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Deborah Fencer, M.Ed. is the Clinical Director of Educational Therapists of New England. She is a professional educator, licensed speech pathologist and educational therapist with the Post-Masters Graduate Certificate in Educational Therapy from Curry College. Deborah has many years of experience working with language-learning disabled children, adolescents and adults.

Deborah comes to Educational Therapists of New England with broad expertise to address learning challenges with both a remedial and therapeutic response to help clients achieve their learning goals. Deborah has extensive experience in all areas of speech/language function, including the auditory/phonological processing deficits of speech and reading disorders, commonly known as dyslexia. In addition, she is particularly attuned to the learning struggles of ADD/ADHD and offers coaching for all ages to maximize their academic, personal and/or professional potential.

Joan Manchester earned her M.Ed. from Curry College in 1999. In June of 2006, she earned her certificate in Educational Therapy from Curry. Joan currently is a High School Learning Services Teacher at the South Shore Charter Public School in Norwell, MA. South Shore Charter Public School is a K-12 public charter school.

In her private Educational Therapy practice, Joan works with students with AD/HD, reading, writing, and spelling disabilities, as well as executive function difficulties. Joan integrates assistive technology components into her practice. Joan also integrates components of The Alert Program, as well as Brain Gym into her practice. Joan also offers assistance to current and student teachers in passing Massachusetts MTEL exams.

Joan has presented Assistive Technology at MECC, and NERCOMP. In October 2006, Joan presented Assistive Technology and E-Portfolios at the annual meeting of the Association of Educational Therapists national conference.


Joanne Douglas, M.Ed., CAGS, GCET graduate from Curry College, has worked with young children for many years in both general and special education in public, alternative, and clinical settings addressing the needs of students and families who struggle to find the best possible remediation and guidance in the classroom, the playground, and at home. She is the author of the article, The Educational Therapist Manifesto (Fall 2007 in the journal, The Educational Therapist, www.aetonline.org), addressing the issues students face who struggle with being confined to the home or hospital while striving to succeed academically. Joanne works privately with children and adolescents, their families, and the schools.

Jane Utley Adelizzi, Ph.D. developed the Graduate Certificate in Educational Therapy at Curry College in 2004. She is an adjunct faculty member in the School Psychology Program at at MSPP/Boston, as well as an affiliate at the Brenner Psychoeducational Assessment Center at the same institution. Jane provides educational diagnostic assessment and intervention for adolescents and adults with LD/ADHD and co-existing psychiatric diagnoses. She is a registered art therapist, and has published a number of articles on learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and comorbid conditions such as postraumatic stress disorder and depression. She co-edited and was a contributing author to A Closer Look: Perspectives and Reflections on Learning Disabilities in College Students (1995); authored Shades of Trauma (1998); co-authored Parenting Children with Learning Disabilities (2001); and, authored the chapter, Women with ADD and PTSD in Nadeau and Quinn’s book, Gender Issues in ADD (2003).

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Educational Therapists of New England 72 Jackson St., Studio 5 Canton, MA 02021 781-363-6223