About The Pathways Centre
We believe understanding changes what happens next.
At The Pathways Centre we believe that bringing together psychology, neurodiversity-research and real-world experience can create practical, meaningful support to help families, schools and organisations.
To better understand neurodivergent brains, and support them in daily life.
Built by experts. Shaped around people.
Why I Created The Pathways Centre
The label can explain a lot.
But it doesn't tell you what to do next.
Or about the future.
Families, schools and organisations are often given a lot of information.
But they need help translating it to fit their child's, pupils or employee's everyday life.
They need practical steps, not just explanations.
I kept seeing
the same pattern.
Children and adults were being described by what others could see. While what was happening underneath was being missed.
I’ve spent more than a decade working closely with pupils with a range of neurodivergent and mental-health needs, their families and educators. I saw how this heavily affected the type of understanding, expectations and opportunities a child, teenager or adult receives.
My expansive journey through psychology and neurodiversity research helped me look deeper into this pattern. Research can tell us so much about how people think, learn, process information and experience the world.
But research is just the starting point. Pathways builds the bridge of clarity and trust that turns those insights into real-world change.
Meet the minds behind Pathways
Different backgrounds.
Different areas of interest.
One shared commitment to making neurodiversity easier to understand.
Jennifer Brown
BSc, MSc | PhD Researcher
Founder & Director
Get to know more about me:
I left college and entered the world of work at 16. My path into psychology wasn’t traditional. But it eventually led me through undergraduate and postgraduate study, into doctoral research and to founding The Pathways Centre.
What fascinates me most about the brain?
How executive functioning helps us begin, remember, organise, regulate ourselves and manage the demands of everyday life.
The myth I'd love leave behind...
That when a person knows what they’re supposed to do, they should automatically be able to do it.
Karolyn Bedore
BSc, MSc
Parent Pathways Co-Lead
Get to know more about me:
My background brings together neuroscience, therapeutic approaches to neurodevelopment and hands-on childcare experience. So I’m always interested in how research translates into everyday life.
What fascinates me most about the brain?
Neuroplasticity and the brain’s remarkable ability to develop, adapt and build new connections through learning and experience.
The myth I'd love leave behind...
That every neurodivergent person with the same diagnosis will think, learn or experience the world in the same way.
Eleanor Leppert
Family & Community Welcome Lead
Get to know more about me:
Before joining Pathways, I spent more than 15 years working in education and later supported people within the community. Experiences that showed me how valuable the right conversation can be.
What fascinates me most about the brain?
The relationship between emotions and connection, and how feeling safe, understood and supported can influence the way somebody communicates and responds.
The myth I'd love leave behind...
That asking for support means a family is struggling or failing. Sometimes, it simply means they want to understand what could help.
Our Approach and Values
How we approach our community, build every service and the values that lead every decision.
Our Approach
We don't begin with assumptions.
We begin by looking underneath.
What we see on the surface rarely tells us everything.
Behaviour, learning, communication and performance are shaped by the person, their brain, their experiences and the environment around them.
Whether we’re supporting a family, school or organisation, our approach helps us move from what is visible; to a clearer understanding of what is needed.
What Guides Our Work
The Principles Behind Every Pathway
Understanding is not only what we provide. It shapes how we listen,
how we communicate and how we build support with the people who use it.
Clarity
Complex information should never be kept behind complex language.
We make research and guidance easier to understand without removing the meaning that makes it valuable.
Curiosity
We ask what might be happening before deciding what something means.
We remain open, look beyond first impressions and recognise that the same behaviour can have many different explanations.
Compassion
People deserve to feel understood, not judged.
We approach difficulties with empathy, respect and an awareness of the experiences that may sit beneath what others can see.
Inclusion
Support should adapt to people, not expect everyone to adapt in the same way.
We recognise different minds, experiences, strengths and needs, and work to create environments in which more people can participate and thrive.
Our Approach, In Practice
One Approach. Different Pathways Forward.
Pathways for Parents
happening underneath.
The Learn Hub and free tool helped me know exactly what my next steps were after I got a diagnosis for my son.
Tope
Pathways Learn Hub
I bought the independence builder toolkit and found it really useful for my daughter who has autism and ADHD.
Anonymous
Pathways Forward
Clear and amazing class! Would recommend.
Anonymous
Pathways Live
Informative, made me think about my practice
KS1 Teacher
Daiglen School
The training sessions was engaging and insightful. A session that deepened our understanding of executive functioning and it's impact on learning.
Assistant Headteacher
Loyola School
The training was awesome! Thank you!
KS2 teacher
Diaglen School
Organisations and Workplaces
Every brain has strengthens.
Is your organisation recognising them?
We want to better support our employees.
We provide services to neurodivergent children, teenagers and/or adults.
I cannot recommend her expertise highly enough.
Director
MasteryMap
Trusted by the communities, schools and organisations we work with.