Our Trainers and Coaches
One of the things that makes ADD-vance special is that all of our trainers and coaches are parents of neurodivergent children. We are unique in bringing a parent’s perspective and pragmatism to our work while all team members are qualified and trained in their specialist area, to ensure that all our services are provided to a high professional standard. Our team includes specialists from psychology, teaching, journalism, social work and more besides.
Dan Adams
BA (Hons), Level 3 Education & Training
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach, EHCP Specialist
Dan has ADHD and brings his real-world experience as a Specialist Autism/ADHD Coach and Trainer. He is a Dad/Step-Parent to 3 awesome neurodivergent young people and has spent over 15 years developing a deep understanding of ADHD and autism to support families on differing journeys.
Dan works full-time as a teacher specialising in SEN support, with extensive expertise in EHCP applications and maintenance as a former Independent SEN Adviser. Combining his perspective as both a parent and educator, Dan brings practical insight to his work with ADD-vance.
Helen Collins
Specialist Autism and ADHD Coach
Helen discovered ADD-vance almost 10 years ago when she was searching for help and advice to support her family. So inspired by the amazing team at ADD-vance, she was keen to be more involved, and subsequently trained to become a specialist coach.
Helen really enjoys supporting parents by working on strategies around their specific needs, and helping to build their confidence to improve family life.
Donna Bozier
BSc (Hons), PGCE
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer
Previously a secondary school teacher of Science and Health & Social Care, as well as a childminder, she now supports families navigating life with neurodiverse children. Having initially accessed training to better support her own neurodivergent son, Donna understands first-hand the challenges and isolation many parents can face.
Her love of learning and deep commitment to neurodiversity drives her to share knowledge and support others, helping families create more positive and understanding environments for their children.
Steph Curtis
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer
Steph is mum to two autistic teenage girls, one also diagnosed with ADHD. She worked in the ADD-vance office several years ago and is delighted to be returning to the charity as a specialist coach and trainer. Steph started writing a blog about family life with autism on the day her younger daughter was diagnosed at the age of two, and she has used her blog to raise awareness and spread understanding of the profile of autism known as Pathological Demand Avoidance.
Steph has been a Trainer for the PDA Society for several years and has also represented parent carers locally on behalf of HPCI. Steph is passionate about helping other families find their way through the maze that springs up when trying to parent neurodivergent children.
Joanna Daw
B.Ed (Hons)
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach
Jo first came to ADD-vance after both her children were diagnosed with a combination of ADHD and Autism, having previously worked as a primary school teacher. She expressed interest in joining the team as a coach and trainer and hasn’t looked back!
Jo is passionate about all things ADHD and Autism. She is very open and honest about the delights and challenges that come with living in a neurodivergent family. She loves working with families along their journey, and helping them to feel confident and empowered, alongside working with schools to improve awareness and understanding.
Eleanor Griffiths
Specialist Autism and ADHD Coach, EHCP Specialist
Eleanor started her career working in IT in the City but then became a full time parent to two neurodivergent children who are now teenagers.
She first became involved with ADD-vance when her eldest child was in the process of being diagnosed with Autism and ADHD almost a decade ago.
Since then ADD-vance have continued to be a lifeline to Eleanor and she has been an active member of the ADD-vance community. Eleanor is passionate about empowering parents to advocate for their children and have the confidence they need to enable their children to thrive and achieve their full potential.
Karen Hannan
Specialist Autism and ADHD Coach
With a background in education, advocacy and mental health, Karen is passionate about ADD-vance training and coaching after its phenomenal impact on her own amazing, neurodivergent family. She focuses on identifying the strengths and passions of neurodivergent individuals and families, to enable healthier and happier outcomes.
Karen is diagnosed with Autism and ADHD herself. The combination of lived experience, reflective skills and extensive knowledge regarding neurodivergence provides a unique perspective. Her ability to relate theory to relevant real life practice enables families to move from helplessness to understanding, acceptance and hope.
Fiona James-Trezona
MA English Literature, PGCE
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer
Fiona has a background in language teaching and has worked as a classroom teacher in both primary and secondary settings for over 18 years. She first encountered ADD-vance 4 years ago when searching for help and advice to support her family.
Seeing the potential to apply modern understanding of ADHD and Autism to make a real difference to children’s lives, she signed up for a post graduate certificate in special educational needs (Autism in children) at the University of Birmingham and has now decided to move her career into supporting children in the school environment.
Fiona is passionate about sharing her experience as a teacher and her learning about ADHD and Autism and with other classroom professionals and thereby having a lasting impact on children’s wellbeing, confidence and learning.
Sophia Jones
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer
Sophia is a mother of 4 amazing children most of whom are now young adults. Neurodivergence is sprinkled throughout her family and with a background in education, she has worked closely with neurodivergent young people and families for over 20 years.
As a Trainer she supports people with coaching and by delivering courses and as a Drama specialist, Sophia’s love for all things theatrical means that when the camera has stopped rolling she can be found having a cheeky “Movement Break” or as others like to say, impromptu desk dancing.
Bridget Livsey
BA (Hons), PG Cert, MA Autism
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach, Independent SEN Adviser
Bridget is an autistic and ADHD mother of three amazing, unique young men. Over the past two decades, Bridget has developed substantial understanding of autism, ADHD, dyspraxia and anxiety, both in her lived experience within her neurodivergent family and through post-graduate study and research.
Bridget is a clear and empathic communicator, born from her first career in journalism, and brings compassion and care to her work with both parents and professionals. Bridget is particularly passionate about supporting parents in navigating SEN law and EHCP processes. She draws on her extensive training in this area, her lived experience of supporting her sons through the education system (and out the other side), and also her many years of working with professionals to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
Susanna Mateu
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer
Susanna, who is originally from Spain, has a wealth of experience teaching Spanish to adults and children in Hertfordshire for over 10 years. She came across ADD-vance when her son was 6 years old and has had a soft spot for the charity ever since. Susanna is a very caring person who is always keen to support the most vulnerable in the community. She also helps run a fantastic award-winning charity, Potential Kids, which supports neurodivergent children and their families in Hertfordshire.
She loves learning new things and is always prepared to help anyone that needs any support. Susanna is also a Mental Health First Aider and Trainer. She actively promotes the importance of self-care, practising yoga, tai chi and meditation. She loves travelling the world, having afternoon teas with her girlfriends in London and photographing sunrises and wildlife.
Amanda O'Gorman
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach
Amanda’s first introduction to ADD-vance was following her son’s diagnosis of Autism and ADHD in 2013. Via our courses and workshops, Amanda armed herself with as much information as possible and has been a keen supporter of ADD-vance ever since.
Amanda is passionate about her work in supporting and celebrating the differences of neurodivergent adults in the work place and works closely with Potential Kids (a Hertfordshire based charity delivering social activities for children and young people with a learning difference). Amanda combines all of this with her role as a busy Mum to two beautiful, impeccably behaved children!
Annette O'Toole
MA Education, PGCE
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer
With a background in education and a passion for early years development, Annette brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area.
Annette originally came to ADD-vance after her son was diagnosed with Autism, and now combines her knowledge of education with her first-hand experience to help and support other families.
Frances Parsons
BA (Hons)
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach
Frances first came on an ADD-vance course more than 10 years ago when she was searching for support for her family and Googled ‘ADHD Herts’. With a background in journalism, she was shocked how little information and educational support there was about ADHD and Autism at that time and is forever grateful to ADD-vance for all the strategies and help she received.
Having then gone on to train as a specialist trainer and coach for ADD-vance, Frances is particularly passionate about the positives of ADHD and Autism. She is a patient and empathetic communicator and loves working with families and professionals to encourage understanding, transform attitudes and, as a result, help everyone with these conditions to reach their full potential.
Helen Rognaldsen
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach
Helen is a counsellor (BACP registered) and coach (ICF accredited). Her specialisms include working with Autistic and ADHD young people and adults, and with parents of neurodivergent children. She also coaches degree apprentices at Cranfield University – and delivers neurodiversity training and coaching to organisations who want to create neuroaffirmative working cultures.
As the mum of three teenage and adult neurodivergent children, Helen has benefitted from ADD-vance’s training herself and now enjoys sharing her own lived experience, knowledge and training with others.
Miriam Shabetai
MSc (Hons) Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
Specialist Sleep Coach
Miriam completed her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Birmingham in 2018. Miriam’s interest in sleep started whilst working as an honorary Research Assistant on a project looking at sleep and impulsivity in autistic children.
After completing her Masters in Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Miriam worked at Aston University on a project looking at behavioural sleep interventions in children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Miriam is currently doing her PhD at Aston University, which aims to develop a new self-report questionnaire for adolescents with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities. Miriam leads our sleep workshop and support group and supports families through our Specialist Sleep Service.
Regina Somekh
BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology, PGCE
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer
Regina is a mum to two AuDHD children. Previously a sixth form teacher of Sociology and Psychology for 25 years, she is now a dedicated trainer at ADD-vance bringing both personal insight and specialist experience to her role.
With a practical and empathetic approach, she is passionate about empowering parents and professionals to better understand and navigate the complexities of Autism and ADHD, while celebrating the unique strengths and joys our children can bring.
Vicki Whent
BA (Hons), PG Dip CG
Specialist Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach
Vicki joined ADD-vance in 2015. Her professional post graduate career includes Journalism, Training and Guidance.
She has previously held the position of Trustee for Tracks Autism for seven years, established a local autism/ADHD support group called Rainbows and has studied autism at university level. Vicki has a teenage son with a diagnosis of autism and ADHD.
Robin Wilding
Senior Autism and ADHD Trainer & Coach
Robin is one of our original team of specialist coaches. She is also a busy Mum to four beautiful children. Her eldest child was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at the age of 8yrs, leading her to train as a specialist coach with ADD-vance.
Robin recognises the challenges parents face with their children and aims to offer strategies that work for 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.
Talia Zamora
BA (Hons)
Specialist Autism and ADHD Coach
Talia is a mum of two autistic boys. Through her journey of discovering her boys’ differences, her knowledge of Autism and ADHD grew along with her understanding of the many neurodivergent traits herself and her extended family have. Support from ADD-vance’s courses and peers enabled Talia to understand her family and parent in a different way which has given her a passion for wanting to help others in a similar position.
With a background in Business Improvement and Business Management, Talia started her own business as a Business Strategy Coach in 2018, helping determined women to succeed and become the expert in their field and is now excited to also be coaching families.
To learn more about our courses, workshops, and coaching delivered by our trainers, visit the ADD-vance Parents and Carers section.
Meet the rest of the team!
Along with our office team, we also have a fantastic team of trainers, coaches, trustees and young ambassadors who all play a vital role in the work of ADD-vance.