Giving Back

ONBIDA is a primarily volunteer run organization serving the 1 in 10 people with dyslexia, their families, and the professionals who support them. Here is your chance to help ensure that individuals with a language learning disability have the opportunity to lead a productive and fulfilling life. Get involved today!

Interested candidates for the following positions are welcome to direct inquiries to Board President Liisa Freure at info@idaontario.com.

DIRECTOR

This volunteer position offers an interested candidate the opportunity to join the dynamic Board of Directors of this registered charitable association founded in 2004. The mission of ONBIDA is to promote literacy through research, education, and advocacy. We promote programs for the 1 in 10 people with the learning disability of dyslexia as well as their families and the professionals that support them. We believe that learning to read is a right, not a privilege.

We offer our Directors:
-The opportunity to use talents on one of our committees
-Interesting challenges and learning experiences
-Professional development training at each Board meeting
-A feeling of worth and pride in serving our mission
-The opportunity to make a difference
-The opportunity to network with both board and international members

The responsibilities of this position include:

-Attend 6-7 board meetings per year in Toronto area
-Participate in one of our branch committees
-Share ideas, talent, and specialised knowledge
-Maintain a respectful working relationship with other board members, staff and volunteers
-Maintain annual membership in IDA
-Attend new board member orientation sessions
-Attend annual conference and annual membership meeting

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

ONBIDA is looking for a volunteer Administrative Assistant to work on a casual basis from your home. Duties will include various administrative functions and special projects. The ideal volunteer will possess an enthusiastic personality and superior customer service skills. Computer experience with MS Word, Excel, e-mail and internet is a must.

This volunteer opportunity is excellent for someone who wants to fine tune their skills or someone with experience who wants to make a difference in the community. Your voluntary work will help to support the 1 in 10 people with dyslexia, their families, and the professionals that support them.

PRESENTERS

ONBIDA welcomes qualified individuals interested in presenting at our Parent Education Groups, Speaker Series and Annual Conference to submit a proposal. Please click on the appropriate form:

Parent Education Group and Speaker Series

Annual Conference

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Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Anna Bundssei at abundssei@googlemail.com if you are interested in any of the opportunities below:

SPECIAL EVENT VOLUNTEERS

These volunteer positions offer interested candidates the opportunity to support Board Members with the variety of events we run throughout the year.

Information Distribution Network – Canada-wide

Year-Round

Would you like to raise awareness in your community and let your networks know about dyslexia and language learning disabilities? If so, we can provide you with a variety of materials that you can distribute locally to let families and professionals know about early identification, where to find help and how to access information through ONBIDA. Connecting your community could change someone’s life forever.

Word on the Street Festival - Toronto

September

ONBIDA exhibits on Literacy Lane alongside other non-profits to greet festival attendees and hand out information about dyslexia and ONBIDA. This is the largest literary festival in Canada and is an extraordinary day filled with excitement. Volunteers are needed to work a minimum 2 hour shift in partnership with 1 – 2 other volunteers between 9 am and 7 pm during these times. Volunteers are required for general duties during booth set up and take down while volunteers for exhibit hours need to be comfortable discussing dyslexia and ONBIDA.

Right To Read Night - Toronto

October

Hundreds of volunteer hours go into creating this incredible event now in its 3^rd year. Positions are available for our planning committee as well as event day staff including registration desk, silent auction coordination, photographer/videographer, and various general duties.

Speaker Series - Toronto

October, February, April

There are three evenings each year, where experts in the dyslexia community come to offer an audience their valuable knowledge and practical advice. Volunteers are appreciated to help assist with various aspects of these evenings including registration desk, room bookings, and door monitors.

Annual Conference - Toronto

Spring

ONBIDA is now in its 8^th year of planning a conference that will enhance our understanding of dyslexia and the best teaching practices for individuals with dyslexia. We welcome your participation, large or small; in the planning stages and/or on the day of the conference. Planning positions include programming, venue coordination and marketing while event day volunteers can choose from door monitors, registration desk, lunch assistance. Some positions available are suitable for students to earn high school credit.

Parent Education Groups – Kingston, Richmond Hill, Toronto

September – June

Meetings will be held approximately 6 times during the school year on a weeknight evening from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. See “Parent Groups” in the Event Calendar at www.idaontario.com for a listing of current meetings and descriptions. Volunteers are needed to act as the Parent Group Liaison (either alone or together with another volunteer) as well as support roles. Duties include attendance at meetings to organize setup and refreshments, greet parents, introduce speaker, and relay feedback to ONBIDA after the meeting. ONBIDA will provide speakers, registration, marketing and volunteer support at events. Your role with the Parent Education Group will help connect families to information and people that will shape their experience as they navigate through the process of raising a child with dyslexia.