posted September 23, 2010 01:24 PM         

She has has been an inspiration to me. She set up Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Asssociation (DANDA) which Developmental Neurodiversity Association (DNA) is based on. Therefore, DNA would not exist if it wasn't for DANDA and Mary Colley. She will be sorely missed and her dream to make the world a better place for neurodivergents will live on.

The following is some information about her.

Brief Biography of Mary Colley
Mary Colley found out that she had developmental dyspraxia as well as AD(H)D and dyslexia in her mid forties. She helped set up the Dyspraxia Foundation Adult Support Group and also achieved a Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties at the Hornsby Centre in 1997. In 2000, her book Living with Dyspraxia – A guide for adults with dyspraxia was published. She and others became aware how frequently the different specific learning difficulties overlapped, and as a result set up DANDA – Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association in 2003.

source: The Daily Telegraph (London)

Mary Colley has three A-levels and a history degree, yet she has difficulty opening her own front door. There is nothing physically wrong: it is what goes on inside her brain that is the problem.
At school, Mary was labelled a "clumsy child", forever dropping her books and spilling food and drink down her front without noticing. Her handwriting was appallingly untidy, her spelling worse. She was hopeless at sport and had few friends.
Holding down a job proved difficult. She left her post at a press agency "by mutual agreement" after she kept mislabelling and mislaying photographs. That was 10 years ago and she has hardly worked since. Nevertheless, her verbal IQ puts her among the top two per cent of the population.
It was not until last year, when Mary was 43, that she found out she was dyspraxic. The diagnosis came as an enormous relief to a woman who never felt able to do her best.

Mary Colley got to university despite the conviction of her teachers that she would never make it. However, her subsequent decision to work in a photo library - where good organisational skills are essential - sent her self-esteem spiralling downwards.

"I am incredibly clumsy, even by dyspraxic standards. Anything that demands manual dexterity is a problem: I have terrible trouble with locks and keys.

"My house is cluttered and messy and I am always breaking and spilling things. I knock my son’s Lego down and it drives him crazy. I don’t seem to see it. I took a few driving lessons, but felt I was a danger on the road.

"I still have some communication problems. I tend to over-react to situations and am either very passive or rather aggressive. But I am better at listening than I used to be."

A physiotherapist friend suggested that Mary might be dyspraxic, a diagnosis confirmed by a neurologist. She has since been working on her disability. Not only is she being counselled, she has also written a leaflet for adult dyspraxics, runs a newsletter and a helpline and has launched a support group, all with the aid of the Dyspraxia Foundation.

Earlier this year, Mary and 50 others attended the second national conference for adult dyspraxics, which she helped organise. For someone who has difficulty planning a meal for four, this was a remarkable achievement.

"Since I have known I am dyspraxic, my self-esteem has increased. For the first time, I feel I can do something to help others. I feel valued in my work. Suddenly, I know why I burn the toast and put frozen peas in the fridge instead of the freezer.

"I give the impression of being stupid, though I have always known that I am not. Having a diagnosis has changed my life." www.nldline.com/newpage41.htm

Raymond

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No..I am not a Virgo.