My
Approach
As a Speech language pathologist, I’ve worked for almost 20 years with people who are neurodiverse or have other levels of developmental differences. From schools, to private practice and hospitals, I’ve continuously focused on a Strengths Based, Social Model approach.
What this means is I focus on an individuals inherent interests and abilities to form a plan of treatment. I work with families and individuals to help with advocacy. I believe that each individual and family has more positive outcomes when they know themselves fully and can ask/advocate for their needs.
Through this approach I have helped improve the lives of thousands of people by using their inherent interests and strengths which has resulted in my clients enjoying their therapy time, improving self-understanding and meeting their goals. The best way to gain anyone’s confidence is to follow what they love, prepare the world for their gifts and support the areas that are needed for their growth.
Areas of Interest
Collaboration
When we have a child or client who has differences and needs support it's imperative that all stakeholders work together for maximum outcome. Too often supports are given in isolation and without properly involving the individual or their family in the process. What better way to see positive outcomes than by working together to achieve goals that are important to the individual and the family?
Advocacy
As a Speech Language Pathologist and the mother of a daughter who is neurodivergent, I am a strong advocate for awareness, inclusion and education. I regard all humans on a continuum of abilities, instead of normal vs abnormal. We all matter. When we know ourselves, we can change the world, instead of the world changing us. I believe in talking about differences, and in letting children know early on what sets them apart, so they can understand themselves.
Girls on the autism spectrum
This is a subject close to my heart. It wasn't until around 2010 or so that girls who had (high functioning) autism were finally begun to be seen in a different light. Researchers and therapists had long regarded girls with autism as having the same traits as boys, but research was wrong...it's often quite different. This results in girls with autism being missed, diagnosed later and often misdiagnosed. It's a big issue and I'm committed to increasing awareness on this subject.
Click here for an article I've written on this topic.
