The champions of dyslexia

Bernadette McLean: Principal,
BA MA DipEd DipRSA(SpLD), NLP Mast.Pract Cert (ANLP), BA (Hons)

Bernadette McLean has a BA Honours Degree in English and a Masters Degree in Medieval Language and Literature as well as a Diploma in Education.

She taught English at secondary level for six years. Since 1983 she has assessed and taught dyslexics at primary, secondary and adult level in both state and independent schools. She was awarded the RSA Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties (Distinction) and is a tutor on the OCR Courses run by HADC. In 1987 she was appointed Principal of Frensham Tuition and became Assistant Director in 1991. She has trained in Instrumental Enrichment, is qualified as a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner and is involved in In-Service and Study Skills Courses in primary, secondary, further and higher education.

In January 1994 she set up the Dyslexia Support Unit at the Roehampton Institute, (now University of Surrey at Roehampton), and acted as the Co-ordinator for the next four years.

Through the 90’s she continued as Head of Courses to develop Professional Courses at The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre. She serves as an External Verifier for OCR (the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examination Board) and is a member of the British Dyslexia Accreditation Board. She regularly contributes to regional, national and international Conferences. She is co-author of The Helen Arkell Spelling Test and the Adult Computerised Self Assessment.

In September 2000 she was appointed Academic Director of HADC and she became the Principal of the Centre in 2006.

Recently, she has served on the DfES working party, reviewing assessment of dyslexic students in Higher Education, contributed to a Dyslexia project for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and co-authored two books for the new Target Series for Teachers, published by Barrington Stoke. She serves as a member of SASC the national Committee which promotes standards in assessment of Dyslexia and is a founder member of the Dyslexia Trust.

Caroline Bark: Tutor,
B.Sc (Hons) Pyschology, P.G.C.E., OCR Dip SpLD

Caroline works part time for the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre as a Tutor on the Diploma Course. She has also delivered courses on our Summer School programme. She has an Honours degree in Pyschology from University College London and qualified as a teacher in 1996. Caroline has worked in several primary schools where she has held a range of managerial posts including that of SENCo.

Caroline now works as a specialist teacher, assessing and supporting learners across the age range. She is involved in delivering in-service courses and is a tutor on the OCR Diploma course.

Peter Brooks: Educational Psychologist,
M.Sc. P.G.C.E. C.Psychol. A.F.B.Ps.S.

Peter Brooks is a Educational Psychologist and is recognised as a Chartered Psychologist and Member of the Division of Child and Educational Psychology of the British Psychological Society. He is a member of the Association of Educational Psychologists. He has B.Sc. (Honours) Degrees from Surrey University and BirkbeckCollege, London, a P.G.C.E. (training in teaching) from BrunelUniversity, and an M.Sc. in Psychology of Education from the Instituteof Education, London, which includes professional and clinical training.

He has worked as an Educational Psychologist for fifteen years in a local education authority. This has involved responsibility for all children within an area and work within most sectors of special education including dyslexia/specific learning difficulties, moderate and severe learning difficulties, sensory and physical handicaps, and emotional and behaviour difficulties He has worked fully independently since 1992.

Peter has lectured to many groups including London, Surrey andSouthampton Universities and international conferences.

He has a particular interest in dyslexia and has undertaken research with Professor M Snowling on teaching strategies and severe dyslexics. He managed a research project at the Centre into teaching spelling to 6 to 7 year old children who were at risk of literacy failure. This major project completed in 1998 and was funded through the Department for Education and Employment. Current research is based at the University of Surrey with John Everatt and includes ongoing work in literacy and mathematics, and related learning.

Julie Button: Senior Tutor/Independent Specialist Teacher,
B.Ed., Cert Ed., OCR Diploma SpLD., SpLDAPC

Julie specialises in literacy and numeracy assessment and tuition. She teaches all age ranges from primary to adult level as a freelance consultant and has been associated with the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre since 2000.

Julie runs her own thriving independent literacy assessment and screening consultancy and manages the OCR level 7 diploma course in SpLD for the Centre. As an affiliated professional working for HADC Julie delivers in-service training in schools and colleges and presents workshops at conferences.

During her 28 years in teaching, 15 of these have been directly involved in special needs provision as a specialist teacher and SENCO. Julie has continued to update her qualifications and expertise; most recently training to be an accredited study needs assessor in higher education and gaining the practising certificate in assessment.

Marlene Caplan: Course Tutor, Specialist Teacher,
B.A. (Hons), Ph.D. (Psych), OCR Dip SpLD

Marlene is a tutor on both the Diploma and Certificate Level Courses at HADC. She holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in Child Psychology in addition to the OCR Diploma in Assessing and Teaching Learners with SpLD.

Her background includes work on preventive mental health initiatives to improve the social adjustment and academic performance of at-risk children. She held appointments in the Psychology Department atYale University in the US as well as the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education in the UK. She has published several articles pertaining to her work in child development and educational interventions.

Marlene teaches both primary and secondary learners and carries out Specialist Teacher Assessments for the Centre.

Kathy Contaris: Educational Psychologist,
BA (Hons), PGCE, M Ed, MSc, C Psychol.

Kathy has an Honours Degree in Languages from (now) Anglia University, a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from the University of Lancaster, a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Bristol and a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Exeter.

Kathy was a teacher for 14 years, retraining as an Educational Psychologist in 1996. More recently she worked for several years with young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties in a Child and Family Support Centre in Bristol and more latterly was Head of Learning Support at a Somerset comprehensive school. On qualifying as an Educational Psychologist, Kathy worked for the Somerset Psychological Service, where she was the Psychologist seconded to the Youth Offending Team also working as a generic Educational Psychologist in a wide range of county mainstream and special schools.

Kathy is experienced in providing in-service training in a wide range of issues to teachers, youth workers and other professionals. She is Co-Director of Procounsel, a Human Relations Consultancy and Training service, specialising in delivering training to schools and services working with children and young people. Kathy also has her own private practice as a Chartered Educational Psychologist.

Joanna Currie: Chartered Educational Psychologist,
BA (Hons), PGCE, MA(Cantab), MSc, C Psychol

Joanna has an Honours Degree in Natural Sciences/Psychology from the University of Cambridge, a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from the University of Cambridge, and a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from the University College London. Joanna taught in Bristol and Cambridge prior to training as an Educational Psychologist. Joanna has worked as an Educational Psychologist for seventeen years within two local education authorities. This involves work in most sectors of special education including dyslexia, dyspraxia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, speech difficulties, social/communication difficulties and emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Joanna also does group work and delivers parenting courses and in-service training.

Joanna has a particular interest in motivation and how children learn key skills like literacy and numeracy. She does a lot of work with schools and pupils around boosting self-esteem and confidence in conjunction advice on curriclum differentiation and suggestions for curriculum delivery.

Joanna also has her own private practice as a Chartered Educational Psychologist.

Catherine Elsey: Occupational Therapy,
DipCOT, HPC Registered

Catherine qualified in Occupational Therapy in 1983 and has worked predominantly in neurology, specialising in paediatrics since 1997. Catherine assesses and treats children experiencing difficulties at school or at home to optimise their functional and learning potential. She is experienced with working with children with specific learning difficulties, including Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (Dyspraxia), Attention Deficit Disorder, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Integration difficulty. She also has extensive experience in the identification and treatment of handwriting difficulties.

Belinda Medhurst Chartered Educational Psychologist

Belinda Medhurst is a Chartered Educational Psychologist (BSc, PGCE, MEd ,CPsychol) and is a member of the Division of Education and Child Psychology (British Psychological Society). Belinda qualified as a Psychologist in 1991 and as a teacher in 1993. She then taught Psychology for 3 years to A’ level students in Worcester 6th Form College before qualifying as an Educational Psychologist in 1997 at Exeter University.

Belinda has worked as an Educational Psychologist for local authorities since qualifying, including 8 years for Hampshire County Council. During this time she occupied the role as Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist for Autism and Language Impairment. This role has involved the setting up of specialist units of provision for Autistic Spectrum Disordered youngsters, together with the development and coordination of county wide support programs such as TOP (Thomas Outreach Project – TOP) and SLIP (Secondary Language Impairment Project).

Belinda has work published in professional journals and has completed her first book ‘The Communication Toolkit’ as a practical resource for children between the ages of 9-16. With a strong background in all areas of developmental psychology Belinda has interests in behaviour with much experience in supporting both individuals and groups. Throughout her work over the past 10 years she has extensive experience for assessment and support of both general and specific learning difficulties, literacy and numeracy. In particular, she has worked closely with mainstream and special schools using a variety of interventions to support youngsters with Dyslexia, such as individual 1:1 work, small group and whole in-class support.

Jasmine Murray: Chartered Educational Psychologist,
MSc (Ed. Psych), MA. Ed., B.Ed (Hons), Dip.Ed., Dip.Psy, C. Psychol

Jasmine Murray is a Chartered Educational Psychologist whose professional life began as a Teacher of Deaf Children. She gained a Bachelor of Education (Hons) degree in Multiple Handicapping Conditions from the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) and later worked as a Primary School teacher in Britain, both in Special Needs and mainstream schools. With Hearing Impairment being a particular interest, she worked in a school for deaf children in Londonand studied British Sign Language.

Jasmine later developed an interest in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning and therefore completed a Master of Arts degree in Adult Education at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology with the Open University and later studied for an MSc in Educational Psychology at University College London (UCL).

She has since worked as an Educational Psychologist in a Local Education Authority (LEA) and more recently followed her interest in Specific Learning Difficulties, working as a Chartered Educational Psychologist, associated with the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and also independently. To further her professional development, Jasmine is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Psychology at University College London.

Dr. Gilda Palti:Chartered Child and Educational Psychologist

Dr. Gilda Palti is a Chartered Child and Educational Psychologist who specialises in assessments of individuals of all ages for a range of learning difficulties. She is registered as a member of the Health Professions Council (HPC); an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPS); a Member of the Division of Child and Educational Psychology of the British Psychological Society; and holds a Certificate for Family and Child Therapy.

Her BA (with distinction) and MA degrees are in Psychology, concentrating on resilient children.

Gilda completed the Doctor of Education Degree at the University of Bristol in 1988. Her research focused on the social and emotional aspects of dyslexia.

Her practical work includes individual therapy, consultancy and psychological assessments in schools in the UK and abroad. She worked as a Locum Psychologist at the Child and Adolescent Services (NHS Trust).

Gilda is also a member of the Professional Advisory Board of Ginger Software, a contextual spell and grammar checker designed specifically for dyslexic individuals.

Research Experience

• "A study of the Socio-Emotional Aspect of Educationally Resilient Dyslexic Pupils”
• “Personality and Social Portrait of the Invulnerable Child”

Publications

• Milgram N.A. and Palti G. (1993): “Psychosocial Characteristics of Resilient Children” Journal of Research in Personality, Volume 27, Issues 3, pp. 207-221 (1993).
• Palti G. (2001): "Social and Emotional Aspects of Dyslexia" The Dyslexia Handbook 2002.
• Palti G. (2002): “Reviews on socio-emotive aspects of Dyslexia” Perspective Journal of Orton Society - The International Dyslexia Association.
• Palti G. (2002): “Dyslexia and Resilience” The Dyslexia Handbook 2003
• Palti G. (2003): “Dyslexia in Adults and Career Opportunities”. Perspective Journal of Orton Society - The International Dyslexia Association.

Veronica Patterson: Educational Psychologist,
MSc(Ed Psych) Dip.Psych, Dip.RSA(SpLD) BEd, AMBDA, C Psychol.

Veronica Patterson is a chartered educational psychologist who is also qualified in teaching dyslexic learners of all ages. Veronica has worked as an independent consulting psychologist for the centre, and privately, for several years. She meets with children, teenagers, students and adults to consult on their concerns, which are causing barriers to learning or studying. She has a master’s degree in educational psychology. Previously as a local education authority educational psychologist, Veronica worked in Surrey, Swindon and Bournemouth.

Veronica also has many years’ experience in teaching pupils with specific learning difficulties of all ages, as well as mainstream teaching experience. She has held posts as department and pastoral head in secondary schools. She has run accredited courses in specific learning difficulties (dyslexia) and in language and communication, for teachers and teaching assistants to work at primary, secondary and adult level.

Veronica is especially aware of the need to identify specific learning difficulties at an early stage and provide appropriate support. She has worked with parents and given multidisciplinary training in language and literacy to early years practitioners and workers from education, heath and social services, with the express intention of ensuring early intervention and forestalling later problems. She has a special interest in the link between language and literacy.

Jeanne Reilly: Independent Speech and Language Therapist,
DipCST, Reg MRCSLT, Cert Ad Ed

Jeanne Reilly works part time for the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre. She is a tutor and lecturer on courses run by the centre as well as carrying out speech and language assessments and specialist teachers’ assessments.

She qualified as a speech therapist from the Elizabeth Gaskell College in Manchester in 1974. She gained her Teaching Certificate in 1989 while working part time for the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).

Jeanne’s main interest is children under five and primary age children who have speech, language and literacy difficulties. She has gained her experience at Fairley House School in London, the Nuffield Hearing and Speech Centre in London and Moore House School in Oxted. In 1986-7 she took a year off to undertake a lecturing tour of Australia.

She writes professional articles and books, and talks at conferences to teachers, and to parent groups. She has an interest in children’s books and is language advisor to the publishing company Barrington Stoke.

Julia Rowlandson:Tutor,
BA Hons English, Primary PGCE, Dip.RSA(SpLD), AMBDA

Julia is an Educational Consultant specialising in SpLD. She was Education Director of Barrington Stoke Publishers, having previously been their Education Editor, publishing resources for children with SpLD and CPD material for teachers

Previously, Julia was Deputy Head of More House School, Frensham, a school for boys aged 9-18 years with specific learning difficulties [dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger syndrome and speech and language processing problems].

Julia has experience in Neuro-linguistic Programming, Instrumental Enrichment, Neuro-developmental delay, ARROW and Phono-Graphix. She lectures widely on “Motivating Reluctant Readers”, “The Presentation of Written Materials” and has been part of the CPD team for the new Science Learning Centres. Julia also reviews SEN books and writes articles for various publications

Sue Stathers:Specialist Teacher,
BA RSA Dip SpLD

Susan Stathers has been associated with Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre since 1980.

She completed a degree in Psychology from Leicester University in 1963 and lived overseas for several years with her husband. On her return she taught in many local schools both at primary and secondary level. For ten years she was in charge of Special Needs in a local preparatory school.

She completed the OCR Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties in 1995 and became a tutor at HADC, tutoring mainly on the OCR Courses at Certificate and Diploma level, but was also been involved in Clansa, the training course for classroom assistants. She has run several summer schools for HADC for children between the ages of 8 –12. She currently does Teacher’s assessments.

Whilst living in the Middle East she was a governor of the Community School in Abu Dhabi and the Sultan’s School in Muscat, Oman. She has been a governor at Woolmer Hill Technology College in Haslemere for twelve years and Chairman for the last five.

She has been Project Manager for the USA and Costa Rica for GAP Activity Projects, a year-out provider for 18 year olds, and is currently Project manager for the UK South region concerned with volunteers coming to the UK from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Germany etc.

Rosemary Strong :Speech & Language Therapist,
LCST, MRCSLT(BUPA registered)

Rosemary Strong has worked as a Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist in Germany and the UK. She has worked with pre-schoolers, children of primary and secondary age, in mainstream and special schools. She has a special interest in children who fail to thrive or feel alienated from their school environment and may be at risk of developing emotional, social and/or behavioural difficulties.

Until recently she worked in a special school for secondary aged girls who were vulnerable and/or had failed to thrive in a mainstream environment. She currently works in a school for boys with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and also a school for children with moderate and/or complex difficulties.

In partnership with a Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre teacher, Rosemary leads children’s social/friendship skills courses at the Centre. She both assesses and provides therapy for individual students at her home.

Yvonne Whitestone:Head of Education, Senior Tutor/Specialist Teacher,
Dip RSA

Yvonne Whitestone is Head of Education at the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre. Her roles include managing the tuition department, tutoring on the OCR teacher training courses, presenting In-service sessions in schools, colleges and local dyslexia associations. She provides continual professional development for specialist teachers.

Yvonne has run touch typing classes for all ages and has also presented several workshops at conferences across the country. She carries out specialist tuition and designs individualised resources to support dyslexic learners. She has been looking at the development of the Inclusion Development Programme (IDP) materials and promoting the use of the accompanying materials in schools.

Yvonne worked supporting learners with specific learning difficulties in primary school before studying for the RSA Diploma in Teaching Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties. She has worked for the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre since 1993 and has taught dyslexic learners at primary, secondary and adult level. She has been involved in a project in conjunction with Xtraordinary People, assessing and teaching young dyslexics in an Inner London school. She has recently run a project in a local school, teaching dyslexic learners and training classroom assistants to support dyslexic learners more effectively. This work includes research into the efficacy of ICT for children with severe SpLDs.

She has helped to design the current course for classroom assistants at Level 3 and has also designed a module for training in the UK and overseas.

Beverley Williams:Head of Training,
OCR Diploma in SpLD

Beverley Williams is Head of Training at the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre. Her roles include managing professional training courses, tutoring on the OCR teacher training courses, presenting In-service sessions in schools, colleges and local dyslexia associations. She also carries out specialist tuition, literacy/numeracy specialist assessments and professional consultations. Beverley has worked for the Helen Arkell Centre since 1998.

Beverley has presented workshops at conferences across the country and supported learners with specific learning difficulties at primary, secondary and adult level and has a particular interest in dyscalculia and how other SpLDs impact upon mathematical skills.

Beverley manages the Helen Arkell Specialist Assessors (HASA) service and ensures quality control of the reports. She also provides continuing professional development for the HASAs.

She has helped to design the current course for primary classroom assistants at Level 3 and has designed a Level 3 module for training in the UK and overseas. She is currently helping to write a course for teaching assistants in further education, and managing a research project at a local secondary school.