Befriend your Brain
About Sarah
Sarah Bisson, BA (Hons), PGDip, PGDIP (Dyslexia, SpLD), AMBDA
- Dyslexia Specialist Teacher and Assessor
- Trauma and Mental Health Advisor
My areas of expertise are in dyslexia, neurodiversity, trauma and mental health, and confidence building.
I am a self-employed Specialist Teacher and Assessor for Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. I am registered with the British Dyslexia Association. I am also qualified to advice on Trauma and Mental Health difficulties within the school and community environments.
With 17 years experience in community development, youth development and developing curriculum for young people with different issues, I am able to understand and engage with people who have found education difficult.
Previously, I worked for 4 years as the equivalent of a Special Educational Needs Coordinator for Adult Education across Cumbria, setting up support systems and coordinating support for adult students.
My own neurodiversity and as a parent of a neurodiverse child I am able to understand the people I work with. I can empathise with the different barriers and frustrations that they have had to negotiate at school and in the workplace.
I am currently the SEND and safeguarding Governor at a local primary school and Director for a local forest school. These roles enable me to understand the reality of support mechanisms in schools and the alternative provision which can bring out the best in neurodiverse children.
Qualifications
Degree IN pSYCHOLOGY AND sOCIOLOGY
Postgraduate Diploma in Assessing for Specific Learning Differences
Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Dyslexia Teaching
Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Development
Level 5 IN TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS and communities
Level 3 Certificate in Understanding the Autistic Spectrum
NLP Diploma
Level 3 Award in Education
Currently undertaking Masters level research into dyslexia. Looking specifically, into literacy difficulties AND the pathway to support in school.
My Background & Journey
Befriend your Brain
Before working for myself, I worked in Cumbria Adult Education setting up the Learning Support department and coordinating support in the same role a SENDCO would have in school.
Before then I worked in homeless mens hostels, and was Manger of a youth work charity in Cumbria for 10 years. I opened youth centres and worked to advocate youth issues for which, I was nominated and chosen to carry the Olympic Flame in 2012. During this time I also taught Psychology at GCSE, A-level, Degree and Post Graduate levels.
I am dyslexic and have characteristics of ADHD for which I am currently waiting for diagnosis. These have only been highlighted as an adult. I always suspected that I viewed the world in a slightly different way to others and also wondered why I found some things more difficult that others. Diagnosis for dyslexia has helped me understand myself better, I am certain that an assessment for ADHD will too. I know I have to put more effort into everyday life than most people, especially when studying but that also means that I can truly empathise with the people I work with.
My adventure with dyslexia and my other traits has taught me to understand that what I have to offer is unique and valuable because of my neurodiversity not despite my neurodiversity! This is what I want to teach to our everyone in our community who is neurodiverse.
I am a mum to a very lively and humorous 14 yr. old boy. As a parent I understand the issues that parents have in trying to get their child’s needs met. This, coupled with my experience teaching and coordinating learning support which underpins my training as a dyslexia specialist and trauma and mental health practitioner means that I understand how parents and schools can work together to get the best for every child.