Speech and Language Therapist
kforrest@welearn.school.nz
phone 027 541 1224
Master of Speech Language Therapy, Bachelor of Education
Karen is a Speech-Language Therapist who works throughout the school supporting learners with communication needs. This includes assessing the learner and providing intervention in a variety of forms to suit individual needs. This may include individual and/or group work, providing advice and guidance to staff and families, applying for communication devices and offering parent training.
A total communication approach is used to help our learners understand and communicate including, gestures, sign, speech and alternative augmentative communication (AAC). Karen supports the use of visuals and AAC in all of our classes and all staff are trained to use both low tech and high tech communication devices like core boards, PODD books and electronic devices. Literacy is an important skill for learners and Karen is able to support literacy programmes in the classroom so that teaching and material can be adapted to suit the needs of our students.
Karen works with other therapists and staff to work on regulation and provide approaches and teaching techniques that benefit our students like Intensive Interaction and Attention Autism.
Karen also works in collaboration with the Health Speech Language Therapists to support students with feeding and swallowing as required.