Dr Katherine Hewlett – Vice Chair MBE
Dr Katherine Hewlett, a Trustee of the WFDA since 2012, is an expert in the field of neurodivergence and lives in Waltham Forest. The WFDA does important work in East London providing support, knowledge and skills for those who might be dyslexic or neurodivergent. It is for this reason Katherine became a Trustee.
Katherine has developed the adult services and specifically the monthly Adult Meetups for adults. She has gained funding from the National Lottery Fund to set up the Advocate programme. She now directs the Neurodivergent Advocate Leadership Programme. Where possible Katherine provides advice and guidance to neurodivergent adults on request.
Her skills are in the areas of development work, training and research; both at strategic and operation levels. She has lectured in a range of HE/FE institutions and has managed local, regional and national projects that improve access to better opportunities for Neurodivergent adults in education, training and employment.
She is accredited by the Dyslexia Guild for work in FE and HE. She initially trained in the visual arts at the Royal College of Art and still teaches glass design alongside providing study skills work for neurodivergent postgraduate and doctoral students in a range of London Universities.
Katherine is the founder and CEO of the AchieveAbility charity for Neurodivergence and dyslexia. AchieveAbility was responsible for leading on the recent Westminster AchieveAbility Commission (WAC), resulting in the report ‘ Neurodiverse Voices:opening doors to employment’ (2018).
John McMenemy – Secretary to the WFDA
I became a Trustee for the WFDA in 2017. My twin daughters had been attending WFDA classes for literacy and numeracy, and I was becoming increasingly aware of the difficulties faced by neurodivergent children within the education system. I realised the value of the WFDA and wanted to help in whatever way I could. I have organised funding events in the past, and I am currently the secretary.
Reverend Carol Newnham
Designated Safeguarding Officer at the WFDA. Carol is Rector of Therfield with Kelshall. Carol is passionate about supporting others in their life journey.
Eleanor Pearce – Treasurer
Since 2002 Eleanor has held the Hornsby Diploma SpLD. As well as being the Treasurer for WFDA, she is one of WFDA’s screeners for dyslexia for children from 5 – 16 years. Eleanor has a background working with children from 0 -16 as she has been heavily involved in her church for many years in this capacity and has worked in a local state primary school as a Literacy support teacher from 2004 – 2008. She is also a Dyslexia Specialist teacher and currently works at Sheila Ferrari Dyslexia Centre (formerly Avon House) and at home, working with children, mostly primary, but up to 16.
Katherine Marshall – Trustee
Katherine Marshall qualified as a secondary science teacher, working in London and Hong Kong. She also worked for the University of Papua New Guinea Teacher Training College, where she developed and taught an Advanced Diploma course for science teachers. Returning to England she worked as science advisor for the Waltham Forest Multicultural Support Services and gained a master’s degree in Education. Her two dyslexic children gave her a strong interest in dyslexia, with a deep sense of the value of dyslexic persons and the problems they face. She studied for the OCR Diploma in the Teaching of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties, which also qualifies for dyslexia assessment. She is a member of PATOSS, the professional association for teachers and assessors of dyslexia.
Though retired, she continues to work part-time as a freelance education consultant. She joined WFDA when it was formed in 1989 and was chair from 1999 to 2009.
Sadia Mirza – Trustee
I am a new trustee for WFDA. I have supported them for the past 5 years through attending their monthly Adults Meet-up and fundraising for them (I did a 10k run to raise the money). I believe in everyone being given an equal chance in reaching their full potential, and thus organisations like the WFDA are vital, where neurodiversity is understood, and essential services are provided for people who may have/have dyslexia.
I have taken lead on revamping the WFDA Instagram Page, as Social Media is a powerful tool and one that needs to be utilised to the fullest extent. I consider creativity to be one of my strengths, and already have a vision for the page!