About the PACC committee
Julie Davenport - Chairperson
As a Nursery Nurse and Nurse I have experience of working in both Health and Education. I have two daughters, one of whom is in a special school and the other is in mainstream. I joined PACC to lobby for positive changes in Education and Health Services for all disabled children in Shropshire.
I represent PACC on the Joint Commissioning Group for Children with Disabilities, the Central Shropshire Children’s Centre Steering Group and the ASD Steering Group for Shropshire. I am also Secretary of the Spectrum support group and on the committee of SKID (Shrewsbury Kids Insulin Dependant Diabetes). All this takes time and commitment but, apart from my children, it is the most satisfying thing that I have ever done.
Anne Lanham – Vice Chair
I am a full time mother to two children. My daughter has a rare chromosome disorder and attends Severndale Specialist School. Over the last 14 years, my family has accessed many of the services available to disabled children in Shropshire.
I joined PACC as I felt that my experiences would be invaluable in helping to ensure that those services meet the needs of all our children in the best way possible.
I am currently a parent representative on the Wem area Children’s Centre steering group and the Palliative Care Steering Group.
Sarah Thomas – Secretary
Hello, my name is Sarah Thomas and I am the Secretary for PACC. I have 3 children, all boys. My middle son and has a duplication on Chromosome 1, which means that he has a whole range of problems, he is learning disabled, not very steady on his feet, has very little speech and is a real comedian. He is presently in main stream school but is due to start transition to Severndale in the spring. My eldest son is diagnosed with ADHD and my youngest, has Dyspraxia. I joined PACC to share my experiences with other families in similar situations because I know this has helped me and I hope it will help others. I’m a great believer in fighting for what is right, which is lucky really!
Sue Gerrard – Committee member
I live in North Shropshire and home educate my two children. I have an interest in developmental disorders both as a parent and as a researcher. I became involved in the PACC because I am keen to see enhanced services for children with disabilities. I have just agreed to represent the PACC on the Market Drayton area Children’s Centre steering group, and am involved in setting up a support group for parents and carers of children with special educational needs in Market Drayton.
Jeannette Griffiths – Committee member
I am a full time mother to 3 young children, the oldest of which has Aspergers Syndrome and Dyspraxia. He has recently been successfully reintroduced to mainstream school after a very rocky start to school which resulted in a placement at the tutition service. My middle child has coeliac disease. Previous to having my own children I worked for many years as a nursery nurse and a nanny. I am also a committee member of the Spectrum support group and as I have now got to the stage where I have a little spare time I wanted to contribute to helping improve services for disabled children.
Annette Whitaker - Committee member
As a parent, I'm an adoptive mum of a sibling group of 3 children, 2 of whom have diagnosed special needs, including ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental coordination disorder and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. My child with ASD attends a special school and my other children attend mainstream school.
Professionally, I am a nurse with a long standing professional interest and vast experience of working with children and adults with disability and special needs in a wide range of settings and roles including expert witness, volunteer group nurse travelling with groups on holidays and pilgrimages to destinations in Europe, specialist advisor for a national charity and nurse tutor.
Personally and professionally I am experienced in working with a range of other professionals in health, social care and education, eg speech and language, occupational therapists, physiotherapists etc.
I joined the committee of PACC in 2008 following relocation. Having previously lived in another area I bring experience of different service provision in eg education - previous area had resource units attached to mainstream schools for children with ASD, speech and language difficulties, children with physical disabilities etc, a special school accredited by The National Autistic Society etc
Richard Cooke - Committee member
My youngest son was diagnosed with autism at 2 years old. Since then, I have found the various voluntary help groups and charities to be very helpful in helping us as a family adapt to our changed circumstances. Recently moving to Shropshire, I have been impressed by the scope and thrust of PACC in providing a voice for those of us who care for our
loved ones. Wishing to make contributions where I can, I am pleased to have recently joined the PACC committee.
Ester Scriven - Committee member
I have 3 boys, the eldest is 19 and was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 12 after a diagnosis of dyspraxia at 8. It was a real battle to get his diagnosis and the constant criticism of my parenting skills and neurosis, which they blamed his odd behaviour on, left a chip on my shoulder and a somewhat negative attitude every time I dealt with those in authority. You will be pleased to know I have moved on from this and would like to turn my experiences into something positive for others. My middle son is my allegedly 'normal' one, he is 18, and my youngest boy is 12 and has ASD- coping in mainstream school at present but anything can happen! I am currently a student at SCAT doing my Access to HE course to enable me to apply to uni to do my Social work degree. I also work for the volunteer car service- taking 2 autistic boys to Cruckton school every day. I spent some time on the Spectrum committee a few years ago and still attend meetings when I can.
