Resources for Autism

Staff

Helen Birns
Administrator
Helen joined Resources for Autism in November 2000, and has over 20 years' secretarial/administrative experience. As Administrator, she is most people's first point of contact with Resources for Autism.
She has an adult son who was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in his 20's, and she co-ran a voluntary self-help support group for families of adults with Asperger syndrome for 5 years. This personal experience of autism means that she is ideally placed to provide information and signposting for local families.

Ginny Carvisiglia
Art Therapist
Ginny graduated from Goldsmiths University completing the Post Graduate Art Psychotherapy course in July 2000. Since then, she has worked as an art therapist in special and mainstream schools with children with autism and learning disabilities.
Ginny also works part time as a freelance community artist, and has recently completed projects for Magic Me, an intergenerational arts project in Tower Hamlets, and the Larches Trust in Edgware, leading arts workshops for their summer Arts in Action project. She is also qualified as a self-defence instructor.

Liza Dresner
Director
Liza has been involved in the voluntary sector for over thirty years. Initially involved with organisations supporting under 5’s and their families she contributed to setting up the earliest integrated nursery settings and supported Open University research and training on integrating disabled under fives into main stream settings.
She has worked as a social worker for Islington, as a youth worker and as a fundraiser for a wide range of community organisations. These have included helping fund the building of a community centre in Reading, raising funds for an HIV organisation in London and supporting a number of small to medium refugee organisations to maximise their fundraising potential.
An experienced trainer, she has run courses on governance, project management and fundraising for a wide range of organisations. She sits on the South East of England committee for BBC Children in Need.

Judith Daniels
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Judith has a very varied background, having worked in media and health. Judith previously worked as Events Officer for Rett Syndrome Association. She has experience of autism through volunteering and support work.
At Resources for Autism, Judith is responsible for recruiting, training and co-coordinating our team of Volunteers, who provide support to families in their own homes and across our services.

Amanda Dunkerley
Family Support Co-ordinator
Amanda joined Resources for Autism in July 2007 She previously worked for the National Autistic Society for four years in a residential and day school where she gained a detailed knowledge and understanding of autism. Amanda has also worked in mainstream school and after school clubs in Derbyshire where she previously lived.
At Resources for Autism, Amanda is responsible for providing support and advice for families who have a child or adult with autism. Amanda works closely with Judith our Volunteer Co-ordinator, to place home support volunteers with families.

Catherine Ely
Play & Youth Director
Before joining Resources for Autism, Catherine was a Borough Wide Play Co-ordinator for Barnet Council with particular responsibilities for Specialist Playschemes and FLASC (Steps).
In her role as Play & Youth Director for Resources for Autism, Catherine runs the Saturday Club and the Youth Club as well as organising holiday schemes and play related events.
Catherine enjoys spending time with her daughter, dance and being a family link carer.

Clare Greaves
Music Therapist
Clare qualified with a Masters in Music Therapy from the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London in November 2006. Before joining Resources for Autism, Clare has worked with children as a music teacher in a mainstream secondary school and also with adults in a college for the National Autistic Society.
Clare works three days a week for Resources for Autism, involving one day at the Livingstone Primary school, half a day at Fawood children’s centre and one and a half days at the centre.
Clare enjoys spending her free time soaking up the fresh air and fabulous views in Cornwall, where she was brought up.

Steven Lyons
Music Therapist
Steve qualified from the Anglia Ruskin University in 2006 with a post graduate diploma in music therapy. Before joining Resources for Autism he worked for two years as a music therapist with Kent Autistic Trust and worked in various primary and secondary schools as a peripatetic music teacher and piloted a music therapy group for children at key stage two level with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Steve is currently working towards writing up his Masters dissertation.
In his spare time Steve enjoys playing guitar and performing at various live music venues.

Janet Palmer
Family Support Co-ordinator
Janet joined Resources for Autism in January 2005, having worked in a Unit for children with autism for four years, and previously for two years supporting children with autism and other special needs in an Early Years Centre. Prior to this she had been a Town Planner in Inner London for many years.
At Resources for Autism, Janet is responsible for providing support and advice for families who have a child or adult with autism. Janet works closely with Judith our Volunteer Co-ordinator, to place home support volunteers with families.
In 2007 Janet qualified as a Psychotherapist, and she is registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. In her spare time, she volunteers as a counsellor for a charity in Camden, and enjoys walking in the countryside.

Charli Shirley
Fundraising Manager
Charli joined Resources for Autism in April 2005, having previously worked as an administrator. She has personal experience of autism in her family. At Resources for Autism, Charli is responsible for making applications to grant-making trusts and organising fundraising events.
Charli has just celebrated her marriage and has now changed her name from Thompson to Shirley! Charli also loves animals is the proud 'mother' of 4 cats!.

PLAYWORKERS

The Playworkers work at the Saturday and Youth Clubs and Holiday Schemes. They have a variety of qualifications such as teaching, Speech Therapy and NNEB, and some have personal experience of autism in their family. All are committed and enthusiastic about play and children with autism.