Seema Islam, Chair 

Seema Islam took over as Chair of Our Voice in April 2021. She is an experienced member of the Our Voice management team, having been part of the team since 2013. 

Seema says:

I have three children and my younger son, Samir is 13 years old and is autistic with severe learning disabilities and profound communication challenges.  After 7 years at Russet House School, he is now attending Durants School. 

After Samir was diagnosed in 2011, in order to support him in the best way I could I felt that I needed to learn as much as possible about the challenges he faced  and what support was available. I began by studying for a Postgraduate Degree in Autism (Children) from Birmingham University, and graduated in year.

I knew that it was important to understand the services and support in Enfield, and exploring this brought me into contact with the Our Voice parent carer forum (as well as other organisations like ENAS). At this time, the implementation of the Children & Families Act 2014 was beginning and I found it hugely inspiring seeing parents in the Our Voice management team working and campaigning hard to improve services for all children and young people with SEND in Enfield, and I was delighted to join the team in 2013.  

Seema is a Peer Educator with a diploma in Positive Behaviour Support with the British Institution for Learning Disabilities (BiLD), and is also a trained sleep practitioner, and part of the Expert Parent Programme team for the Council for Disabled Children.

Seema has lived in Enfield for around 24 years and loves the diversity and richness of the communities in this borough.

Khilna Gudhka Coordinator

TBA