Type of service: Assessment, Educational Psychologists (independent), Training providers, Training providers

I am trained and experienced in the use of ADI and ADOS and other major diagnostic instruments and, for 15 years have been involved in diagnostic assessments, providing second opinions for Educational Psychology and Paediatric colleagues. I have also been responsible for negotiating and establishing the diagnostic pathways in two Local Authorities.

I have extensive experience of carrying out assessments of need for children and young people across the full range of the autistic spectrum and across the entire ability range (including reports presented as evidence in SEN Tribunals). I have prepared and presented training on ASD for universities, Local Authorities and voluntary organisations across the UK and in Ireland, and have published a range of books, articles and chapters on the education and management of young people with ASD. I am able to make home visits, visit a client's nursery, school or college, provide independent expert reports, and, attend tribunals / educational appeal committees.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child , Parent/carer of a child, Professional

Covers: East Midlands, West Midlands

Specialisms: Exclusively autism specific

Other specialisms: Learning disability

Registrations and professional qualifications: My first degree was from the University of Cambridge in 1973 and I qualified as an Educational Psychologist at the University of Nottingham in 1979, after a 2 year MA. In the first 15 years of my career I worked in two English Local Authorities and in Toronto, gradually specialising in work with youngsters with complex learning, communication and developmental difficulties. I was extremely fortunate to take on one of the UK’s first Specialist Senior Educational Psychology posts in the field of autism and worked in this role from 1995 until 2012. During my career I’ve undertaken extensive further training and acquired a range of additional qualifications: Training and experience in the use of most of the widely recognized and best established ASD-specific assessment and diagnostic tools (you can find out more on the Diagnosis page) Accreditation and wide experience as a TEACCH trainer. TEACCH is one of the best established and most comprehensive approaches to the education and management of people with ASD. You can find out more by clicking this link: http://teacch.com. Training in the use of SCERTS. This is a comprehensive, evidence based approach which enables the detailed planning of individual teaching programmes. These are focussed on a range of very specific skills and understanding in the core areas of development affected by the young person’s autism. Training in Counselling Studies (Vaughan College, Leicester), Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, all of which have proved extremely useful in working with some individuals who are on the autistic spectrum.