#186: Dyslexia Assessment and DARA: Giving Assessors Their Time Back with Dr Jennie Guise

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with Dr Jennie Guise, Chartered Psychologist, founder of DysGuise and CEO of Dysguise Diagnostics, about the life-changing value of dyslexia assessment and the development of DARA. Jennie traces her journey from teaching health psychology and seeing dyslexic nursing students misunderstood to becoming a full-time assessor. She explains why adults often seek assessment when their established coping strategies stop working, how comprehensive assessments uncover both challenges and hidden strengths, and why good feedback can replace shame with understanding. The conversation also lifts the lid on the time, testing costs and SASC compliance involved in producing a diagnostic report. Jennie introduces DARA, the DysGuise Assessment Reports Assistant, which embeds current guidance, reduces clerical errors and helps assessors focus on professional analysis rather than formatting. They also discuss accessible report summaries, workplace needs assessments, assistive technology and how better tools could ease assessment bottlenecks.

This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.
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Links:

• ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/
• What is Dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia
• How to Mindmap: https://www.bulletmapacademy.com/mindmap-beginners
• Dysguise Diagnostics: https://www.dysguisediagnostics.com/
• Dysguise Diagnostics Facebook: https://www.dysguisediagnostics.com/facebook
• Learn About DARA: https://www.dysguisediagnostics.com/learn-about-dara/
• DysGuise Assessments: https://dysguise.com/
• About Dr Jennie Guise: https://dysguise.com/about/
• Jennie’s Email: jennieguise@dysguise.com
• SASC Assessment Guidance: https://www.sasc.org.uk/assessment-guidance/
• Dyslexia Scotland: https://dyslexiascotland.org.uk/
• Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity: https://helenarkell.org.uk/
• Disabled Students’ Allowance: https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa
• British Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/

Interested in being a guest? Email us at jo@ivvi.app