International Health Humanities Network Membership

I hold a MA (Speech-Language Pathology) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa and am in the process of completing an interdisciplinary doctoral degree in education at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.  The thesis focuses on the teaching and learning approach known as Philosophy for Children with autistic children.  I am part of an international project at the University of Cape Town titled Decolonizing Early Childhood Discourses in Higher Education.  I bring my experience with childhood disability, early childhood education and intervention to the research discourse. 

As a certified speech-language therapist, I have worked for close to 20 years with young children from birth to 15 years.  Most often, these children have presented with complex communication needs including autism, cerebral palsy and other neurogenic disorders. My clinical and postgraduate training include paediatric NDT (neuro-developmental therapy), P.R.O.M.P.T (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Targets) and AAC (Alternate and Augmentative Communication) as well autism specific interventions.  My clinical experience spans state, rural and private educational/medical institutions geared towards inclusive education and cultural-linguistic diversity within dis-abled communities in South Africa.   I have also worked at faculty level with graduate and postgraduate students, which included teaching, research and clinical supervision. 

Currently, I am the principal director of Jozi4Autism (www.jozi4autism.org.za), a non-profit organization that aims to raise community awareness and support of autism in Johannesburg.  Jozi4Autism also aims to provide services to children and families with autism in the outlying areas of Johannesburg. 

In my spare time, I merrily go on crazy adventures with my husband and  four kids.  My favourite moments are the life-changing, wickedly entertaining and thought provoking experiences encountered with my pre-tween autistic son.