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Speaker biographies |
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David Anthony
Head of Research and Learning
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David has worked within the field of special educational needs since 2005 and joined BeyondAutism in 2015. Since then, he has worked in leadership roles in our Schools, Sixth Form and Post-19 service. He has studied at a range of institutions including the Institute of Education; The Central School of Speech & Drama; University of the Arts London; and is continuing his postgraduate studies at Queen’s University Belfast. David has experience of working within a range of schools and services, including primary, secondary, and adult provision. David is passionate about all learners having access to an education that ensures they develop the skills and knowledge to become active citizens in their communities whilst having choice and control over their own lives. With the right support and opportunity, David believes all learners can reach their individual aspirations and outcomes.
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Bernadett Rankasz
Head of Early Years
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Since graduating as a Teacher of Health Sciences, Bernadett has been passionate about teaching children with special needs. She gained significant experience teaching in a wide range of educational settings, including mainstream primary and secondary schools, special schools and ASD units, becoming an outstanding teacher across all year groups. Most recently, Bernadett was Head of Primary Phase in a free special school for children with autism.Bernadett firmly believes that every child holds an innate potential to rise above their circumstances and succeed beyond expectation in life with the presence of empathy, equal opportunity and a supportive and competent multidisciplinary team. As Head of Early Years, working with professionals in many mainstream and special schools, Bernadett now feels privileged to have the opportunity to witness even more children and young people with autism pursue growth and happiness in their educational setting and throughout life.
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Matthew Wicks
Outreach Consultant
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Matt has worked with children and young people since 2007, in a variety of settings including mainstream school, special needs schools and ABA specific special schools. After completing his degree he began work as an ABA Tutor at Ambitious About Autism. 4 years later he left to pursue his career in ABA, studying for a masters in ABA part time while working as a self-employed Behaviour Analyst on ABA home programmes. In 2014 he graduated and began working towards becoming board certified. Matt passed the BCBA exam in February 2017 and has been working for BeyondAutism as an Outreach Consultant since June 2017. He is passionate about disseminating knowledge and understanding of ABA. He lives in North London with his wife, daughter and son.
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Elizabeth Robinson
Head of Post-19
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Liza has extensive knowledge of post 16 teaching and leadership experience within the field of autism and SEN over the last 18 years. She has completed studies in Education, Social Care and in the process of completing an MBA. With her strategic leadership, she has set up the DFN Project SEARCH Supported Internship at Queen Mary University of London. A project for young adults with autism to successfully gain full-time paid employment. Liza has also established a Specialist College in Tower Hamlets, to provide Specialist Education for adults. She is committed to seeing young adults reach their full potential and live in an inclusive society.
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Emily Ross
Specialist Vocational Advisor
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Emily has worked with children and young adults with SEN in education and the community for a decade. In 2013, while working at a SEN college, she took on a Job Coach role and supported a student with autism during their work placement at a supermarket. Her passion for Supported Employment was born. Since then Emily has gone on to set up Supported Internships at a major London hospital trust and worked for several charities as an Employment Advisor. She has worked alongside companies such as Sodexo, GSK, British Airways, Sainsbury’s and the NHS to facilitate reasonable adjustments at interview stage and in work, so young adults with additional needs have access to meaningful employment.
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Tom Bailey
Head of Therapy Services
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Tom has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) for 16 years, primarily in Special School settings across London and the Home Counties. He has worked for three NHS Trusts as Clinical Lead SaLT for Early Years, Special Schools and Autism, and in two Independent Special Schools, including Ambitious about Autism as Manager Allied Health Professionals.Tom is a qualified autism diagnostic practitioner having completed the ADOS Training in 2018, and has completed Regional Makaton Tutor training. He has previously been a Team Lead within the National Autistic Society’s Accreditation Team. Tom is a committee member of the London Autism Clinical Excellence Network for SaLTs and has been part of the related Journal Club for many years. Tom is currently involved in a Working Party of the Royal College of SLTs to encourage more men into the profession. Currently Tom has a role as a Visiting Clinical Tutor for the Speech and Language students at City University, London.
Tom is excited to be leading the Therapies Team at Beyond Autism, working with enthusiastic and professional Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists who all share the same vision of providing the children and young people we work with functional experiences and opportunities within their community. |
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Kieran Bird
Executive Head of Schools
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Kieran joined the school in 2016. He has extensive teaching experience and has worked across both mainstream and specialist education, specialising in understanding behaviour and communication. Kieran’s passion lies within SEN and lifelong learning. His ambition for all pupils is for them to develop the skills necessary to function happily in society. Kieran promotes learning through exploration and discovery, and believes in the importance of personalised target setting in ensuring learner progress.
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