Dawn Matthews is the author of several books on dyslexia including “Dyslexia a Guide for Parents” (Second Edition) and “Dyslexia a Guide for Teachers” (Second Edition).

Dawn Matthews is severely dyslexic and is the mother of dyslexic children. She is a qualified teacher and lecturer as well as being an accomplished artist. Much of her life has been devoted to researching and developing strategies, advice and games to help dyslexics adapt to a world which is, unfortunately, tailored for the non dyslexic. 

Dawn has worked in schools, colleges, dyslexic centres, and has set up dyslexia units within schools. So, she is experienced in both the classroom and lecture room situation.  She has taught privately in one to one sessions for over thirty years. 

As well as this Dawn has written a certificate 1 course specifically for dyslexics currently being run at Central TAFE Perth WA (Cert 1 in Literacy and Numeracy for Dyslexics). She has written a training course for Read Write Now! WA, written and presented seminars at SPELD Foundation WA, Read Write Now, Dyslexia Institute Scotland and numerous schools and colleges throughout Australia. In Newcastle she helped set up a Dyslexia Institute and liaised with and set up committees to advise education authorities in Scotland. 

Having raised dyslexic children to become confident and successful individuals, Dawn is well aware of the strain parents suffer while bringing up dyslexic children. Her own dyslexia gives her an intuitive and personal understanding of the problem and allows her to give valuable and straight forward advice.

Dawn’s hand printed screen prints and paintings of Scotland and Italy are in public and private collections throughout the word. Visit Dawn's site.

In her 'spare time', she also runs a property investment company. 

Dawn's bio:

BA Hons.  Art and Design Newcastle Upon Tyne University 1975
Post Graduate Certificate of Education Newcastle Upon Tyne University 1976
Attended conferences at Dyslexia unit Aston University Birmingham, Newcastle University and visited several leading dyslexia consultants, including Jill Cotteral, author of many early books on dyslexia, Michael Newman, research professor at Aston University Dyselxia department. Dr Cheyne then President of Northeast dyslexia Association England and Catrina Collins of Edinburgh. 1976-7
Completed dyslexia course Helen Arkell Center London 1976
Registered tutor for Newcastle Dyslexia Association 1976 -1981
Established and ran dyslexia youth social group 1978-80
Help set up Newcastle Upon Tyne Dyslexia Institute - giving TV and press interviews -1980
Moved to Scotland 1981
Registered tutor and consultant- Dyslexia Scotwest Glasgow and Dyslexia Institute Glasgow 1990-2001
Set up and sat on Education Committee to raise awareness and deal with issues of dyslexia with Dumfries and Galloway Education Authority 1991 and sat on committee for 6 years.
Set up and ran Self-help group for parents and dyslexics Dumfries and Galloway 1991. Ran for 6 years meeting every month.
Dyslexia teacher and consultant Dumfries and Galloway education Authority 1995. Taught in many schools with pupils on individual basis and in classrooms as well as giving seminars at schools with both learning support staff and management.
Ran dyslexic unit and taught at Kilquanity Free School Galloway 1996-8
Helped set up local Dyslexia Association Dumfries and Galloway 1997
Set up dyslexic unit with funding from the Lotteries Commition at The Galloway Small School Dumfries 1998. Taught both learning support and English at this school for 2 years. Some of my pupils won prizes and international awards for their written work.
Moved to Australia July 2001
Wrote Cert.1 in literacy and Numeracy for Dyslexics 2002. Now running at Central TAFE Perth
Gave seminars at schools, TAFEs and dyslexia SPELD 2001-3
Wrote dyslexia teaching course and gave seminars at Read Write Now WA 2002-2003
Ran dyslexia summer school Dyslexia SPELD Foundation 2002
Attained Cert IV in workplace training and assessment. Chellenger TAFE Perth 2002
Internationally selling artist/printmaker 1980-2001. My art work is in public and private galleries and collections world wide including many banks, hotels, hospitals, ferries, hospices, restaurants, stock exchanges and public galleries in Scotland and across America.
My art works had been exhibited world-wide including, USA, UK, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Argentina, Italy, United Arab Emirates and Holland.

Previous published works.
“Dyslexia a Guide for Class Teachers” “Dyslexia - A Guide for Parents” published 1995 and republished 2001 by Dyslexia Scotwest Scotland.
“Understanding the Dyslexic Child”, “Understanding the Dyslexic Pupil” and “Understanding Your Dyslexic Child” published by First and Best in Education UK.
Cert.1 in Literacy in Numeracy for People with Dyslexia. National Accreditation Number 51153 A certified TAFE course now running at Central TAFE Perth. Dawn also taught lecturers to teach this course giving seminars and personal training. This was the first accredited course ever written specifically for dyslexics in the Southern Hemisphere and included the assessment test for entry onto this course.