Read what some students, parents, teachers, Head of Inclusion and community members have said about the support provided. Some testimonials are anonymous due to protecting the rights of the child, but if you would like to make contact with any of the writers do let me know. They are all real and are all happy to speak with you.
Testimonials
At the time I worked with Louise she managed a team of 35 staff across all phases including screening and identifying students as well as implementing support for barriers in learning, language and giftedness. She successfully supported and/or trained students, parents, specialists and school staff to remove those barriers. She strategically led the provision through inspections and managed a budget of over 1 million AED, including being instrumental in the development of an Autism provision. Louise took the school’s inclusion program from the start-up of a new school and implemented a strong provision which was built on sustainability.
Louise conducted an engaging and interactive session that primarily focused on various strategies to support the students with special learning needs.
The session enriched the attendees by providing insight into a range of accommodation techniques that could be successfully employed in a classroom setting to achieve curriculum outcomes and reduce barriers to learning.
Dear Louise ,
I take this opportunity to thank you on this beautiful Sunday morning. A year back when I joined as an inclusion lead, I was having many doubts, confusion regarding the terms of the SEF, action plan and inspection-related queries. Because of that, I had worries, sleepless nights not knowing where I am heading for. That is when you came for my rescue. You guided me through all the inspection-related doubts and showed me the right ways to do things like SEF, action plan, planning a range of support plans, tracking progress, classroom accommodation techniques, engaging and interactive sessions for parents and teachers and so on. Now I feel so confident and good professionally and personally.
A true well-being in me through you Louise …
Thanks once again …
Louise and I worked side by side each other when I was based, as GEMS Head Office Special Needs Advisor, at GEMS Wellington International School, Dubai. Throughout our time together Louise was always a listener, supporter and advocate for her students and all their needs. Her wide range of Special Needs and Inclusion knowledge and skills is impressive. She also presented as a life-long learner, consistently open to new information and qualifications. Her generous sharing of her professional repertoire in mentoring and assisting colleagues throughout the wider community was highly evident. Working with Louise was always a pleasure and I have no hesitation in recommending her.
Louise Dawson is singularly the most knowledgeable person on SEND I have encountered in my career. Her heart is to help the process of identification and support of and for these students, as well as their families, through the necessary steps to help them achieve what they are capable of. I have witnessed her particular ability and interest in students with Autism and Social Emotional & Mental Health difficulties. Many unidentified students received their correct identification once they were under Louise’s umbrella.
Louise Dawson has been instrumental in establishing BSME’s Inclusion Network, leading two key services for our members. Louise co-created the programme and single-handedly managed the online delivery of the inaugural BSME Inclusion Conference in 2021. She delivered various keynotes, liaised with 15 speakers and moderated discussion forums throughout the two-day conference. Louise was also BSME’s SEND Network Lead. She launched a successful series of 6 webinars for the 202-21 academic year. These networks enjoyed high engagement rates, both for the live and recorded sessions. Louise will be included in BSME Approved Provider List for SEND from September 2021. She will also continue to contribute to BSME professional learning opportunities in 2021-22 and beyond.
Louise Dawson has been a long-term advocate of Clicker and DocsPlus.
After applying her expertise as an Inclusion Leader, Crick Software are delighted that Louise is now advising parents and schools on how to employ assistive technology to improve the literacy outcomes of young people.
Louise is authorised by Crick Software to advise on our products and facilitate the procurement process.
It was great to have Louise in our Inclusion network of contacts. I completed a training course with Infinite Learning, led by Louise. While working with Louise the fog began to clear and what had seemed like an overwhelming task to create an Inclusion Provision, started to seem possible. By the end of each training session I had a to-do list which, whilst vast, was relevant for our context and achievable.
I had the pleasure of learning from Louise through my first Infinite Learning course, when I first moved to Dubai to start my role as the ‘Head of Inclusion’. I cannot recommend Louise’s course and her support highly enough. Louise continues to be an inspiration in guiding and informing fantastic inclusive provision across Dubai and I would urge anyone seeking advice to reach out to her.
I’ve attended multiple training and webinars delivered by Louise, as well as having been supported by her as a Consultant on various challenging professional situations for which I needed her guidance. Her knowledge and experience of how to effectively lead and deliver inclusive practice is exceptional and her regional expertise in UAE is invaluable. The needs of the children and families remain at the forefront of everything we have collaborated on and drive her practice – she is a true advocate for people of determination.
I was at a junction in my career when I reached out to Louise on LinkedIn.She responded immediately and connected me to schools with vacancies. I have not met her but I can say that she is supportive, passionate, and a professional with a fantastic work ethic.
Just a note to say thank you so much for all the help and support you gave *T* during her last year at school. I don’t know what we would have done without your upbeat approach and advice on how to handle situations.
Thank you for being such a kind and heart warming teacher towards, not just me, but everyone else. I am so sad to see you go, you have helped me so much this year and you helped me experience things I wouldn’t have on my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed Louise’s presentation about Restorative Justice, where she explained how to engage the student in decision making about change of behaviours. Why the old punitive approach is not working especially with teens today. A very useful seminar for teachers responsible for pastoral care and counsellors. Since this training, I was able to tackle behavioural issues of students of determination and others more appropriately and with great outcomes.
Louise Dawson has a comprehensive knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Learning Differences, especially in the context of this region. She has an unrivalled armoury of strategies and provisions and she is ideally positioned to advise anyone on the plethora of new guidance and legislative developments. I have always found her to be receptive, responsive and a true advocate of the needs of families above any other consideration. I do not hesitate in recommending her.
It’s really hard to see you go. You were my help when I needed it the most. I am sure a lot of other children feel this way too. I was always comforted by your wise words and logical way of thinking and that’s why it is so hard to see you go. I’m sure you’ll help others further along the road and so I wish you good luck. Thanks for everything.
Louise’s support to Inclusion practitioners across Dubai is amazing.It is great to know that when you ever need help, support or guidance, Louise is only ever a message away!
Thank you so much for all you have done for *E* during your time at school – her confidence in her abilities has been boosted by you and the other members of your team which in turn had a direct impact on her results! You have been an incredible support to *E* during your time at school and just your hands on approach was like a breath of fresh air.
This is a small note to express our gratitude for all that you have done for *C* this year. We want you to know the enormous impact your care, kindness and professional expertise has had on *C* and our family. Many thanks.
Thank you so much for everything you have done. You have not just helped me but so many different children at school. I am going to miss you so much, you are my favourite teacher ever! I wish you all the best. We are really going to miss you.
One of 43 people across the world nominated in 2021 to TeamADL/Hays for improving impact of Inclusion.
As someone who has dedicated so many years to supporting children with special needs, it’s clear to me that you have a heart of gold and a passion for making a difference in the lives of those around you.
Your hard work and dedication to this is truly inspiring, and I’m so grateful for your tireless efforts in making learning more accessible for children experiencing additional needs in the Middle East. Your impact on the lives of these children is immeasurable, and you should be proud of all that you have accomplished.
I want to take a moment to celebrate you and all that you stand for. You are a true hero in my eyes, and I’m so lucky to know you. Here’s to another year of making a difference and changing lives!
I’ve worked with Louise for more than five years and over that time I have learned and grown with her. She is a wealth of knowledge regarding all things Inclusion and Wellbeing.
She has huge depth of knowledge and personalized experience and her compassion and empathy are palpable in all she does. Louise is a pillar of support to the Dubai Community with the Inclusion Networks. She is forward thinking and progressive.
A leader that demonstrates contemporary international best practice and delivers information in an accessible and usable way. A true leader in Inclusion.