Meet the Volunteers
Dyslexia Cornwall would not exist without volunteers. Our volunteers bring a wealth of skills that allows us to do more for people with dyslexia and their families.
The volunteers are a vital link in raising awareness of our work and helps us to develop strong links with communities across the county.
Stephanie Simpson
I have been volunteering for the Dyslexia Cornwall for many years. I specialise in providing advice and guidance to parents, screenings for children and reading and spelling strategies for individuals or groups.
I have a great depth of knowledge of dyslexia and dyspraxia developed through my specialist training, including a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Education. I have also attained OCR Level 5 and Level 7 in Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties.
I live in Falmouth and can see clients at the centre or locally if preferred.
Jo Cornes
Jo is a fully qualified and experienced dyslexia tutor and assessor – with a specialism in teaching and assessing children in the primary and secondary settings (7-16); including literacy support and early identification in the younger years.
Jo worked for the Miles Dyslexia Centre in North Wales (close to the Snowdonia National Park) for 8 years working as a dyslexia tutor, founder of the Leap into Literacy Club and undertaking dyslexia research into bilingual literacy interventions. During this time, Jo also worked in the Student Support Services within the higher education sector providing specialist advice to students with dyslexia and co-occurring Specific Learning Difficulties.
More recently, Jo has continued working with adults in the Further Education/Higher Education sector, providing specialist study skills support and focusing on her diagnostic dyslexia assessments. Jo loves working with adults and children alike and particularly enjoys the rewarding nature of supporting learners in reaching their academic goals and in fully realising their immense potential.
Louise Conway
I decided to become a volunteer with Dyslexia Cornwall to try to help those who have Dyslexia. I’m not dyslexic, but I have learned a lot about the subject as my husband and children are.
My experience is relevant to primary school aged children. I’ve advised my children’s school with their whole school approach to teaching dyslexic pupils to promote inclusion, understanding and tackle and stigma kids might be feeling.
I feel privileged to be a very small part of such a talented, dedicated team of specialists with such a huge wealth of experience and knowledge.
Nancy Thompson
Nancy has over 20 years’ experience of teaching students with dyslexia from primary age right up to higher education level, both privately as well as within Further Education/Higher Education college and primary school settings. She also has a breadth of experience in working with adults with dyslexia, specifically as part of literacy training in the employment office for job seekers
Rachel Tomlinson
Having worked as a secondary school teacher mainly working with both G.C.S.E and ‘A’ Level students, I moved to Cornwall and worked as Cover Teacher in a local secondary school. It was during this time that I encountered many children struggling to access the curriculum.
I completed my OCR Level 5 and Level 7 in Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties. This gave me a greater insight and understanding of specific learning difficulties and enabled me to support students both in their studies and assessing them to ensure that they receive the correct support in school/university for DSA/workplace.
I have worked with Dyslexia Cornwall as a helpline advisor for several years and feel that my knowledge and insight has enabled people to gain a better understanding of their difficulties and realise their strengths. I am currently working as an Assessor with an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC).
Sue Mendham
Since moving to Cornwall in 1999 I have been involved in developing a wide range of person-centred projects which have focused on engaging, supporting and helping individuals to progress on a personal, vocational and professional level. Volunteering with Dyslexia Cornwall I have the exciting responsibility of helping with the future sustainability of the charity. On a personal level, I am married with a daughter who has been identified as having dyslexic tendencies. It is my life ambition to enable my daughter to progress through life with a smile.
Miriam Kennedy
I have been employed in adult education for 17 years working for a London Borough, teaching literacy and numeracy and supporting dyslexic students. I started managing dyslexia support in 2006 and was responsible for teaching and supporting lecturers to identify and refer learners with specific learning difficulties and adapt to their learners’ needs and for some lecturers to give one to one support. I moved to Cornwall after being made redundant as a result of Government’s funding cuts to adult education at the end of 2015. Although I half planned to live the `good life’ I was delighted to be given the opportunity to continue working with dyslexic adults and to improve awareness of dyslexia in Cornwall as an outreach worker