KEY STRENGTHS
- Specialty knowledge with over 30 years of teaching experience working with children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (DHH) in Queensland and New Zealand
- International mentor to teachers of children who are DHH and speech pathologists
- Co-Author of book chapter
- Speaker/presenter at AG Bell International Symposiums/Conferences
CAREER PROFILE
I am a qualified and experienced professional who has dedicated my career to making a difference in the lives of infants, children, and teenagers who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) and their families.
I currently have two roles at Hear and Say. The listening and spoken language specialist role involves coaching and guiding the parents of children and young people who are DHH to teach them how to listen and speak.
My other role is Program Leader, in which I co-ordinate and present professional development and parent education. In this role I source speakers locally, nationally, and internationally to provide parent education on topics including fussy eaters, child development, and behavior management, and provide training for professionals in the fields of education of children who are DHH, speech therapy, and audiology. Throughout the past two years, this training has moved to an online format which makes is accessible to parents and professionals worldwide. Our Sunset Series aimed at audiologists in particular has included presentations on the topics of Cytomegalovirus, Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, and Auditory Processing. Topics and presenters are sourced after negotiation with consumers.
Additionally, I provide mentoring to Hear and Say staff, as well as professionals who are enrolled in our Foundations or Advanced courses in Listening and Spoken Language Theory and Practice and Theory.
In my spare time, I work privately as a mentor to professionals in Denmark and New Zealand. These professionals are working towards certification as listening and spoken language specialists on planning individualized learning and teaching programs, application of teaching strategies to meet individual needs, and delivery of differentiated programs that link individual needs with curriculum goals. I have also mentored professionals in Cyprus and Hong Kong.
I am a member of the AG Bell Academy Board of Directors and am the co-chair of the AG Bell Academy Board Certification Committee.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
August 2019 —
Worldwide Professional Development Program Leader and Listening and Spoken Language Specialist
Hear and Say, Ashgrove, Brisbane
April 2013 —
Listening and Spoken Language Specialist International Mentor to teachers and speech therapists
Copenhagen, Denmark, Fredericia, Denmark, and Nicosia, Cyprus
February 2007 – July 2019 (Permanent part-time)
Cochlear Implant Habilitationist/Itinerant teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing
Kelston Deaf Education Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
August 2007 – July 2019
Auditory-Verbal Therapist (Permanent part-time)
The Hearing House, Hamilton and Auckland, New Zealand
July 2001 – July 2006
Various positions with Education Queensland, Australia, including
Early Intervention Teacher at Yeerongpilly SEDU, Physical Education & Music Specialist Teacher in Geebung Special School, and Support Teacher at Caboolture High Special Education Unit
January 1997 – July 2001 Various positions with
van Asch Deaf Education Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand, including
Support Teacher (Speech, Language, and Listening) – South Island, Aural (Re)habilitation Therapist, and Itinerant teacher of the deaf
January 1986 – December 1996 Various positions with
Education Queensland, including
Teacher of the deaf (early intervention, primary, and high schools), Advisory Visiting Teacher (Hearing Impairment), and Adviser
EDUCATION
Master of Education, The University of Melbourne, 2000 LSLS Certification in Auditory-Verbal Therapy, Auditory-Verbal International, 2000 Bachelor of Education, BCAE (now Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus), 1989 Diploma of Teaching (Primary and Special Schools), BCAE (now Queensland University of Technology, Carseldine Campus), 1985
BOARD PROFILE
AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language Board Secretary and Certification sub-committee co-chair, current
FELLOWSHIPS/GRANTS
QUOTA NZ Sheila Drummond Bursary [AGBell Global Symposium], 2019
Oticon Grant [Advanced Language Assessment], 1999
The Bob and June Prickett Churchill Fellowship [Aural Habilitation], 1996
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Developing Empathy through Stories and Songs (Poster), 2021 AG Bell Listening and Spoken Language Symposium
Engaging Learners in Listening and Spoken Language Sessions: From Tots to teenagers, 2020 AG Bell Listening and Spoken Language Symposium
A to Z of Telepractice (co-presenter), 2020 AG Bell Listening and Spoken Language Symposium
AG Bell LSLS Certification 101 (co-presenter), 2020 (with Dr Jane Madell) and 2021 (with Sherri Vernelson) AG Bell Listening and Spoken Language Symposium
REFEREES
Holly Teagle holly@hearinghouse.co.nz +64 9 579 2333
Emma Rushbrooke emma.rushbrooke@hearandsay.com.au +61 7 3850 2221