Catherine Aldred
Catherine is a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist and & Honorary Lecturer University of Manchester, IMPACT & Roundway Centre. Catherine’s goal is early intervention for autism and associated social communication impairments, preventing secondary needs and promoting the best quality research into practice. She led pioneering autism therapy trials developed from her Ph.D. research at the University of Manchester and clinical practice including PACT, a follow-up study and UK and international implementation trials in India, France, Italy, Hong Kong due to extend to China and Denmark.
CAROL BAGNALL
Carol is a retired Health Visitor who specialised for many years supporting pre-school children presenting with developmental delay / disabilities. She was initially involved in Stockport’s Autism referral pathway for pre-school children in 2002 and contributed to Nice Guidelines September 2011: Autism Spectrum Disorder in under 19s recognition, referral and diagnosis. She has remained involved with Stockport’s Autism a Hands on Conference since it’s conception in 2003.
STEVE IVEY
Steve has worked in special needs education for the past 25 years. Having worked in a variety of schools in Manchester, Trafford and Stockport he has had the opportunity to explore and develop his interest in ASC across a variety of settings. He has a keen interest in behavioural interventions and sensory processing issues and is currently employed as Behaviour Lead at Heaton School, Stockport. He has attended many ‘Hands On’ conferences over the past decade and has been a committee member since 2016.cwealth of insight and learned strategies and that it would be good to use this to help other parents and advise professionals. But also, that we could all increase our knowledge by bringing together experts and therapists to advise us on best practices and research projects. And here we still are. I am sad this year that we all won’t be able to meet in person because meeting old friends and exchanging ideas has always been one of the best parts for me. Let’s hope for better times next year whilst enjoying what we can this one.
JANET EL-MIKATTI
Janet has a 36-year-old son with autism, moderate learning difficulties and dyspraxia. I am one of the founder parent members of the Autism a Hands On conference which started after Dr Baxter the then Director of Public Health interviewed parents of children with autism whilst researching the alleged link between MMR and autism. He felt that parents had a wealth of insight and learned strategies and that it would be good to use this to help other parents and advise professionals. But also, that we could all increase our knowledge by bringing together experts and therapists to advise us on best practices and research projects. And here we still are. I am sad this year that we all won’t be able to meet in person because meeting old friends and exchanging ideas has always been one of the best parts for me. Let’s hope for better times next year whilst enjoying what we can this one.