I am a speech and language therapist and autism consultant registered with The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (Reg: RC0007641), The Health and Care Professions Council (Reg: SL15223) and The Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (Reg: 2065). I have enhanced DBS clearance to work with children and vulnerable adults.
I am a professional member of the National Autistic Society and accredited to perform autism diagnoses using the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO). I am also qualified to use The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - 2 (ADOS-2) and The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R).
I have extensive experience within the NHS and working independently, delivering therapy, assessments, training and expert advice in a wide variety of settings including schools/colleges, special schools, and with parents and individuals. I worked as an ELKLAN, ICAN and Hanen tutor and was a founding trustee of the Autism Inclusive Charity in Crewe Cheshire. I have performed over 4000 neurodevelopmental assessments for all ages, independently and with other professionals, including Occupational Therapists, Mental Health Nurses, paediatricians, psychologists and psychiatrists.
In recent years most of my work has been with the award-winning neurodevelopmental multi-disciplinary team at Axia-ASD Ltd in Chester who adopt a person-centred approach to assessment and therapy that has been so successful with the neurodiverse community. I am employed by solicitors, private individuals and local authorities as an expert witness for medico-legal work. I am the author of a report for The Welsh Assembly on parents’ experiences of services for their autistic children and I acted as an external course assessor for a new masters degree in Autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions run by Professor Digby Tantum at The New School for Psychotherapy and Counselling in London.
I am from a neurodiverse family myself and am committed to supporting people to understand these conditions in an accurate and realistic manner so that both the strengths and sensitivities are properly understood by the individuals themselves and those around them, whether in education, at work or at home. This is the only way to reduce anxiety and improve quality of life, which is so vitally important in the context of so much suffering experienced by those who are different.
After previously playing football for Stoke City reserves and Republic of Ireland at youth level I completed a BA (Hons) in Coaching and Sport Development. I then went on to complete an MA in The Sociology of Sport. During my studies I worked as a Youth Coach at Stoke City Football Club before setting up Discover Social Skills, which is a programme that supports neurodiverse people in various settings.
I provide social skills groups for neurodiverse pupils in primary schools, secondary schools and privately which aim to promote the strengths of Autism and ADHD, helping pupils understand their abilities in a new and positive way that supports their self-esteem. The group activities are based on pupil shared interests to promote engagement, social cohesion and interaction. These groups are managed in a way so as to minimise any triggers in the environment to reduce anxiety and to enable the participants to be their authentic selves. The goal of these social groups is for neurodiverse people to better understand their strengths and sensitivities in a safe environment.
Discover Social Skills also provides support on a 1:1 basis for neuro-diverse adults helping with life skills, understanding their strengths and better understanding the non-autistic social world around them. I also provide home support for parents, including advice on how to embed reasonable adjustments at school.