Marie Helen Herbert
Nominee Profile
Location: Richmond
I have worked with adults and children who experience neuro divergence since graduating in 1995. Initially on graduating I started a research in Human Rights but realised instead of writing about human rights I could live my life advocating for human rights instead.
My chaotic career since then has taken many twists and turns but always with a thread running through focused on supporting and empowering both adults and children with additional, invisible needs and challenges, mostly in the education sector, but also in community projects.
I started my career in education believing this would provide me with the best opportunity to reach more children. I have worked in a variety of primary and secondary schools including inner city and specialist schools in many different roles some created for me, some I adapted to match my vision whether as a teaching assistant, English teacher, dyslexia assessor, additional support teacher, SENCo or SEN manager. I have been so fortunate to work and learn from children with a range of additional needs - multi sensory impairments, autism, ADHD, severe or moderate learning disabilities and learnt so much from them, colleagues and families along the way.
In February 2021 I was diagnosed with ADHD and with a new understanding of my sense of purpose and my own neurodivergent needs and after 23 years in formal education I made the decision work independently with the belief I could reach more children and families that way. Initially I started work as a dyslexia assessor and teacher but realised this didn’t match my own neurodivergent needs. I moved towards coaching and became an ICF accredited coach for young people aged 14 years and above and adults with additional specialist accredited qualifications in coaching parents and ADHD. That work has been transformational and spurred me on allowing me to finally find my focus and dedicate my efforts to empowering others who also share a neurodivergent profile whether children or adults, raising awareness and understanding, giving a voice, providing training and information to schools, publishing articles in an international coaching magazine, posting on social media all with the aim of breaking down barriers and false beliefs and highlighting the struggles but also the strengths neurodivergence presents.
My chaotic career since then has taken many twists and turns but always with a thread running through focused on supporting and empowering both adults and children with additional, invisible needs and challenges, mostly in the education sector, but also in community projects.
I started my career in education believing this would provide me with the best opportunity to reach more children. I have worked in a variety of primary and secondary schools including inner city and specialist schools in many different roles some created for me, some I adapted to match my vision whether as a teaching assistant, English teacher, dyslexia assessor, additional support teacher, SENCo or SEN manager. I have been so fortunate to work and learn from children with a range of additional needs - multi sensory impairments, autism, ADHD, severe or moderate learning disabilities and learnt so much from them, colleagues and families along the way.
In February 2021 I was diagnosed with ADHD and with a new understanding of my sense of purpose and my own neurodivergent needs and after 23 years in formal education I made the decision work independently with the belief I could reach more children and families that way. Initially I started work as a dyslexia assessor and teacher but realised this didn’t match my own neurodivergent needs. I moved towards coaching and became an ICF accredited coach for young people aged 14 years and above and adults with additional specialist accredited qualifications in coaching parents and ADHD. That work has been transformational and spurred me on allowing me to finally find my focus and dedicate my efforts to empowering others who also share a neurodivergent profile whether children or adults, raising awareness and understanding, giving a voice, providing training and information to schools, publishing articles in an international coaching magazine, posting on social media all with the aim of breaking down barriers and false beliefs and highlighting the struggles but also the strengths neurodivergence presents.