Dawn, specialist mentor, offered bespoke support throughout my PGCE training, delivering a fantastic service tailored to my individual needs, both face to face and via telephone.

Dawn took time to get to know me as an individual, including how I understand, attain and communicate information. She was a patient listener who allowed me thinking time to develop independent problem solving. When preparing for my teaching practice, we developed a Pen Profile to give to employers, including basic information about myself and specific adjustments I may need in a workplace. This made the transition into a new placement easier, and gave the employer a better understanding of myself as a trainee.

The advice Dawn gave was in response to my learning style. She helped me develop strong visualisation techniques, such as colour coded mind maps to organise ideas and thoughts. I found that visualising a glass of water which empties throughout the day was fantastic for me to manage my health and wellbeing. Whilst on placement Dawn suggested I record myself, so that I could gain another perspective in response to my deliverance. Dawn also visited me on two separate occasions, which enabled instant feedback which was valuable to my professional growth.

Since my teaching practice ended, Dawn has continued to support me with job interviews, and with her guidance and encouragement, I was able to secure a job within Education and the Public Sector. I have also collaborated with Dawn to develop material for her accredited training. This was a great reminder of how much I have grown within a short space of time, showing that with the right support and guidance a person with Asperger’s can prosper and thrive.

I have known Dawn in excess of 15 years. We were both part of a steering/working group; looking at workforce development, capacity building and best practice for SEND learners.  

I enlisted Dawn’s help in bringing Autism (ASD) training into my business (tpm), I felt it was critical to ensure that as a Government Approved Apprenticeship training provider, that our staff were well skilled to ensure that the work we had done on equality and diversity did not fail due to lack of specialist skills. Dawn was remarkable in her encouragement and support for tpm; she enabled us to take a whole organisation approach to ASD awareness and inclusion. And thus it has remained since.

The training that Dawn facilitated for us was so effective that we built a trusting relationship with Dawn and we piloted a transition programme for Special School pupils. This further embedded and reinforced the training she had delivered for us. We continued and also provided a University Student with an internship for work experience. This process was invaluable and allowed us to confidently employ a young man with Aspergers and support him through intermediate and advance apprenticeship; we were all very proud of him; our inclusion and of Dawn for the unending support, guidance and determination she gave us.

In more recent years, as the Chair of the Liverpool Dyslexia Foundation, I have witnessed Dawn’s skill set, experience and knowledge grow. She is an effective coach, mentor and facilitator to school, FE and HE students as well as an accomplished consultant and coach to businesses of all descriptions from micro SMEs to large Corporates.

If you are reading this because you have the chance to work or collaborate with Dawn in one of her accomplished capacities; then I could not recommend her more highly. Dawn is a rare individual whose skills, knowledge and experience are outweighed only by her love, passion and unswerving capacity to believe in her clients. I feel privileged to know Dawn and I cherish every opportunity to work with her.

Course at Salford University – Tools and strategies to support children and young people with an Autism Spectrum Condition in small groups and 1:1 sessions

Thanks Dawn – I really enjoyed it, and have already been thinking about it in school when I’ve been working with young people on the autism spectrum.

Thank you.

Course at Salford University – Tools and strategies to support children and young people with an Autism Spectrum Condition in small groups and 1:1 sessions

Thank you so much, Dawn, for an amazing session, it was truly inspirational…. I felt that I could really relate to your approach, especially as a mother. When I discovered my kids strengths and helped to enhance them, my life became immeasurably easier as it was no longer a battle.

Warmest regards.

I first met Dawn when my son was 4 and a half and had just had a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. He was just starting primary school and his early diagnosis and his constant support from Dawn from that day on, wherever and whenever needed, have played a huge part in creating the happy and confident 23 year old he is today. Throughout primary and secondary school she would regularly arrange visits with my son to check that nothing was troubling him and he looked forward to these visits as he had complete trust in her and so would let her know if anything was bothering him. Dawn arranged training sessions at school to provide both staff and other pupils with more information on autism and what they could do to help him and others in similar situations. Added to that, she was always there for our family and if we had any concerns I could ring her at any time and she would always speak to me. She, in turn, would contact me immediately if she felt there was anything I should know about and we met face to face regularly for general discussion. The transition to secondary school, which is always a very difficult time for someone on the autistic spectrum, was completed more or less effortlessly because Dawn had prepared both my son and the school so well.

Towards the end of his secondary school education Dawn managed to procure a placement for 2 weeks work experience with an employer who was autism-friendly. Once again she prepared him well for this and went into the workplace to provide training for the staff. The result was that my son really enjoyed the experience, one which in different circumstances could have been very traumatic for him. At the end of his time in school she arranged for him to work with this same employer and he stayed there for 2 years gaining valuable work and life experience. Throughout this time she would make a regular visit to check that everything was going well. I do believe that he would have been a very different person had he not had Dawn’s support throughout those early years and, as his mother, I am indebted to her for the support she gave me too.

Our daughter was in her mid teens and had been struck very low due to stress and a perfect storm of anxiety causing factors in her life at that time. Dawn connected with her immediately, calmed her down and over a period of months helped her unpick the reasons why she felt the way she did and gave her strategies to cope.

Dawn is a very warm and friendly person who enabled our daughter to relax, offload and be receptive to advice within weeks of mentoring and guidance. It was a tough time for the whole family but she was a great support and we trusted her implicitly. Our daughter is now a confident young woman who has gone on to be successful in her life but every now and again, in times of stress, still uses the tools Dawn gave her to help her through. I couldn’t thank her enough for what she did or recommend Dawn more highly.

Course at Salford University – Tools and strategies to support children and young people with an Autism Spectrum Condition in small groups and 1:1 sessions

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you again for the quality of your session. It was extremely useful to me and was a great addition to my Masters programme.

Thanks and regards.