Select Page

Julie R. Wood, Ed.S., LPES

Julie R. Wood, Ed.S., LPES

Breakwater Associates Co-President
Julie’s passion for working with children with special needs was sparked, when she was a child, as she volunteered alongside her mother to help establish the first private school for children with special needs in Orlando, Florida in the early 1970’s.

Julie obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Clemson University and continued there to complete postgraduate work in Special Education. She went on to The University of Georgia to earn both a Master’s degree and a Specialist’s degree in School Psychology.

Julie began her career in the public schools of Hartwell, Georgia and Anderson, South Carolina. Later, Julie gained valuable experience working as a Child and Adolescent Psychologist II for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health in Oconee and Pickens Counties. Shortly after moving to the Lowcountry in 1997, she embarked upon the adventure of homeschooling her own three children, while also running a private academic tutoring business for children with learning difficulties.

After her youngest child entered high school, Julie returned full-time to School Psychology, working within the private practice setting. When Julie met her current practice partner, Meg Humphrey, they discovered that they shared a common passion for providing the best of psychoeducational services to meet the needs of children and adolescents with academic, social, emotional, and behavioral issues. Thus, Breakwater Associates was born.

Julie has a special interest in Dyslexia and Autism Spectrum Disorder and keeps current through extensive reading of peer-reviewed research, attending conferences, and networking and consulting with other professionals in the field. She is passionate about providing the most comprehensive neuropsychology-based psychoeducational evaluations to properly identify students struggling with both disorders. Her evaluations and reports have been acknowledged by leading experts and professionals in the field of both Dyslexia and Autism Spectrum.  Julie currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the  International Dyslexia Association – SC Branch and served on the SC Act 251 Learning Disorders Task Force for two years. She has presented at the Lowcountry Autism Consortium Annual Conference, the College of Charleston, homeschool groups, Trident Academy, and other private schools  to help spread awareness and support for individuals with disabilities.

Julie enjoys spending time with her husband Bryan, watching her three grown daughters pursue their passions, playing tennis, traveling, cheering for the Clemson Tigers, and volunteering her time for her church and community.

Julie is a professional member and/or involved with the following organizations:

International Dyslexia Association – SC (IDA-SC) – Past President 2021

SC Act 251 Learning Disorders Task Force Former Member

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

South Carolina Association of School Psychologists (SCASP)

International Dyslexia Association (IDA)

American Psychological Association (APA) Division 16

Autism Speaks

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

“Julie is perhaps, one of the top educational specialists in the greater Charleston area. Her expertise of various learning disabilities is unequivocal to many in the area. Her reports are some of the most comprehensive I have read during my 18 years of working with students with disabilities. I have lived in Charleston for the past 22 years, thus having worked in this field for 90% of that time, I know a great many educational specialists. She is thorough in her testing, therefore her evaluations are extraordinary and easy to read and navigate. I have referred her to many parents without hesitation, and assured them that they will receive not only possible answers to their questions, but come away with an understanding of what and where the learning issues lie. Even though I have made a transition to Duke University as the Director of the Student Disability Access Office, I will refer her whenever the opportunity presents itself, as she would be the person I would choose if my child ever needed to be tested for ADHD/Learning Disabilities.”

Dot Mishoe
Director, Student Disability Access Office at Duke University