Yvette Theodorsen
Yvette is a certified practising speech pathologist and the founder of Interactive Speech Pathology. She has focused most of her 20 years as a speech pathologist working in the area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She is passionate about every person having a voice, no matter how significant their challenges may be. She continues to increase her skills and knowledge of developments in this area through ongoing quality professional development, attending interstate and international conferences and training to deliver 'best practice' intervention in Western Australia.
Yvette is also a certified PODD Presenter. She has implemented Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD) communication books with people from 9 months to 46 years of age, believing that nobody is too young or too old to begin with AAC. She has supported their communication partners in many different settings, including home, mainstream and special education environments, child care and out in the community. Yvette has worked in programs that provide holistic intervention and understands the importance of considering the 'whole person' when considering their speech, language and communication development. Yvette is particularly passionate about supporting people with complex sensory and motor challenges to access communication.
Bec Watson
Bec worked closely with Interactive Speech Pathology to access support for her daughter Marlee. Through this, Bec was inspired to advocate for all children with complex communication needs (CCN) to have a voice and has worked with Interactive as a Therapy Assistant since 2016.
Bec is always striving to increase her own knowledge and skills. She has attended various conferences and completed training in the area of CCN, including the AGOSCI Literacy Intensive presented by Jane Farrall and Dr Sally Clendon, and Gayle Porter's Introductory, Speech Generating Device and Alternative Access Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD) Workshops.
Having worked for many years in the health care sector, Bec has extensive experience managing teams in the workplace. Now a mum to two girls, Marlee and Maddie,Bec is applying that knowledge to benefit those with CCN by supporting their teams - at home, at school and in the community.
Maria Vermeulen
Maria has completed more than half of a Speech Pathology degree at Curtin University. Whilst studying, she is using her valuable skills and knowledge in her therapy assistant role with Interactive Speech Pathology.
Maria loves interacting with and teaching children. She has taught piano to children of a range of ages for the past 7 years, which has helped her develop her teaching and communication skills.
Maria also works part-time as a support worker for two young ladies with disabilities, one of whom has complex communication needs, and uses a communication device. Seeing first-hand how much of a difference AAC can make in someone's life has made Maria passionate about supporting more people in their communication journey.