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Our Mission
ASK is dedicated to offering a range of programmes and services to fulfil these core values, driven by the needs of parents, their children, young adults, and professionals.
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Support families and their children and young adults with learning differences and special educational needs.
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Raise both public and professional awareness of Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) and the need for early detection, proper diagnosis, appropriate recommendations and specialist support.
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Increase parental and professional awareness of services within the community.
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Bridge the gap between parents, educators, and specialists, finding the best solution for each individual – both academically and socially.
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ASK is committed to establishing meaningful social experiences for individuals with learning differences.
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ASK is committed to offering training opportunities for community partners and professionals to build awareness and support meaningful inclusion for all individuals with differential learning needs.
Our Clinical Team
Dr. Jennifer Holloway
C.Psychol., Ps.S.I., BCBA-DASK/ACCESS Director
Dr Jennifer Holloway is the new CEO of ASK and the Director of the ACCESS program. Dr. Holloway is a Chartered Psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has worked with children and adults with differential learning needs for over 25years, as a clinician and researcher. Jennifer has specific expertise in designing evidence-based practices to teach socially significant goals for individuals. She has spent many years supporting families and other professionals through delivering training courses and workshops. Jennifer is dedicated to advancing ASK to provide a range of services and supports to meet the needs of the individual with differential diagnoses, their families, and community partners.
Dearbhaile Mahon
M.A., MSc. Behavioral Psychologist & Clinical Supervisor
Dearbhaile is working across ASK programs and is the ACCESS Program Supervisor. Dearbhaile is a behavioural psychologist and has undertaken an MA in Psychology from the University of Limerick, a MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis and is in the final stages of a PhD in behavioural staff training from the University of Galway. Dearbhaile’s clinical experience over the last decade includes providing person-centred individualised support for young children of differential learning abilities within schools, as well for individuals with intellectual disabilities in residential and day services. Dearbhaile is passionate about supporting individuals to lead a life of their choosing.
Tanya Esmeral
Psychologist, MS
I am Tanya, I am a psychologist with a Masters Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training. I am an ACCESS Coach. I have worked with adults with different emotional difficulties, particularly anxiety disorders and clients who are looking for life long and sustainables changes through behavioral interventions. I am looking forward to working with the ACCESS community.
Kavita Singh
Clinical Psychologist, MA
I am Kavita. I am working with ACCESS program as a facilitator. I obtained my Masters in Clinical Psychology from Mumbai University, India. I am skilled in diagnosis and providing customized therapy. I have worked with multiple age groups in multicultural settings. I am looking forward to supporting the interns to achieve their potential within community settings.
Danai Orlandatou
BSc psychology, MSc clinical
My name is Danai and I am a facilitator at ACCESS program. I am a clinical psychologist with a master’s degree in clinical and developmental psychology (university of Geneva) and a CBT trainee. I am also trained in Acceptance Commitment (ACT) and Compassion Therapy (CFT). I am looking forward to working with the ACCESS team and the interns, supporting them in the achievement of their goals and in building their inner compassion self.
Milla McNally
Masters in Child and adolescent psychology
My name is Milla and I am the assistant facilitator/psychologist in the ACCESS program. I obtained my Masters in Child and Adolescent Psychology from King’s College London, United Kingdom. I have experience in a range of clinical and organisational settings supporting adults, young adults and children through behavioural and emotional difficulties. I look forward to supporting the ACCESS team and the interns to meet their goals and learn life long skills.
David Pollard
Psychologist
David is a Behaviour Analyst with an Msc in ABA from Trinity College Dublin, and a BA in Psychology from The National College of Ireland. David’s experience working with both children and adults across the last seven years includes person centered one to one tutoring as well as larger groups of individuals with different learning needs. David works in providing positive behaviour support to individuals across the programmes at ASK, as well as aiding in social skills and PsychoEducational skills. David is passionate about supporting those in need and focusing on improving their quality of life.
Our Operations Team
Jawan Al Fadel
ASK Inclusion and Outreach Officer
More than 6 years of experience in the disability sector, Jawan combines her knowledge in sociology and her coaching skills to push the intern’s potential. Working as an inclusion and outreach officer, she makes sure to represent different neurodiverse profiles to all the partners and find the right internship for the interns to develop their skills and find their place in the community.
Nadine Nuwayhid
Financial Manager
Nadine has over 15 years of banking operational experience and holds an MBA from Boston University. She is an advocate for humanitarian causes and is active in the Geneva fundraising scene for various NGO’s. She was born in Lebanon and grew up in the US and the Middle East, and now lives in Geneva. She brings her fundraising know-how and humanitarian network to the team
Jacqueline Martin
Chair, Fundraising Committee
An Anglo-Swiss national, Jacqueline spent 14 years working in offshore fund management and fund research in London before moving to Geneva in 2010. After several years volunteering as Office Manager at ASK, Jacqueline is now Chair of ASK’s Fundraising Committee. She is also a Board member of GRSA – No Strings Attached and Association des Femmes de la Planète and a voluntary trainer at the Association Sportive des Schtroumpfs.
Renata Cavalli Pessa
Communications Officer
Digital designer specialised in attending small businesses. Fine Art Photographer. After volunteering at its fundraising events and working as Office Manager at ASK, Renata is now the Communications Officer with primary responsibilities with ASK to lead, support, and develop ASK and ACCESS branding and effective communications on programs and services for the benefit of the team and key stakeholders.
Our Board
Our board strives to ensure ASK is best supporting children with learning differences and special educational needs throughout Switzerland.
Henri Moser
Board Member
After working for a Private Bank in Hong Kong, Henri is now a partner in a real estate firm with a very strong anchorage in Geneva. He joined the Board of ASK in 2024 to help the association with his experience in management and strengthen its ties with the local community and businesses.
Elaine Curry
Board Member
Charles Firmenich
Chairman
Anne-Lise Mumenthaler Muller
Board Member
Augustine Agyeman-Duah
Treasurer
We love to hear from our parents and partners!
Comments From Parents and Partners
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Nicolas Dumolin, Muséum d’histoire naturelle (MHN)
J’ai eu énormément de plaisir à recevoir Elias au Museum d’histoire naturelle de Genève, durant quelques semaine. Son enthousiasme et son intérêt à découvrir le métier de la surveillance et de la sécurité m’ont donné beaucoup de joie. Toute l’équipe de la sécurité garde un bon souvenir d’Elias. L’équipe d’encadrement ainsi que le coach étaient super et bien veillant, nous avons eu beaucoup de plaisir à partager cette expérience avec eux.
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Dr David Claivaz, IIL
I am deeply impressed with the generous and sincere engagement of ASK in favor of kids with Special Education Needs, as well as the neurotypical ones.
I wrote an IIL Blog Post called “The Essence of Learning”. Google the title to find out more.
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Parent
It was very helpful to have so much positive feedback on the idea of James going into a special school as I was not sure that it was the best thing for him, but it looks like it is a very good option. It’s important to have a group where you can say almost anything and not feel judged or criticised to get the feedback, support and ideas from others and be able to off load a bit of the pressure !
Our Supporters
Thank you for your continued support
