I am a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist specialising in the assessment and diagnosis of children and adults with Autism and/or ADHD as part of a multidisciplinary team.

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I qualified in 2005 and has many years’ experience working with neurodivergent children and adults, both within the NHS as well as in private organisations. I am trained to administer and interpret the findings of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R), Autism Clinical Interview for Adults (ACIA) and the ADHD Child Evaluation for children and adults (ACE and ACE+). I have worked in neurodevelopmental assessment and diagnostic services for 15 years, continually developing and expanding my knowledge and skills and keeping up-to-date with research and advancements.

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I have a particular interest, expertise and specialist training in the experience of Autistic females; I have provided training for diagnostic clinicians on the potential differences experienced by Autistic women and girls and the subtler characteristics to be considered during the assessment process. Mental health and emotional well-being are also of particular interest to me, and I am passionate about supporting children, adults and their families. Other areas of expertise include AuDHD (co-occurring autism and ADHD), demand avoidance (pervasive desire for autonomy) and situational mutism.

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My approach is friendly, warm, considerate and caring. Having first-hand experience of neurodivergence in my family, I hope to convey a solid level of understanding and empathy. I focus on creating a relaxed and informal experience for people during assessments so that information is elicited naturally and comfortably. Assessments are used in a way to elicit strengths as well as challenges by going beyond the limitations of some assessments, specifically where 'masking' is concerned.

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Emphasis is placed on being person-centred, with the individual's reported lived and inner experiences being a key feature in addition to observations made during the assessment. I pride myself on my neuro-affirmative approach which is reflected in my assessment delivery and reports.

 

 

I am a registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) under the Data Protection Act 2018 and am a member of the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP).