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The association also quoted Grou on Twitter, referring to its overall attempt to stop unqualified psychologists: “The consequences of a psychological evaluation that is not competent can be very serious.”

Ward said she hasn’t pretended to be a psychologist and is fighting the charges all the way. (Her website notes prominently that its staff are not psychologists, but says they do deal with dyslexia.)

Ward is self-taught, having begun learning about dyslexia when her son was diagnosed as severely dyslexic nearly 30 years ago. She says there was a shortage of resources when she began so she stepped in.

“What I do is screening. What I’ll do is look at the pattern of the way they read,” she said. “I observe the way they talk, the way they read and the way they write,” and also investigates whether the problem is one of vision.

She said she has been fighting with the Order of Psychologists and Quebec’s Ministry of Education for years, and finally gave up trying to establish a private school in Gatineau and works only her Ottawa office, for the “peace and quiet. They have always complained in Quebec.”

She said she has done “maybe three or four” screenings in Quebec because she works almost entirely in Ottawa. “Most of the people who come to us come from international (locations), from BC, from Toronto, from all over the place.” Some are referred by doctors.

She said her consulting business, the Canadian Dyslexia Centre, takes several calls a day. She does not do extensive tests for the majority, she said. “Usually we try to teach them (families) how to teach the children. This is the most important thing that they can do something about. That’s what I usually do.”

Ward said she has never had any problems with Ontario officials. The Ontario College of Psychologists said Wednesday it has never made any finding of improper conduct against Ward.

Grou said she doesn’t know when the case will come to court.

tspears@postmedia.com

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