early intervention aberdeen
Aberdeen
Lara Goldie is a dedicated and passionate Speech and Language Therapist and
mother to 4 young children. She has a BS in Audiology and Speech Language
Pathology, and a Master's Degree in Communication Disorders and she is fully
certified in the United Kingdom and the United States (CCC-SLP, MRCSLT, and
HCPC-cert) and has 12 years of post graduate experience. Lara has worked in a
variety of settings including Early Intervention, hospitals, Schools and voice
clinics. She is skilled at treating a wide range of speech, language and voice
disorders. Lara has worked extremely hard in her education and training in order
to understand communication difficulties and to know the most efficient way to
treat them. She is committed to providing current, research-based, and effective
treatment and it brings great satisfaction for her to be a part of someone's
journey to improve. linda Linda Lumsden is a local business woman and mother to
4 children, she became one of the United Kingdom’s youngest entrepreneurs, at
the age of 18 with the assistance of the Princes Scottish youth business trust.
She has owned and operated her businesses for over 21 years. In the late 1990s -
early 2000s, She was one of three entrepreneurs involved in a Scottish
government initiative “Think Business” which was part of the secondary education
curriculum to inspire the next generation of Scottish entrepreneurs. Linda has a
BA (Hons) degree in Law and Management and various SVQs and HND units in
Business, Law and Childcare, She recently completed a Post Graduate certificate
in Autism and Practice and is currently in her final year studying a Masters in
Education at The University of Aberdeen. Her final research project is focussed
on Pathalogical Demand Avoidance (PDA). Linda was deprived of schooling at the
age of 14, when she was failed by the education system. She also has vast
experience navigating the local authorities social care system following her
brothers aquired brain damage. One of Lindas sons is twice exceptional and has
an Autism Spectrum Condition diagnosis. His progress since working with Lara at
the age of two has been phenomenal. The lack of funded support and services
offered to improve the life chances of neurodivergent children, particulary
those considered to be at the high functioning end of the spectrum, has given
her the determination to help empower other families in similar circumstances.
amanda Amanda Nicolson is a dedicated and passionate Social Care Professional
with substantial experience at senior management level and comes with a proven
track record managing large services and staff teams. Amanda started her career
in care homes for the elderly as a Carer. She also has vast experience working
with various vulnerable groups including children and adults with learning
disabilities, the elderly and those with mental health challenges. Amanda is
passionate about quality service provision, social justice and meaningful
inclusion. Amanda met Linda while they were both studying at university. They
both believe that everyone can flourish if they are given the support and
resources to access the same opportunities that many of us can take for granted.
Amanda has a BA (Hons) degree in Law and Management where she opted for modules
that were relevant to her work experience including Child Care Law. She also has
various SVQs and HND units in Business, Law, Health and Social Care. Amanda is
currently studying several courses covering health and wellbeing topics at the
Open University. Michelle Blake is a self-employed neurodivergent
counsellor/coach with extensive experience working with neurodiversity. Michelle
has lived experience of being both Autistic and ADHD as well as having children
who are Autistic, ADHD, Dyslexic, and hearing impaired as well as a deep
theoretical understanding of both ASD and ADHD. Michelle’s professional
background includes working as a counsellor/coach primarily within educational
settings specifically working with students who are neurodivergent. In 2013 she
co-founded a Social Enterprise Company specialising in delivering Ecotherapy
projects outdoors, supporting neurodivergent clients to access green space. The
projects developed through Michelle’s love of research when she identified that
‘those who are more active in natural spaces have a greater sense of wellbeing
and have lower rates of depression and anxiety (www.mind.org.uk/ecominds). All
her work centres around her core passion for supporting and advocating on behalf
of neurodivergent individuals and their right to be included. Michelle has an
Honours Degree in Person-Centred Counselling as well as being a qualified
Clinical Supervisor and is BACP registered. She has recently completed her PG
Cert in Autism and Learning at the University of Aberdeen and is currently
completing her PG Cert in ADHD and Neurodevelopmental Conditions. Once finished
Michelle plans to complete her Master’s degree with a research project on Autism
and ADHD
