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Our Team

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Ellen O’Neill

Executive Director

Ellen O’Neill, MA, With a Master’s degree in Human Services Management from Brandeis University, Ms. O’Neill has over 35 years of experience in management, research, grant writing, and advocacy. Ms. O’Neill is a founding member of The Reading League Maryland and Maryland READS. She helped to start Decoding Dyslexia Montgomery and Prince George's County and currently serves as a board member of the Siena School Fund and DeMatha High School. Ms. O'Neill began her career in urban education, juvenile justice, foster care and homeless services.

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Jennifer Appleton

Director of Education and Outreach

Jennifer Appleton, M.Ed., CALT-QI, is ASDEC's Director of Education and Outreach. A Certified Academic Language Therapist and Qualified Instructor, Ms. Appleton is also a former classroom teacher and certified reading specialist, working in Baltimore County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, and in private schools. Jennifer holds certifications in Sounds In Syllables, Take Fight, RAVE-O, Language!, LiPS, Junior Great Books, and holds current licensure in the state of Virginia as a Certified Reading Specialist.

Meet our Instructors

Text about instructors

CALT: Certified Academic Language Therapist
CAT: Certified Academic Therapist

Ellen.png

Ellen O’Neill

Executive Director

Ellen O’Neill, MA, With a Master’s degree in Human Services Management from Brandeis University, Ms. O’Neill has over 35 years of experience in management, research, grant writing, and advocacy. Ms. O’Neill is a founding member of The Reading League Maryland and Maryland READS. She helped to start Decoding Dyslexia Montgomery and Prince George's County and currently serves as a board member of the Siena School Fund and DeMatha High School. Ms. O'Neill began her career in urban education, juvenile justice, foster care and homeless services.

Jennifer Appleton.png

Jennifer Appleton

Director of Education and Outreach

Jennifer Appleton, M.Ed., CALT-QI, is ASDEC's Director of Education and Outreach. A Certified Academic Language Therapist and Qualified Instructor, Ms. Appleton is also a former classroom teacher and certified reading specialist, working in Baltimore County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, and in private schools. Jennifer holds certifications in Sounds In Syllables, Take Fight, RAVE-O, Language!, LiPS, Junior Great Books, and holds current licensure in the state of Virginia as a Certified Reading Specialist.

About

My name is Alexa Young

Ms. Brooks,M.A. Counseling, CALT, is an ALTA-certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT), an IDA certified Dyslexia Therapist and ASDEC Supervisor and Clinical Director for the ASDEC Summer Practicum. She is the founder of Moving Muscles. This program is specifically used for the ASDEC Summer Program and allows children the ability to become better coordinated, working on total body motion while addressing mid-line, hypotonia, and dyspraxia challenges. Most importantly, the children have fun while participating. Donna is also the founder of Blessings Through Dyslexia, a therapeutic intervention services provider. She is certified as a Myers-Briggs Facilitator, an Equipping Minds (EM) Mediator, a Feuerstein Method Mediator, Primitive Reflex Mediator, The Listening Program (TLP) Provider, Visual and Auditory Assessor through The Listening Program, and an Intern for the Learning Ears Program. Donna has earned her Master’s in Counseling from the Townsend Institute, Concordia University, Irvine, CA. She is currently an LPC Resident Under Supervision, trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma and The Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR/Floortime) Model for neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral challenges. Finally, Donna is a Certified AMEN Brain Health Coach. Donna is retired from the United States Air Force. Donna and her daughter, Grace, understand the challenges and blessings that come with having dyslexia.

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