JOHN FIELD

Certified Practising Speech Pathologist

Member of Speech Pathology Australia

Member of the Australian Group on Severe Communication Impairments

John is the resident mobile speech and language pathologist at Speech at the Beach. He is passionate about improving the quality of life of his clients and their families. As far as possible he works in natural settings in order to maximise the ability of those he works with to integrate new skills in their daily lives. You may see him around the neighbourhoods, schools and playgrounds of Sydney's Northern Beaches. Do say hello.

John holds a Masters in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Sydney. Additionally, he is certified to deliver More Than Words® — The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders or Social Communication Difficulties. Furthermore he is qualified to deliver the DIR®/Floortime® Model. He enjoys marrying the two approaches, which both insist that the key to good therapy is to tap into the interests, sensibilities and perspectives of those you work with.

The Four Blocks Literacy Framework also heavily informs John's practice. He has received training from Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver, arguably the foremost authorities on incorporating assistive technology or other forms of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in literacy instruction. He is an advocate of the use of speech generation devices and tablet applications (eg Proloquo2go or LAMP Words for Life) to facilitate communication, as well as less high tech systems such as Key Word Sign and PECS.

Finally, John has been trained to use Talking Mats®, a tool which uses a range of communication symbols to allow for more effective consultation and conversations with those who have language disorders, whether developmental (typically children and young people), the result of disability or acquired later in life on account of stroke, brain injury or dementia.