“At the Centre we approach dyslexia in a holistic way - helping the person as a whole and not just some of the 'educational' aspects they may want to improve upon - this is very different to other learning environments and it works well. Nothing has enriched my life nor my professional practice as much as the people I work with. It is a privilege to be involved in this work.”
Debbie Farnfield, co-founder, former manager
What do we do?
The Adult Dyslexia Centre is a charity that has been supporting dyslexic adults in the Thames Valley since 2003 from its base in Maidenhead, Berkshire. We support dyslexic adults by advising, developing skills and confidence and thus connecting them to further opportunities. We support over 300 people each year.
What makes us different?
We provide services to adults at low or subsidised cost so that lack of funds is not a barrier to accessing our services. The people we support are often unemployed, on low income or have missed out on education, so we aim to give them the skills and confidence to find better opportunities at work and in education.
We are a charity and a social enterprise and all our income from our commercial services (assessments, courses, awareness training) is used to help fund our primary purpose: to support adults disadvantaged by dyslexia.
We offer dyslexic adults:
Information about dyslexia - this includes dyslexia screening and an initial information session
An understanding of their dyslexia
Improved confidence
Improved literacy and IT skills
The centre also provides:
Assessments for children as well as adults
Dyslexia Awareness Training and consultancy services for employers and organisations
Who we are...
The Adult Dyslexia Centre is a charity that was opened in September 2003 by Debbie Farnfield, a tutor of adults with dyslexia, and Sue Penton-Voak, active in the local One to One club which her daughter attended. They both felt that there was very little support for adults with dyslexia and so the aim of the centre has always been to boost confidence, develop skills and improve the individual’s understanding of their dyslexia.
The Centre’s staff members are a dedicated team of professional tutors and assessors, supported by the board of trustees and a team of volunteers.
Founders of the Charity
Debbie
Farnfield
Sue
Penton-Voak
Trustees
Our Trustees are Brian Little (Chair), Tracy Calleran, Andy Collins, Sue Penton-Voak, Sheila Kiss, Chris Gostick and Emily Gow.
Assessors & Tutors
Jeanette Benbow
Jeanette has a background in HR and has been working with adults with specific learning needs since 1998.
She is particularly interested in how Assistive Technology can be used to support clients in the workplace, when studying and during leisure time.
Christine Clarkson
Christine has worked as both a specialist tutor and assessor in colleges and universities. She has completed additional training relating to assessment for the workplace, assessing students with complex linguistic backgrounds and assessing for dyspraxia, ADHD and dyscalculia, and dyslexia. She holds an Assessment Practising Certificate and a Teaching Practising Certificate.
Debbie Sweetman
Debbie is an assessor of dyslexia and specialist teacher, working with adults and children. She holds a current Practising Certificate accredited to PATOSS.
Clare Donovan
Clare is a qualified teacher who has taught English GCSE and Literacy in Further Education. She has the OCR level 5 and level 7 qualifications in SpLd and holds a current Assessment Practicing certificate (APC) from SASC and is a member of PATOSS. She has a particular interest in dyspraxia and supports university students as a 1:1 tutor.
Christine Smith
Following a career as an opera singer, Chris decided on a change of direction and trained to become a Specialist Teacher to diagnose, assess and teach students with Dyslexia. She gained a Post-Graduate degree at Westminster University. Chris is committed to building awareness of dyslexia and delivers dyslexia awareness talks to organisations on behalf of the Centre. For the past eleven years has been part of the team at Royal Holloway University teaching undergraduates, masters and PHD students.
Judith Campbell
A long-time member of ADC and presenter on our courses, including the popular course “Understanding Dyslexia” for parents of dyslexic children.
“Amazing staff make your centre what it is. Recommend to all.”