts annual conferences that focus on the topic of providing structured literacy aligned instruction to all students. VBIDA collaborates with like-minded organizations annually to provide free professional development on instructional techniques that align with structured literacy. Finally, in 2025, VBIDA hosted five regional meetings across the Commonwealth specifically to inform the public of the characteristics of structured literacy with information modeled from the 75th Edition of the Perspectives Journal.

  1. Promote IDA’s KPS as the Gold Standard for Structured Literacy.

All professional development provided by VBIDA must align with the IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards. All teacher scholarship requests for professional development or classroom materials must align with the IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards. All student scholarship requests for funds to support tuition will only be to support schools that align their work with the IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards. All student scholarship requests for tutoring reimbursement must be from providers that align their work the IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards.

  1. Promote IDA’s KPEERI Exam as the gold standard to measure educator’s knowledge of the principles and practices of SL (according to KPS).

At all events, VBIDA speaks about the KPEERI Exam and provides the link to learn more information about the exam – https://effectivereading.org/kpeeri-exam-disabled/.

  1. Expand our Accreditation Program to endorse universities and independent programs to produce qualified teachers that will change how reading is taught in the public schools.

VBIDA works with interested colleges and universities within Virginia who wish to explore accreditation. Currently, Virginia legislation promotes a self-audit method for aligning their reading work with the Virginia Literacy Act. The IDA Accreditation would assure potential students that their work with that college or university would provide reading curricula that aligned with the IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards but also with the principles of structured literacy and the science of reading.

  1. Place focus on Pre-Service teachers and their respective universities as the best way to inject SL into public schools.

VBIDA has made a concerted effort to provide professional development and access to professional development opportunities for pre-service educators. With our current September 27th conference, board members are supporting free access to our conference for no charge and are working with the Ruth Harris Foundation to identify pre-service educators interested in this opportunity.