Our presenters

Maeve Lappin has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) for over 20 years, both in the NHS and in independent practice in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Australia. Maeve’s clinical experience focused mainly on children presenting with a range of speech, language and communication needs in educational settings. As well as direct intervention, Maeve has over 20 years of experience delivering training to caregivers and education staff in speech, language and communication needs. For 17 years, Maeve Lappin worked as a Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy at Ulster University, combining this with clinical work. Key teaching and learning areas encompassed neurodevelopmental disorders and stammering across the lifespan.

Maeve supports clients with or without communication differences who have become stuck in their lives. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with a strong behavioural underpinning is the predominant method of therapy. Maeve focuses heavily on thoughts, feelings and sensations surrounding communication differences and equips the client to relate to these in a more adaptable way. Broadening out the actions of clients has been shown empirically to lessen both anxiety and avoidance behaviour, and as a result, bring more purpose and meaning to daily living. Maeve specialises in helping clients who stammer or who have selective mutism.

Maggie Johnson is widely recognised as a UK expert in Selective Mutism and has contributed to the Primary National Strategy for children with special educational needs (DfES 2005) and Communicating Phonics (The Communication Trust 2012).

Maggie’s publications include:

• Helping Children Hang on To Your Every Word
• Active Listening for Active Learning (QEd Publications)
• The Selective Mutism Resource Manual (Routledge)
• Worry Wheels Anxiety Set (Sense Toys)
• Functional Language in the Classroom (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Mary Gavin was the SLT Clinical Lead for Preschool Complex Needs at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Since her retirement after 20 years of service with the NHS, her focus is now on training other professionals in the understanding of gestures. Her research into types and functions of gestures significantly changed her own clinical practice with non-speaking autistic children. A summary of her research was presented within the article ‘Gestures: The finer points’ in the RCSLT Bulletin, Winter 23/24.

Melanie Cross is a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) who worked with Looked After Children for many years. This has resulted in publications including Branagan A, Cross M & Parsons S (2020) ‘Language for Behaviour and Emotions’ http://thinkingtalking.co.uk/lfbe/.

Melanie has also worked with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) to help develop their clinical guidelines on Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) for SLTs. She has also worked on the RCSLTs learning journey for practitioners working with children and young people who experience SEMH & Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) https://www.rcslt.org/learning/mind-your-words/.

Melanie Cross is also a freelance clinical supervisor, trainer, consultant and Video Interaction Guider and supervisor.

Natalie Fitzpatrick is a Teacher in a school for students with complex needs in County Durham. She is a trained conductor and has worked with children with complex physical, learning and communication needs for over 15 years.

Natalie has worked closely with Gayle Porter to implement the PODD system in Perth, Australia, which is where she was first introduced to PODD back in 2006. She has delivered AAC training to parents, staff and professionals at both national and international educational conferences.

Natalie Fitzpatrick gained the PODD presenter certification process with Gayle Porter, co-presenting with her in Perth Western Australia. She is one of the four UK-based PODD trainers.

Professor Helen Stringer is a qualified Speech and Language Therapist and Teacher. With over forty years of experience working with children and young people with a wide range of developmental speech & language disorders; in special schools and units, the NHS and overseas.

Helen was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in 2013 for her distinguished contribution to the profession.

Professor Helen Stringer has worked at Newcastle University for over ten years. She specialises in research and teaching in developmental speech sound disorders, behaviour change and evidence-based practice. Most recently Helen was Head of Speech and Language Sciences, leading the delivery of Newcastle’s high-ranking pre-registration speech and language therapy degree programmes. She is a member of the Child Speech Disorder Research Network (UK and Ireland) and is actively engaged in research collaborations in speech, language, and communicative participation. You can read more about her work here.