Our Centre Team

 Abbey Forster – Speech and Language Pathologist

Through experience across a number of approaches to intervention in Autism, and academic experience including Autism specific post graduate studies, Abbey provides evidence based Speech Language Pathology assessment and therapy with a client and family centered focus. Always having worked in close partnership with parents, OT’s, psychologists, and other members of the child’s support network, Abbey has a strong emphasis on a team approach to intervention for individuals with Autism.

“I always saw myself in a career where I could help people achieve their potential. So after 6 months abroad volunteering at a school in Tanzania, I started university studying teaching. As I completed subjects in special education, linguistics, and neuroanatomy, a different career path appeared and my passion for Autism began. As soon as I found Speech Language Pathology, I changed my degree, and started work as a disability support worker. Over my 6 years as a disability support worker, I communicated with hundreds of people of all abilities. I learnt a lot about the industry, the joys, and the challenges that come with communication and disability. I found that my work, my studies, and my growing interest in Autism, gave me the opportunity to apply everything I was learning to my communication skills, and to learn from my clients how I could be a better communicator and advocate.”

“Communication is so much more than words. It involves speaking, hearing, listening, understanding, behaviour, social skills, reading, writing and using voice. I could go on. It’s a complex and fascinating thing that we humans do, that I am so passionate about. Communication difficulties can be a source of immense frustration, anger, embarrassment or grief as people try to communicate their needs, thoughts, opinions, and feelings. In Autism, communication needs and difficulties vary tremendously from person to person. Part of the reason that I am so passionate and interested in Autism, is that every person has their own varied strengths and challenges in their day to day life. Every time a client or their family provides me with their goals and aspirations, I get to use my skills to dive into their communication and find creative ways to help them use their strengths to communicate and achieve their goals. Nothing is more satisfying than that.”