Who we are and what we do?

ADD-vance is a constituted voluntary organisation set up in Hertfordshire in 1996 to support and empower adults, children and families with Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related conditions in Hertfordshire.

Both these disorders make it difficult for children to succeed in school because of the resulting anxiety and behaviour difficulties. Parents often struggle with the challenging behaviour at home and can find that usual discipline methods are ineffective. Bad parenting does not cause these conditions but all too often it is the parent who feels blamed. This can leave parents feeling demoralised, isolated and unheard.

This is where we come in:

• At ADD-vance we listen.
• At ADD-vance we are non-judgmental.
• At ADD-vance we give strategies, support and information.
• At ADD-vance we provide a confidential, safe and friendly atmosphere where parents can speak freely (often for the first time) about their child/family issues.
• At ADD-vance we give space for emotions.

Our Team

• 
  Anne Ross
  Project Director MBPsS
  Behavioural Psychologist, Specialist Autism/ADHD Behavioural Coach & Trainer

  I started ADD-vance in 1996 to help me cope with Autism & ADHD issues in my own family. I have since worked for many years as a specialist coach of families and adults who are dealing with all aspects of living with Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I have been training front-line workers in health, education and social care and other statuary services, as well as running specialist parenting courses and workshops for the past 5 years.
  My personal experiences of living with Autism & ADHD have had a significant effect on my involvement in this disability area and I am proud to have enabled many people to make positive differences to their lives and the lives of others; focusing on potential rather than past performance and working towards achieving desired goals.

• 
  Pamela Reitemeier
  Training Manager, BA(Hons), PgC (Autism)

  I have been active, in support of people with autism and their families, for over a decade and recently been appointed as the ADD-vance Training Manager. For the past 5 years, I have been working as Training Consultant, raising awareness about Autism and Asperger Syndrome, amongst front-line workers in health, education and social care. I have successfully managed an intensive, early autism behavioural programme (Applied Behaviour Analysis) for over five years and have studied autism at the University of Birmingham. I also work in a voluntary capacity both nationally (with the National Autistic Society) and locally (with the harc, the NAS Branch and AAA, a consortium of parent support groups). Prior to this, I spent aver a decade working for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Chad (West Africa), in Bangladesh and in the UK (communication and training).

• 
  Cathy May MA (Autism Spectrum)
  Specialist Autism/ADHD Behavioural Coach

  I have been a Specialist Coach for Add-vance since 2009. I have worked in a school for children with special needs, supporting them and their parents, and have completed many courses including Counselling, Behaviour and Crisis Intervention and Mediation. I work as a volunteer for harc (Hertfordshire branch of the National Autistic Society) and currently run their helpline. I have had many years experience dealing with the challenges facing the parents and carers of children with Autism, ADHD and related conditions. As a parent myself of children with these issues, I know that the journey for these families can be difficult. My aim is to offer support to those who need it, helping them to move forward, gain confidence and develop strategies to enable them to improve their lives.

• 
  Helen Fairless
  Autism/ADHD Specialist Coach
  NLP Practitioner, Parent Course Facilitator/Trainer

  My name is Helen Fairless and I am a single mum of a child who has a diagnosis of ADHD and Asperger Syndrome. After giving birth to my adorable son, 13 years ago, my life changed beyond all recognition.
  My own challenges and experiences, motivated me to re-train in Early Years Education, supporting children on the Spectrum and then, four years ago, as a Specialist Behavioural Coach.
  Since that time, I have been privileged to work with families, struggling with the difficulties surrounding ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Conditions. Helping them to focus on their strengths, regain full use of their resources and potential and achieve their goals.

• 
  Debbie Savage
  Autism/ADHD Specialist Coach

  Since leaving College I have been working in the field of learning / behavioural difficulties / and additional needs for the past 25 years, both in residential settings / day services / in schools and pre schools both with young children, teenagers and adults.
  I have always been very passionate about ensuring all have equality of opportunity .This became even closer to home when I went on to have 3 boys now aged 10, 15, and 18 all who have their own additional needs in varying degrees. These include Asperger Syndrome, ADD, OCD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and dyscalculia.
  We too have found things difficult at times and I became involved with ADD-vance. This was fantastic for our family. I then decided to train as a specialist coach and am now able to help others who are experiencing difficulties and challenges in their lives.

• 
  Russell Hedger
  Autism/ADHD Specialist Coach

  My name is Russell Hedger, I’m a single father to 3 of the most annoying, dysfunctional yet unique and loving children, they have been my drive and motivation in understanding the difficulties that Autism and ADHD conditions present not only to our children, but to our families as well, I’m in the unique position to work alongside the whole family and apply many proven techniques to aid recovery in the short and long term. My experiences are vast and I have also completed many courses that enable me to offer even more solutions that the whole family benefits from. I have been with ADD-vance for more than 5 years now and have provided dedicated support to many families existing alongside Autism, Aspergers and ADHD.

• 
  Robin Wilding
  Autism/ADHD Specialist Coach

  My name is Robin Wilding, a busy Mum to four beautiful children. My eldest child was diagnosed with Aspergers and ADHD at the age of 8yrs, leading me to train as a specialist coach with ADD-vance. I recognise the challenges parents face with their children and am always humbled by their resilience. My aim is to offer strategies to work with individual families and children, to improve family life as a whole, offering a fresh perspective without judging. Everyone can feel as though they’ve run out of ideas and sometimes may simply need a little support to regain the confidence in their own resourcefulness.