During the General Assembly of 2019, Rosie Bissett was elected chairperson succeeding Michael Kalmár who retired
MEET OUR NEW PRESIDENT, ROSIE BISSETT, IRELAND
After the General Assembly in Vaxjö (Sweden) on September 28th the new board of the European Dyslexia Association held its first meeting and elected Ms Rosie Bissett as chairperson.
Ms Bissett has been a member of the EDA board since September 2016 when she was nominated by the Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI). She has been working with the DAI for over 20 years, first as an Information Officer, and for the past 10 years as CEO.
As well as her work with dyslexia, she is also active on related issues: she was the chairperson of Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland until September 2019. She is also the chairperson of the Spectrum Alliance, an Irish umbrella organisation for hidden disabilities on the neurodiversity spectrum (dyslexia, dyspraxia, ATHD, and Asperger syndrome).
Rosie is a passionate advocate of those who learn differently. She has actively campaigned particularly on the issue of equitable access for people with dyslexia in Ireland. “With a background in health and social science, and my experience working with and for people with dyslexia for 20 years, I hope to make a contribution at a wider European level.
The EDA is well placed to bring the voice and experience of people with dyslexia to the European institutions to ensure that their needs are recognised and their rights respected fully and equally across Europe.” Ms Bissett explained.
“I would like to sincerely thank Michael Kalmar for the many dedicated years he spent as Chairperson of the European Dyslexia Association. Our new board will continue his work for equal rights at European level” Ms Bissett said. Michael Kalmar has been member of the board of the EDA from 1998 and has been the Chairperson from 2006 to 2019.
