A TUTOR, who committed her career to teaching children with dyslexia after her own son was diagnosed, has retired after 30 years' work in Bromsgrove.

Linda Adey, 65, has worked as a senior tutor at the Bromsgrove Dyslexia Workshop for three decades, teaching pupils aged six to 16 literacy maths and study skills.

Formerly a teacher, Linda joined the Hereford and Worcester Dyslexia Association team in 1988 after her own son was diagnosed as severely dyslexic at seven years old.

"I was upset that, although I was a qualified teacher, I had no knowledge about dyslexia so had no idea how to help my son,” she told the Advertiser.

Linda took it upon herself to train as a dyslexia specialist and joined the workshop two years after it started out with just 10 pupils.

As well as teaching at the workshop on Fridays, Linda spent her career visiting local schools to assess and teach pupils with learning difficulties.

With the help of her IT specialist son, she developed a piece of software, WordCardGenerator, to help busy teachers make multi-sensory games and activities, which is now being used across the country.

"I saw that many children, including dyslexics, benefited from multi-sensory teaching and started making educational games that helped pupils make progress while having fun.

"I saw that IT could make a big difference in helping pupils with dyslexia to succeed – many dyslexics have great imaginations and ideas, but really struggle to write their thoughts down."

After two battles with cancer in 2011 and 2013, Linda is now in remission, but has taken the difficult decision to retire and focus on her recovery.

Linda's 50 students gave her a warm send-off at a surprise retirement party last week.

Her successor Jane Hateley presented her with a flower bouquet as a parting gift.

"Without your inspired teaching and running the workshop, many of these pupils would most likely be failures and maybe still consider themselves stupid," Jane said.

"Your present and former pupils and their parents hold you in high esteem for what you have done, and this is shown by so many of them coming to this party tonight to wish you well.”

Hereford and Worcester Dyslexia Association runs workshops at The Wendron Centre in Church Street after school hours on term-time Fridays. For more information visit hwda.org.uk.