About Laura
Laura is a highly experienced Speech and Language Therapist. She qualified in 1998 and since that time has led therapy teams and worked with both adults and children with complex communication needs including learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and physical disabilities. She is friendly, approachable and well-versed in team working, which enables her to work effectively alongside legal professionals.
Laura has worked for the NHS as a Speech and Language Therapist for 25 years. She also spent several years working for The Communication Trust charity and in this role she devised materials to simplify new legislation for the children’s workforce. The materials produced are freely available online and have an emphasis on enabling participation for all children and young people in the education system. This focus on facilitating participation remains the leitmotif that goes throughout Laura’s career and has led her now to take on her role with The Intermediary Cooperative as an HMRC Intermediary.
Over the years Laura has developed specialist skills in using low and high technology communication aids with vulnerable people to enable their effective participation. She has presented at conferences and led numerous training sessions with different groups of professionals to disseminate these skills.
Laura is trained to work as an HMRC Intermediary in both criminal courts with defendants and family courts. In both jurisdictions she is committed to facilitating communication with vulnerable people to enable access to justice.
Expertise
Learning disabilities
Autism
ADHD
Developmental disorders of speech and language
Physical disabilities affecting speech
Anxiety related conditions
Education
Master of Medical Science (MMedSci) in Clinical Communication Studies, Sheffield University, 1998
Joint BA Honours (1st class) in English Literature and German, University of Hull, 1995
Training
HMRC Intermediary Training through the Intermediary Cooperative
ASD Specific training in working with children
Makaton trained
Alternative communication training courses (eg. PODD) and member of Communication Matters