As AAC service lead Andrea is responsible for our provision of specialised communication aids throughout our region. Andrea has joint responsibility for this role with Helen Robinson.
Andrea graduated as a speech and language therapist from London in 2000. From 2006 to 2011, Andrea worked as the AAC Specialist for the Paediatric SLT service in Barnsley. During this time Andrea also developed an AAC Training Package (Elklan) and started a project to develop an accessible receptive language assessment (CARLA). Andrea joined the Barnsley Assistive Technology team in 2011 as their first speech and language therapist and took on the role of AAC lead in 2015 as the team began the transition to becoming the Yorkshire and Humber specialist centre. Andrea says:
My interest in AAC had been sparked prior to my degree when I worked as a personal assistant with a lady with cerebral palsy and saw the impact AAC had on her wellbeing and opportunities. Soon after qualifying, I specialised in paediatric special needs and took the steps to develop my AAC skills and career.