When comparing o,m,p-toluidine basicities, the ortho effect is believed to explain why o-toluidine is weaker. But when comparing o,m,p-toluic acid basicities, the ortho effect is stated as a reason why o-toluic acid is stronger acid. I was told that the ortho effect is a phenomenon in which an ortho- group causes steric hindrance, forcing the $\ce{-COOH}$, $\ce{-NH2}$ or some other bulky group to move out of the plane, inhibiting resonance. Then, if the ortho effect inhibits resonance, why is o-toluic acid the strongest and o-toluidine the weakest?
Where am I going wrong in my understanding of the ortho effect?