One of our core areas of business is learning disability (or intellectual disability). We have started using the term ‘intellectual disability’ more as it is more easily understood around the world and as some of our work is international, we prefer to use a more internationally accepted term.
A large part of our work is with children and adults with an intellectual disability. Our managing director, Alex Kelly, has over 30 years’ experience of working in this area and is well known in this field, having written the only textbook for speech therapists on working with adults with a learning disability.
Alex says in the introduction to her book:
In my opinion, working with adults with a learning disability is the most varied, challenging, exciting, rewarding and fun job I could have, and after many years of working as a speech and language clinician, I still love going to work.
Anyone who works with people who have an intellectual disability have such an important role to play. We can help them to express their thoughts and feelings; we can help them to be listened to and understood; we can help them to have an effect on their surroundings and on their lives; and we can help them to have a voice and be more valued in their community. What could be more rewarding?
Our lead for this area at Speaking Space is Julie Dickinson
