Testimonials

Hi Norma,

I would like my testimonial to be added to the few I have read in relation to your wonderful service.

Someone must have been looking over me when I came across your name from a huge list of assessment centres. Prior to starting university I struggled academically however, I continued to work hard to gain the qualifications needed to get into university (at 40yrs of age) in order to pursue my chosen career.

For once in my life someone believed in my difficulties and recognised me as worthy with the potential to do well. I have dyslexia and Norma gave me the tools to do my academic studies. I am in my final year now and have been confident to face the challenges. I have always struggled with coming to terms with being dyslexic and have not told many members of my family and friends through the fear of stigma. Perhaps this testimonial will encourage others to get assessed where they can also start to believe THEY CAN achieve and get on with the correct support and equipment in place.

I send my personal thanks to Norma Kitson who has opened a door for me - one I shall never forget.

Sandra

 To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Iona Kent and Kent and South East Assessment Centre

I have had a number of professional contacts with the above named organisation. Initially, I was asked to give a lecture, in my role of an Educational Psychologist, to one of their training days. Subsequently, I invited Mrs Kitson and Mrs Brindley (one of the Iona staff) to give a lecture and workshop to a conference of Educational Psychologists that I organise yearly at East Court School .

In all cases, Iona has demonstrated itself as a professional, well informed and helpful organisation. In particular, the comments received about the DSA for the Educational Psychologists' Conference were very well received and I would certainly endorse their good practice.

Dr Michael Thomson
Principal of East Court School/Chartered Educational Psychologist

To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Iona Kent and SE

I have recently had experience, as a parent of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome, of Iona carrying out an assessment and then recommendations prior to her attending University. I found the service they provided to be outstanding.

Initially, I was reluctant to have my daughter assessed as I was concerned it would be a stressful process for her. I was put in touch with Norma Kitson through the Connexions service. From the start, Norma was supportive and managed to address my anxieties. Communication was superb and time lines were adhered to.

The assessment process itself was made to be enjoyable and totally stress free. It was a completely different experience to the one my daughter and I had anticipated. The venue and process were wholly appropriate and convenient, with the result that the assessment was completed quickly and thoroughly.

I now have a completely different opinion of the assessment process following my experience with Iona Kent and SE, and would have no hesitation in contacting them in the future.

Regards, Irene Stone

Our son has recently completed the Disabled Student Allowance Assessment of Needs procedure that was carried out by the Iona Kent and South East Assessment Centre on behalf of our Local Authority.

We found the whole experience helpful, caring and supportive. We truly believe it has given our son the best start in helping him to achieve his academic goals. We have no hesitation in recommending the professional service provided by the Iona Kent and South East Assessment Centre to others facing the transition into higher education.

Mr and Mrs B Greenfield

I definitely made the right choice! From a list of assessment centres given to me at University following a diagnostic assessment of ADHD and dyslexia I chose KaSE (Now ‘iona’)

After years (actually decades), of struggling and often failing with study and assignments at school/college etc., plus years of being told:

“ - you’re not working hard enough”
“ - you must try harder”

With the mostly unspoken insinuations, that I was slow, lazy or stupid. It was music to my ears when I met with my assessor, Norma Kitson. Apart from during my diagnostic assessments, it was possibly the first time I had heard somebody tell me, that they understood the difficulties I had encountered over the years, and one of the few times that some one actually believed in me and my potential!

Following that thorough and comprehensive assessment, I felt empowered to continue with my studies at University. I continue to benefit from study skill support hours, strategies, tips and very importantly from a laptop and assistive technology programme (with excellent IT training from Microlink). Another bonus has been attending and networking with like-minded people at various workshops and forums organized by Norma and her team at ‘iona’. All credit to them.

Joss Grey (University of Greenwich student)

 Hello Norma

I feel that I need to write to you on how I fet in the way I had help with our meeting. At first as always I weas very nersve in talking about being dislexsis it has always been very hard to talk when it comes to writing just like now, putting this on paper is very inbrarance for me as an auldt but hear I go so please be paysion.

When meeting you after thinking about it for hours before I was you was worrying, but after meeting you, talking to me and reassuring made me more relax I find this very hard to be offer help after all these years of being in the “Dark” not know why I am the odd one in the class being the suepid one .......................... (Norma this may sound silly to you but its bring tears to me writing this as I so much want to put on paper on how I feel) .....................................

Its so hard when your ears are saying one thing and your brain saying something else. When I meet people like ****** ****** and of course yourself it gives me a much better understanding. I have put in many hours of Reading and Writing trying hard all the time but unless people like you are train with a greater understanding of this ploblem they just don’t no. Even if some of the parents know that I am teaching they children in level 1 Hairdressing. But thanks to you and your department it can help me move on in life.

When I have in the past said to anyone “not very good at the spelling (not telling them I have dislexsis) it would be a larfe or they would say I think I must be a bit dislexsis but I feel some people just say it so they don’t have to write. As for me I so much want to learn and also help other as you know I have done my first year doing my Cert Ed at Canterbury Chris Church were my tutor as been very good and of course ****** ****** which I could not have achieved with out her help, but now seeing you is going to help me so much I cannot begin to thank you for all your help I can have somethink in the back of my head IS SAYING ****** you can’t be that sueped Norma you made me feel sad at one point because you believed in me oh god if only my teachers could heve listen to me at school or understand how hard it has been trying to say the right thing or to stop the words running away from me just like the kids at school.

I am in my 50;s now and I wish so much and og on and on but it may sound funny to you or some else but this is herding me. Maybe when I get my new computer and spell check I may write you and new massge.

ALL I WANT TO SAY IS A BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELP YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ......................................

Just hope you can read some words I have just learn in the past 5 years.

 
To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Iona Kent and South East Assessment Centre

Four years ago my Son was assessed at KaSE (Now ‘iona’) by Norma Kitson. He is partially sighted, with other associated problems, and had always been perturbed with assessments/reviews during his time at school. We went to see Norma thinking here we go again, but to our delight Craig actually found some-one who would listen to his problems and was willing to help him with his needs.

The assessment process went very smoothly and the equipment he needed to access his chosen course at university arrived in plenty of time. Last year Craig had cause to contact Norma again as the course content changed and Iona was able to assist him further.

I would personally like to thank Norma and the whole of Iona Kent and South East Assessment Centre for their professionalism and understanding, as without their help Craig would never have been able to achieve his full potential. I would have no hesitation in recommending this particular service to others in the same situation as my Son.

Kind Regards
Linda Parker

 Hi Norma

I just want to say THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANK YOU.

I was nervous when I came to see you because I knew I needed a lot of equipment to help me start at university, if I was to do what I wanted. Being partially sighted had been such a problem for me during my school years but, I actually enjoyed the assessment, you listened, you understood, and for the first time the assessment wasn’t a hassle.

I started at university feeling a little more confident, knowing I had your support and the support of the South East Assessment Centre (iona’).

It took a lot of hard work but, I have just finished my 4 year degree course at university studying Computer Science and have achieved a First Class Degree with Honours.

Thank you so much for believing in me Norma.

Craig Regan

 When entering university for the first time Iona - Kent and South East Assessment centre helped me significantly in first assessing my requirements, then providing to Kent County Council a very detailed report on exactly what was required in regards to initial and long term support.

The process was very swift, being highly sympathetic to my needs and being dealt with by staff who really cared for me, so reaching a conclusion that resulted in the assistance being made available in those first few nervous days at university when, without the support they had recommended I could easily have left.

I have now successfully passed my first year at university, but without Iona the result could have been very different.

Thank you so much Iona and to your wonderful staff!

Elizabeth
Canterbury Christ Church University