Hi' I am About Me
I graduated with First Class Honours in 2000 with a BSc (Hons) in Clinical Language Sciences. I am a highly specialised Speech and Language Therapist. I have worked for 20 years in the area of Paediatric Disability within the public health service, most recently as a Senior Speech and Language Therapist.
About Me
Personal Experience
I centre my therapy on building a connection with each child, providing them with an irresistible invitation to engage and communicate. My individualised approach ensures each child receives tailored support, focusing on functional communication skills. I provide play based and neurodiversity affirming Speech and Language therapy, respecting each child’s specific needs and learning style. I adopt a family centred approach in my practice and I’m passionate about parental empowerment.
I am a Lámh Tutor and a strong advocate for inclusive communication and use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). I have a special interest in use of AAC to support functional communication skills. I have undertaken extensive training in this area. I have completed a vast amount of post graduate training over my 24-year career; Derbyshire, Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words, Talkability, Learning Language and Loving it, Talking Mats, Attention Autism, EarlyBird, DIR Floortime, SCERTS and many more. I am committed to continuing professional development and I am currently undertaking the Marg Blanc Natural Language Acquisition Course (Gestalt Language Processing).
I have worked in a wide array of settings; mainstream and special preschools, mainstream and special schools and special classes. I also have extensive experience in delivering training to other professionals. I design and facilitate specialised training packages for staff, blending theory with practical application.
I have a special interest in Autism, with extensive training in autism and autistic communication. I am dedicated to evidence-based practice in my work. Creating connection with both children and families forms the foundations of my interaction with families. In my purpose designed clinic setting, I cater for the diverse needs of the autistic community, identifying children’s strengths and using these to support communication.
I was amongst the first cohort of highly trained Registered Intermediaries in Ireland. I graduated with first class honours in the Professional Diploma in Intermediary Studies from the University of Limerick in 2023.
The role of the Intermediary is to support victims and defendants to give their best evidence. I am skilled in the facilitation of communication in all stages of the justice process from Gardai interview to courtroom. I’m also highly trained in the assessment of functional communication skills and both low- and high-tech communication supports. Through thorough assessment I can outline recommendations verbally and in writing, regarding the vulnerable person’s communication needs and what adjustments will be required in order for them to give their best evidence.
I have vast experience in diagnostics as a valued member of the multidisciplinary team. I have competed training in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS 2). I’m also a member of the IASLT and is registered with CORU (SL019689).
