Karlene RickardKarlene Rickard is a childcare expert who has overcome paralysis in order to write an acclaimed parent's guide to raising happy, well-adjusted children. Karlene began her career as a science teacher and later got involved in community work and counseling. She has worked extensively as a parent facilitator, trainer and counsellor in the UK, USA, Jamaica, Grenada and Trinidad for over 15 years. Her powerful 'Empowerment for Parents' parenting programme is credited with changing lives and creating happier families. She co-founded KJ Academy, a supplementary school in Leyton, East London, and a nursery/infant school in Jamaica where she worked holistically with families to develop their confidence and self-worth. Karlene is determined to do all she can to have a positive and lasting impact on society through empowering families to raise their children as happy, successful adults who will build healthy communities. She created 'Empowerment for Parents' programme and published the A to Z of parenting, a simple, easy-to-digest guide. Unlike other childcare manuals, the guide places equal emphasis on the wellbeing of both parent and child, recognising that physically and emotionally stressed adults are unlikely to be great parents, in spite of their best intentions. Karlene developed a family primary school in Jamaica; she was one of the pioneer facilitators in the UK of the innovative programme Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities, and she presented the programme in the USA at a fatherhood conference 2001. Karlene's book, The A to Z of Parenting, deals with parents giving clear and honest feedback to their children and dealing with behavioural challenges. It highlights the value of spending quality time with children, outlines ways to educate them in the early years and focuses on the critical life skills that will carry them through to successful adulthood. Karlene was awarded the Millennium award in 1999 for developing a parenting programme for African Caribbean families. Karlene's autobiography, "He Speaks" has been widely read and has spread her message that positive relationship, genuine love and being attuned to the voice of voice of God is essential to build well-balanced adults. She has achieved all of this despite the challenge of living with Multiple Sclerosis. Read More Read Less