Acclaim-ED was founded by Joanna Lucas. Joanna is a qualified specialist assessor and teacher based in Worcester, with experience of working across a wide age range from 8 to 88+. She offers a range of services, including diagnostic assessments and access arrangements, across the West Midlands and beyond.
She has a wealth of experience of working with young people and adults with a wide range of neurodiversity, including Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and ADHD, as well as with auditory processing difficulties.
“My goal is to empower by identifying difficulties and building on their particular strengths, giving them the confidence to overcome their challenges and experience success. Over the years, I have developed a wide variety of approaches to teaching and learning and the impact they have on a student’s performance in the classroom, lecture hall or workplace. This has led to building a number of partnerships with specialists in the fields of behavioural optometry, osteopathy, auditory and hearing difficulties, and speech and language therapy.
I come from a musical family and I am married to a professional musician. Music is not only a great interest of mine, I am fascinated by its influence on memory, sequencing and concentration, amongst other areas. I also have a particular interest in the impact of retained primitive reflexes on learning and behaviour.”
Provision
Joanna regularly carries out general assessments to investigate the underlying strengths and difficulties of individuals from Year 3 through to adults. Following assessment, verbal feedback is given along with bespoke recommendations; onward referrals are often made to specialists in other areas, including behavioural optometrists, Speech and Language Therapists (SaLTs), sound therapists, osteopaths and cranial osteopaths. A programme of work targeting their specific needs may also be created.
For those who require a more formal assessment, Joanna is able to carry out Diagnostic Assessments Reports (DARs), which may result in a diagnosis of a specific learning difficulty. Again, these focus very much on the strengths as well as the difficulties of the individual. For those students over the age of 16, official diagnoses of Dyspraxia and ADHD for educational purposes may be made. A report for students aged 16+ may be used to apply for the Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA).
Joanna keeps up to date with the latest JCQ regulations and assessments for Examination Access Arrangements; this involves close liaison with the SENCo at the student’s school.
Joanna is passionate about helping non-specialists understand the potential impact of specific learning difficulties and regularly delivers whole school and bespoke inset training on a range of SpLDs. Topics have included: What is Dyslexia? Visual Learning Difficulties; SpLDs in the Classroom; The Impact of Retained Primitive Reflexes on Learning and Behaviour; Autistic Spectrum Conditions; Just Sit Still and Concentrate. She has been guest speaker at a number of schools and associations, including the Cathedral Organists’ Association.
Experience
- Working across a wide age range from Year 3 to adults with specific learning difficulties.
- Working with young people with a wide range of neurodiversity, including Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and ADHD, as well as with auditory and visual processing difficulties.
- Over twenty years as a specialist teacher and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) in a secondary school collaborating with parents, teachers and other professionals.
- Qualified teacher and assessor
- Post Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia Level 7 (OCR DipSpLD)
- Patoss Assessment Practising Certificate
- Patoss Teaching Practising Certificate
- Trained in a variety of motor co-ordination programmes
- Experience delivering Drawing and Talking therapy