Meet Claire Ashmore

Through Growing Choices, we help children, teens, adults, and whānau better understand how they learn, reduce confusion, and build confidence through strength-based Davis Methods tools and strategies.

We work with people who may be experiencing dyslexia, ADHD, autism, executive functioning challenges, or other learning differences — especially those who are bright, creative, and capable, yet struggling in traditional learning environments. Our approach recognises that many neurodiverse people think and process information in highly visual, imaginative, and other perceptive ways.

Within the Davis framework, dyslexia is understood as a perceptual talent with learning differences.

We help clients recognise and develop their natural strengths, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and unique ways of understanding the world. We see dyslexic symptoms as rooted in confusion and once the confusion is cleared at root cause, symptoms naturally drop away.

Using practical, hands-on programmes and coaching, we support people to develop tools for focus, self-regulation, organisation, learning, and communication. We also incorporate clay-based learning and modelling to help clients access meaning, strengthen understanding, and create lasting learning connections in concrete and creative ways. Clients learn strategies that help reduce overwhelm and confusion while increasing confidence, independence, and self-understanding.

Growing Choices also partners with IWWA Whānau Learning to support whānau groups and communities through culturally respectful, relationship-based learning approaches that value identity, strengths, and belonging.

Founded by educator and Davis facilitator Claire Ashmore, Growing Choices is grounded in more than 40 years of educational experience and lived understanding of neurodiversity. Claire discovered her own dyslexia while training in the Davis Methods, an experience that transformed the way she understood learning, creativity, and human potential. Today, Growing Choices supports individuals, families, schools, and communities through compassionate, strength-based learning support that helps people thrive in learning and life.