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Disability and Dyslexia Service

Meet the Team

Ashleigh Brownsmith, Head of Disability and Dyslexia Service and Inclusive Practice

After graduating from the University of Derby with a degree in Computer Studies, Ashleigh worked within the private sector as a software engineer before taking up a role at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2004.  Since then he has held a number of posts within the Disability and Dyslexia Service, in which he has gained a great deal of experience in supporting students.  More recently Ashleigh completed a Masters degree in Online and Distance Education, a significant element of which related to supporting disabled students.

Room 3.06D, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel:  020 7882 2764

Sadie Setchell, Disability and Dyslexia Service Frontline Services Manager

Sadie took up her post as administrator for the Disability and Dyslexia Service at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in May 2007 having previously worked in a similar role within Higher Education at the DSA-QAG registered North London Assessment Centre and has been providing administrative support to students with a variety of disabilities for the last six years.

Room 3.06C, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel:  020 7882 2756

Sintya Bokaa N’kalende, Disability and Dyslexia Service Frontline Support Officer (currently on secondment)

Sintya started working for Queen Mary University of London in 2019, and joined the Disability and Dyslexia Service in February 2020. Sintya previously worked in a similar role within secondary schools in North London providing  various support to disadvantaged students and their families. Sintya has a strong safeguarding background working extensively in a multiagency environment for the past 7 years .

Room 3.06, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel: 0207 882 2756

Sajida Rahman, Disability and Dyslexia Service Frontline Support and Guidance Officer

Having studied at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), Sajida started working with DDS in August 2020. Sajida also has experience working with other services within QMUL, including the Library and the Advice and Counselling Service.  

Room 3.06, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel:  020 7882 2756

Tahmid Sultan, Disability and Dyslexia Service Frontline Support and Guidance Officer

Tahmid commenced his tenure with the Disability and Dyslexia Service at Queen Mary University London in May 2023. Prior to this, he served as an Assistant Disability Adviser at London South Bank University, where he played a pivotal role in providing support to students with diverse disabilities. Over the course of his career, Tahmid has held various positions within the Disability and Dyslexia Service at different universities, amassing substantial experience in offering comprehensive support to students with disabilities.

Room 3.06, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel:  020 7882 2756

Lucia Evans, Disability Adviser (Specific Learning Differences)

Lucia worked as a student learning advisor at the British School of Osteopathy for five years before moving into the area of welfare and disability for another two years. She has supported students with a variety of disabilities and health issues, including SpLDs and went onto specialise and complete her Post-graduate Certificate in Teaching Adult Dyslexic Learners in Higher and Further Education. She joined QMUL in August 2017.

Room 3.02A, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel: 020 7882 2758

Kate Leadbetter, Disability Adviser (Specific Learning Differences)

Prior to taking up her role at the university, Kate worked as an English teacher in the Adult and Community Learning sector.  In 2017, she was awarded AMBDA FE/HE and an Assessment Practising Certificate, which qualified her to assess and teach dyslexic learners.  She then worked freelance as a study skills tutor for HE students with SpLDs at a number of London universities before joining Queen Mary in 2018. 

Room 3.02, Francis Bancroft Building

Kay Hall, Disability Adviser (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry)

Kay joined the Disability and Dyslexia Service at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2023. Prior to this she worked at University of Essex (UoE) for 14 years where she held a variety of roles. One of those was Accessibility and Wellbeing Adviser where she supported students with a range of conditions. Kay also has experience of working as Mental Health First Aid instructor and has worked with Exams Office and the Faith Centre at UoE.  

Melanie Parsons, Disability Adviser

Melanie has previously worked as a Learning Support Assistant at Anglia Ruskin University, where she helped support students with a variety of disabilities. She then relocated to London taking on an advisory role within student complaints and appeals at the University of the Arts and in 2011 she moved into a similar role here, at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). During this time she undertook a PG Certificate in Teaching Adult Learners with Specific Learning Differences, which has led to her interest in taking up her current position.

Room 3.06E, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel:  020 7882 2757

Leanne Walker, Disability Adviser

Leanne began working in the welfare to work sector in 2009 as a disability employment advisor, where she trained and supported disabled individuals into secure employment.  She decided to take a career break and left the UK to travel, working at The University of Melbourne as a consultant during this time.  In 2015, Leanne returned to the UK, where she joined QMUL.  She is currently undertaking a postgraduate (Level 7) AMBDA accredited course, to qualify as a dyslexia assessor and tutor. 

Room 3.06F, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel:  020 7882 6941

Huong Hoang-Wilson, Disability Adviser (Mental Health and Autism)

Huong joined the Disability and Dyslexia Service at Queen Mary University London in March 2022.  Prior to this, Huong graduated with a BSc Psychology (Hons) in 2004 and in the following year she completed a SCITT PGCE (Primary Education) in 2005.  Her experience spans a teaching career of sixteen years within various Tower Hamlets schools, of which, the last three and a half years she specialised in Autism within a SEN school.  Supporting students with special educational needs has lead her to further develop her knowledge and skills at supporting HE students with mental health and autism. 

Room 3.06H, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel: 020 7882 2756

Agnes Price, Disability Adviser (Mental Health and Autism)

Since graduating with a degree in BSc Psychology, Agnes has worked in various mental health support positions in the UK and overseas. Her experience includes working in crisis support, special education needs and employment support for people with mental health conditions, learning differences and autism. She also recently completed a Psychodynamic Counselling Skills course at Birkbeck University. Agnes recently joined Queen Mary University of London and is committed to providing tailored support for HE students with autism and mental health conditions.

Samia Da Cruz, Disability Adviser (Mental Health and Autism) - currently on maternity leave

After graduating from the University of East London with a degree in BSc Counselling, Samia has worked as a counsellor for the charity sector as well as working within the NHS in various roles, both within the  primary care and secondary mental health services. She has also worked within crisis support (sexual assault survivors) and within domestic violence safeguarding. Samia has worked within higher education for a number of years, working at various universities before joining Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2022.  She is very passionate about mental health and neurodiversity and supporting students to achieve their goals at university. 

Room 3.06, Francis Bancroft Building
Tel: 020 7882 2756

Olivia Lovett, Assistant Disability Adviser

Since completing a degree in Sociology from the University of Sussex in 2017, Olivia has worked in various higher education student support positions. Initially working in mental health crisis support and with the Residence Life team at the University of Sussex, and later within Brighton Universities Students Union Advice Team. Since relocating to London in 2022, Olivia started working as a Disability and Dyslexia Adviser at London Metropolitan University, before joining the team at Queen Mary University of London.  

Room 3.06b, Francis Bancroft Building

Neil Goldwasser, Specialist 1:1 Study Skills Tutor

Neil joined the Disability and Dyslexia Service at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2023, having worked as a 1:1 support tutor since 2003 in both Further Education and Higher Education. He has specialised in tailored, holistic support for students with learning differences, with a focus on fostering independence and enabling them to harness the strengths of their neurodivergence. He has also worked as a class teacher (adult numeracy) and as part of a teacher training team, and is keen to promote accessibility, inclusivity and equality of opportunity through awareness raising events.

Room 3.02d, Francis Bancroft Building

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