About Me

Experience

2010-2022 Private Practice (Ireland)

I lead a multi-disciplinary assessment service for private clients and organisations.

2007-2010 Volunteering

I worked as a consultant for a number of autism organisations worldwide.

As well as advising how to develop existing services, I worked directly with families and delivered training to parents and professionals. I covered a range of subjects including structured teaching; curriculum and environment adaptation; and supporting non-verbal children.

2005-2007 NHS (UK Health Service)

I worked in Dudley South Primary Care Trust as a speech & language therapist. I worked with clients aged 4 to 18 with a range of communication needs, in both special and mainstream schools. I also had a specialist caseload of children and young people with autism. My role included staff consultation and multi-agency working.

While working for the NHS, I assisted in creating a service for secondary school students and was involved in a research project with the University of Birmingham.

2003-2005 Sunfield (Specialist Residential School)

I was one of two speech and language therapists working at Sunfield School. I worked with children aged 7 to 19 who had severe learning disabilities, challenging behaviour and were on the Autistic spectrum.

My role included: one to one and group therapy; staff training; supporting alternative augmentative communication; implementing TEACCH strategies; using PECS; and working within a multidisciplinary team which included: occupational therapists, music therapists and psychologists.

Lecturing & Training

I have trained and presented to parents and professionals on topics such as: modifying the curriculum for students with language difficulties; improving the communication of individuals with autism; and working with individuals who are non-verbal.

2010, 2011 University of Limerick

Twice I've delivered a one day introduction to Autism, for final-year masters students of speech & language therapy.

Workshop in Johannesburg

Training in Goa

Training in Goa

Volunteering in Trinidad

2009-2010 Training, Trinidad & Tobago

A variety of training courses for parents and professionals, including: an introduction to autism; picture exchange; and structured teaching for individuals with autism. I was kindly funded by the Republic Bank of Trinidad & Tobago for eight weeks to train local volunteers to facilitate social communication groups for children with autism who had no other access to therapy.

2009. Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa.

A one-day workshop for ninety participants from a wide range of professions, covering practical strategies for working with a wide range of disabilities in both mainstream and special schools.

2009. Training, Windhoek, Namibia.

I trained teachers and professionals from government funded special schools for six weeks. Teachers developed their understanding of the communication needs of their students and learned how to modify the curriculum to address these needs.

2008. Workshop,'Introduction to Autism', Goa, India.

I hosted a two-day workshop for fifty parents and professionals. I introduced strategies to improve their interaction skills for individuals with autism as well as practical methods for developing their communication skills.

2008. Teacher training: An Introduction to Autism, Dehradun, India.

I covered the triad of impairments and the types of intervention appropriate for individuals with autism.

2007-2008. Guest Lectures, Learning Disabilities Masters Degree, University of Birmingham.

I lectured to students about methods for accessing the voices of people with learning disabilities.

2007. Presentation, Dudley South Primary Care Trust, UK.

I presented my doctoral research to speech and language therapists at a district-wide meeting.

2004. Guest Lecture, Special Educational Needs Course for teachers, Telford College, UK.

I lectured on the use of cognitive neuropsychology in speech and language therapy.

Education

2003-2010. Doctor of Philosphy (PhD)

Transition planning for young people with severe learning disabilities: social positions and power relationships

School of Education, University of Birmingham, UK

2004 Post Graduate Certificate in Research

School of Education, University of Birmingham, UK

1999-2003 BSc 2:1 Human Communication

De Montfort Universty, Leicester, UK

Courses

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2)

ADOS-2 is an observation schedule which is used as part of an autism diagnostic assessment. I attended training at the Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin.

Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R)

I am trained to adminsiter the ADI-R : a parent/caregiver interview that is used as part of an autism diagnostic assessment.

TEACHH

A week long intensive course on the use of structured teaching.

PECS

Picture Exchange Communication System

Hanen 'It takes two to talk'

A course designed to help parents interact more effectively with their pre-school child in order to improve their childs language skills.

I have also attended courses on: choice-making; and citizenship for individuals with severe learning disabilities.