NEW RETA FELLOWS

Smitha Paul

Senior Educational Therapist

Smitha is an  Educational Therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting children with diverse learning needs, including Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Global Developmental Delay (GDD). Her passion is to help children build confidence, develop essential literacy skills, and achieve their full potential through evidence-based, strengths-focused interventions. She works closely with families and community partners to create meaningful learning experiences that support each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth.

Wendy New

Chief Educational Therapist

Wendy New is the Centre Manager and Chief Educational Therapist at Imagine If, with over 30 years of experience in early childhood education and more than 15 years supporting children with diverse learning needs. She holds a Bachelor of Education (University of South Australia) and a Master of Education (Special Education) from Nanyang Technological University.

Wendy specialises in designing individualised intervention programmes for children with autism, ADHD, global developmental delay, dyspraxia, intellectual disability, and other developmental differences. She lectured at NIEC (ITE Campus) for nine years and was an Associate at the Singapore University of Social Sciences from July 2021 to January 2023.

She has presented at national conferences and RETA webinars and is co-author of The Unfiltered Parent: Learn About Parenting. Parents consistently commend her warmth, professionalism, and ability to build children’s confidence, communication, independence, and love of learning through individualised, strengths-based intervention.

J Thachayini

Director, Principal Therapist

Thachayini, also known as Thach, has over 20 years of teaching experience and more than 10 years of experience in educational therapy. She is the Director and Principal Therapist of The Hidden Genius Pte Ltd, where she works with students with diverse learning profiles, supporting them through differentiated instruction and scaffolded learning approaches that foster understanding, confidence, and independence.

In addition to working directly with students, Thach supports and mentors therapists, develops individualised learning programmes, and collaborates closely with parents to ensure that each child receives consistent and meaningful support. She is committed to creating a nurturing learning environment where every student is encouraged to recognise their strengths and make meaningful progress. 

Usha Rani

Senior Educational Therapist

Usha Rani is an Educational Therapist with over 12 years of experience supporting children with learning challenges and their families. She holds a Master of Education (Special Education) from the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore, and a Diploma in Learning Disorder Management and Child Psychology from the College of Allied Educators.

Usha adopts an eclectic, student-centred approach, using a range of intervention methods to strengthen literacy and mathematical understanding while incorporating cognitive and self-regulation strategies tailored to each child’s needs. By adapting to each student’s learning style and pace, she supports their cognitive, social, and emotional development, helping them build confidence and achieve meaningful progress.

Pauline Ng

Educational Therapist

Pauline joined DAS in April 2025, as an Educational Therapist with the Preschool Programme. Prior to this role, she had a fulfilling and humbling teaching experience spanning two decades, across the field of special education and early childhood, in particular, the development of literacy skills.

She is a firm believer of creating a better and peaceful world through education; imparting skills, knowledge and values that empower each child to make a difference.