Paula is a Speech and Language Therapist and neurodevelopmental specialist with 26 years’ experience across independent specialist education, neurodevelopmental assessment, therapy leadership and strategic service development.
She is currently Head of Therapy at the National Autistic Society, where she leads therapy provision across specialist autism schools. Paula is particularly interested in neuroaffirming practice, whole-school approaches, and embedding therapy into everyday classroom routines, curriculum and relationships.
Paula has contributed to national professional guidance through the RCSLT, including guidance linked to HCPC standards, and has acted as lead author as part of this work. She is passionate about strengthening professional identity across all sectors of speech and language therapy, particularly for clinicians working in less traditional roles, and about giving a voice to autistic people who are not always represented in professional and public spaces.
