Kezia Hesketh

Laura Parsons

Adam Longmate

Charisse Holder

I recently joined Ace Centre after spending several years in the Music Industry, working with a promotions company to organise tours and help release and market artist’s music. My background in administration and marketing has led me to working with Ace Centre to help promote and expand our operations and ensure our outreach is the best it can be for our clients.

Ryan Crowe

I’m a special educator with over 30 years’ experience working with learners with significant disabilities, many of which used AAC in all its forms.
My teaching career started in Washington DC and eventually landed me at a special school in Eastbourne as part of a teacher exchange program. I decided to stay in the UK working firstly for Widgit, then Toby Churchill and finally Tobii Dynavox &#8230; always with a focus on symbols and symbol software.
I started working with the Ace Centre in March 2021 and as of May 2022 took on the role of Information and Resources Manager.  I&#8217;m delighted to be working with my knowledgeable and experienced colleagues to provide all the great resources like leaflets, eBooks, symbol and alphabet charts which I hope people who use or could be using AAC and those who support them will find helpful!

Tina Voizey

I have worked at Ace Centre for the past 6 years and have an interest in specialist access solutions as well as research and development. Prior to Ace Centre, I worked as an Occupational Therapist in a number of settings; Oxford Brookes University looking at children with neuro-motor difficulties and their sitting balance playing computer games, the Kent CAT team, Wheelchair services and Paediatrics. My role at Ace Centre currently includes being part of the assessment and training team as well as leading on the marketing and information resources that we produce.

Will Wade

Gavin Henderson

Becky Beedles

Oliver Savage-Green

I worked as a teacher at a special school for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Following on from this, I worked for the NHSE specialised AAC service in the East of England before joining Ace Centre in 2021.
In my time working with people with SEND and communication difficulties, I have become passionate about AAC and the transformative role it can play in people’s lives. I am thrilled to be a part of the Ace Centre team, helping those in the North West who need us.

Joe Doran

Following the completion of my BSc Psychology degree at the University of York, I decided to cultivate my skills in various work environments.
Once I had learned an extensive amount and developed my administration skills, I chose to apply my knowledge to a more meaningful organisation which is when I found Ace Centre. I was immediately inspired by the work that they do and the invaluable services that they provide.
I am very lucky to have been given the opportunity to work with such incredible people and I look forward to learning much more!

Jemma Morrissey

Anthony Sever

Previously to joining the Ace Centre Team, I worked as an Assistive Technologist in two Special Education Colleges. This provided a good foundation of knowledge in AT and AAC equipment, assessment, training, and provision. This diverse knowledge has been very helpful in providing support and trans-disciplinary working within my role, ensuring everyone receives the support they need to be as independent as possible.
Outside of work, my passion for communication and support continues as I volunteer with groups such as 1Voice, DSUK and Snow Buddies.

Craig Brown

I am a speech and language therapist, completing my qualification at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. During the degree I became very interested in AAC, choosing to complete my honours project with an AAC focus. After completing the degree and spending six months as a research assistant, I moved to the UK to complete a Master of Science in AAC at the University of Dundee. This gave me a greater understanding of AAC, especially from an academic and computing perspective and further fostered my enthusiasm for the design and implementation of AAC. 
After graduating I took a post at a charity delivering therapy in a multidisciplinary team to children with complex needs. I am thrilled to have now had the opportunity to join the Ace Centre team where I hope to extend my AAC knowledge further.

Claire Elliott

I am a trained Primary School teacher. I have since worked within a special school teaching pupils with a range of communication difficulties, including those who have made use of a wide range of AAC, both low and high tech. It quickly became a passion of mine having the seen the difference it made to the lives of those I taught. I embedded AAC within my practice and worked collaboratively with those within my setting as well as other settings. AAC and Literacy is a particular interest of mine. My teaching background has given me a good insight into the everyday implementation of AAC within a classroom context and how to support this in order to meet the communication need of individuals to get their voice heard.

Meaghan Ebbage Taylor

After qualifying from the University of Ulster, I started my professional career in an acute hospital setting covering a multitude of specialities. After developing an interest in neurology, I deviated into rehabilitation. I worked specifically in stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions management and rehabilitation. I always seek to develop my knowledge and skills and I am currently completing a MSc in Advanced Practice in Occupational Therapy. 
As an Occupational Therapist, my focus is person centred and I am passionate about a person having the means to exercise autonomy and express their individuality. After working in rehabilitation, I have seen first-hand how augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) provision enhances a person’s quality of life and wellbeing. Working at Ace Centre allows me to work in an area of great interest to me whilst advocating for communication access for all.

Mary Bridget Brady

Liam Middlehurst

Katy Leckenby

<div>
<div class="copy-paste-block">I joined Ace Centre in early 2020 from my previous position as a Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired.</div>
<div>I&#8217;m loving the challenge and creativity of my role at Ace Centre and how I&#8217;m constantly able to learn and develop new skills &#8211; no two days have been the same so far, from learning Morse Code to moulding custom switches and everything in between and beyond!</div>
<div class="copy-paste-block">Being able to experience the massive difference effective AAC and AT makes to people on a daily basis is genuinely rewarding, and I feel very fortunate to be able to share this journey with such inspiring clients and the great team at Ace Centre.</div>
</div>

Michael Ritson

I am a speech and language therapist with an interest in augmented alternative communication and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Prior to working at Ace Centre, I was a communication service supporter for the Stroke Association and a research assistant at Oxford University Cognitive Neuropsychology Centre. My role at Ace Centre involves visiting people in the community to assess and support their communication.
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Matt Hill

I graduated university with a degree in Psychology and Speech Pathology, and am a qualified Speech and Language Therapist (HCPC registered and RCSLT member).
During my time at University, a placement in a Special Needs school sparked my interest in supporting those with additional needs, and upon graduating I found a job in a Special Needs school near Manchester. During my time here I developed further my interest in the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication to enable individuals without proficient verbal language access to communication. I loved being able to work with pupils using AAC as they developed confidence and communicated novel messages throughout the school environment.
I have worked at the Ace Centre since 2019 and enjoy developing my knowledge of the range of different systems and access methods available in order to meet the needs of our clients. I am passionate about promoting equal access to communication and supporting individuals to develop their skills to communicate in a range of settings.

Lizzie Sadiku

I joined Ace Centre in September 2018 as an AAC Technician. I previously worked in the Armed Forces as a Communication Systems Engineer, providing me with a strong foundation of technical skills in communications equipment. I have also worked in another role as an IT advisor.  I joined Ace Centre for a new challenge, as well as a job with a sense of purpose. One of my favourite parts of the role is visiting clients, seeing how much the AAC equipment assists with their daily life and provides the ability to communicate.  My role includes the initial setup of client devices, refurbishment of used devices and the management of the Assessment equipment. I am keen to explore the diverse range of devices available and learn their individual capabilities and the assistance they can provide.

Karl Shenton

George

I came to Ace Centre with twelve years experience of working as ICT Co-ordinator  in a department of The University of Manchester. The role involved supporting up to 200 staff, and 4000 disabled students. My role at Ace Centre is similar, and I enjoy how varied the job is; from responding to technical queries, managing various projects, and maintaining infrastructure, most days are quite different.  I find working at Ace Centre rewarding, as working so closely with colleagues, it&#8217;s easy to measure the effect of the support I provide.

Jon Rose

Nicola Saam-Jones

As a Speech and Language Therapist, my passion for supporting people to communicate socially, share opinions and maintain independence, is at the heart of my work at the Ace Centre. I have previously worked with adults with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties in hospital and community settings. My particular interest is in working with adults with complex language difficulties and aphasia. I am proud to be a part of the Ace Centre Team and enjoy working with a wide range of children and adults as part of my role. I am enthusiastic to continue to develop my knowledge and skills in the field of Assistive Technology and Communication Devices.

Gemma Wilkinson

Jackie Ayre

Alli Gaskin

I joined the Ace Centre in November 2017 bringing with me my experience and knowledge in several areas of business including sales &amp; marketing, media, human resources and distribution administration.
My role at the Ace Centre is Office Administrator which includes various aspects of general administration and as a member of the CIPD, I assist the Business Director in HR administration as well as coordinating the training room function for the business.

Maria Whitehead

I encountered AAC when I became the first employee of Merseyside Communication Aid Lending Library (CALL), a local charity established by people who use communication aids, their families, and professionals who championed the need for improvement, and investment, in vital services to support those with the most complex communication and physical difficulties.
At CALL, my role, as a non-clinician, was to alleviate the growing workload of the charity by promoting its work, formalising its policies and procedures, and seeking funding to realise its aims – ideally from statutory sources.
In this process, I naturally encountered Ace Centre North – a leading force in the drive for AAC service enhancement – and, when Merseyside CALL achieved its local goal, and closed, I was delighted to be invited to work at the Ace Centre.
My role at Ace Centre has been a fluid one, changing in accordance with the business needs of a charitable organisation whose service offer is rapidly expanding.
Having been involved in all aspects of our Charity’s work, I recognise the benefits of an informed, engaged, and motivated workforce and the key role that HR can play. I am delighted to have been appointed HR Manager and enjoy working with my colleagues to ensure that the high level of satisfaction expressed by those who use our services is matched by the workplace experience of our staff who deliver those services.

Rachel Thwaite

I joined Ace Centre in 2015. I am based in the North Office.
After completing my Psychology degree, I worked as a Teaching Assistant in a Special Education school in Manchester. It was here I first learned about AAC and decided I wanted to train as a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT). I then got a job as an SLT Assistant for The University of Manchester. This involved working with children in mainstream schools around the North West.
After returning to University, I qualified as an SLT. I then spent 5 years working at a Specialist College for Adults with Learning Disabilities in Manchester and during this time my interest in AAC grew into a passion.
I think with all forms of AAC the key is about making it fun and getting the communication partners on board too. At Ace Centre I enjoy learning new things (on a daily basis) and love to share information with others.
One of my favourite parts of the job is meeting clients and their families and carers. I enjoy learning about people’s interests and motivations and working to find ways they can say what they want to say, when they want to say it.

Rachel Stevens

I have worked at Ace Centre since 2015. My role includes carrying out assessments, delivering training and providing advice and information. One part of my job that I particularly enjoy is developing resources. For example, adapting AAC resources to meet individual client’s needs and being part of the team that created <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/pragmatics-profile-people-use-aac/">‘The Pragmatics Profile for AAC’</a>.
I am a qualified Speech and Language Therapist (registered with the H.C.P.C.) and have an M.A. in Psychology.
I have carried out undergraduate research and practitioner-led research (funded by the Children’s Workforce Development Council), including studying small talk between adults who have a learning disability and their conversation partners.
Before working at the Ace Centre I had a variety of roles in the health, education and charity sectors including: Speech and Language Therapist in the NHS, Project Coordinator at Pro-Contact, support worker at a National Autistic Society school and a Leonard Cheshire home, Teaching Assistant in mainstream and SEN schools.

Katherine Small

I have worked at the Ace Centre since January 1994, firstly as a Clerical Assistant / Audio typist, progressing to Financial Coordinator.
In my role as Financial Coordinator, it is my responsibility to oversee all areas of the Centre’s finances including the preparation of financial reports for the Business Director.
I enjoy the varied and challenging role of meeting the financial requirements of the Ace Centre as a non-profit organisation.
Whilst working at the Ace Centre, I have obtained my Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification of which I am a member and have also obtained my Higher National Certificate (HNC) Business Studies.

Ann Rushton

Prior to joining Ace Centre in 1996, I taught in mainstream and special education where I developed the role of ICT Coordinator and member of the senior management team. My interest in Assistive Technology and AAC stemmed from seeing the impact it had on students I taught and the importance of working within a multi-disciplinary team in order to identify the best solutions to meet their needs. Since joining Ace Centre, I have overseen its transition from a service within Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council to national charity, joining the former two Ace Centres and campaigning for improved services and provision for children and adults who need AAC, which contributed to Ace Centre being commissioned by NHS England to deliver these services across two specialised commissioning regions. More recently, I have assisted in the establishment of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology.

Anna Reeves DL

I am a speech and language therapist with many years of experience in the field of AAC, working as part of the Ace Centre assessment team.
I am continually fascinated by the ways in which Assistive Technology and AAC can enhance the lives of individuals with communication difficulties and during my time at Ace I have been involved in several exciting projects.
I have coordinated the <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/project/toys2talk/">Toys2Talk</a> project looking at how technology can support the communication and play of very young children, as well as the <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter/">‘You Matter’</a> project that has led to the development of our <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter-education-pack/">‘You Matter’ training materials</a>.  These projects have highlighted the importance of bringing families and professionals together in order to effectively support young people using AAC.  I have also worked on a European project developing communication software for adults with aphasia.  This taught me much about the varied ways in which AAC is introduced across Europe and how much we can learn from each other.

Rachel Moore

I joined Ace Centre in 2012 following a slightly diverse career. Firstly in sales and account management in the printing industry, followed by teaching in the health and social care sector, lecturing service provider organisation for children with a disability and teaching ICT to students.   My involvement with AAC and Assistive Technology started mid 1990’s when my daughter was born, who has complex disabilities and is herself an AAC user.  My relationship with Ace Centre dates back to 1998 when I first sought help to meet my child’s emerging communication and technology needs. Today, my role at Ace Centre is to support our team of AAC consultants with equipment and resource preparation and to support our clients with training and technical issues.  I also manage our assessment equipment and resources.   Apart from work and family interest in AAC, I am also a trustee and chair of 1Voice Communicating Together – a small national charity that provides support to AAC users and families. Outside the world of AAC, I enjoy dining out, travelling about, going to music concerts and reading. I have also been known to go to the gym occasionally!

Angie McCormack

I am a qualified Speech and Language Therapist who has worked in the field of AAC since 2000, both in the UK and Australia. I began my role as a Senior AAC Consultant at Ace Centre in 2012. I have worked in a range of settings including NHS, Special Schools, Charities, Private Practice and Project work but currently work alongside colleagues at Ace Centre to deliver the NHS England Specialist AAC Service in the North West Region.
I have been involved in many projects throughout my career but of particular note has been those that have focused on the implementation of AT and AAC in educational environments, creating aided language environments, affecting culture change and developing the <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/pragmatics-profile-people-use-aac/">Pragmatics Profile for AAC</a>. I have a particular interest in supporting the development of local AAC services through mentoring and training.
I am HCPC registered and a member of RCSLT.

Suzanne Martin

I joined the Ace Centre in April 2016 as an AAC Technician for the Oldham Centre
My role involves setting up and personalising client equipment, reconditioning and repairing used equipment and providing technical support to the Ace Centre staff team.
My interests are watching football, Badminton Coaching, Gardening, Photography, Natural World, watching sunsets in Rock North Cornwall.

Phil Howe

Following a career as a chartered surveyor, my passion for outdoor education drove me to retrain as a teacher and I worked with children with special educational needs in mainstream schools for 11 years. Much of my role in school was in supporting colleagues to facilitate learning for students with a wide range of physical and learning needs. This, in turn, led me to develop an interest in symbol based strategies to support language, learning, behaviour and organisation and I subsequently worked for both Mayer Johnson (Boardmaker) and Widgit (Writing with Symbols) over a period of 6 years where I trained and supported teachers and schools across the UK and Ireland. Further experience working with AAC/AT companies developed my knowledge of language and communication and the strategies available both paper based and hi-tech to support people who could not speak.
I joined Ace Centre at the beginning of 2015 at what was a watershed for the provision of AAC for people with complex communication needs in England and a very exciting time to be involved in the AAC/AT sector. My management role at Ace Centre in our South office is very much one of team leader. It’s a challenging, diverse and busy role but one I enjoy immensely. I’m very proud of the team we have built and the knowledge, skills and experience we have to share and apply to the best of our ability.

Martin Fisher

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2006 and worked in a variety of physical and mental health environments across Manchester. In 1999 I moved to Derby to work as an Occupational Therapist in a School for Children and Young Adults with Learning and Communication Difficulties, an area of work I have always been particularly passionate about. In 2004 I was keen to re-join my family and friends in Manchester and began looking for an exciting new role and was successful in my application to join Ace Centre as an AAC Consultant.
My current role at Ace Centre involves managing Ace Centre’s Assessment and Training Team, ensuring we effectively deliver all our contracted services to the best of our ability. As well as overseeing the development of the services Ace Centre delivers I continue to contribute to the delivery of our core assessment, training and information services.

Lisa Farrand

I have worked in the field of Assistive Technology and AAC for many years. I re-joined the Ace Centre staff team in 2014 having previously worked in Assistive Technology since 2001 for the Ace Centre Advisory Trust in Oxford and then for Oxfordshire County Council. I aim to be the lifeline to fully functioning equipment and software for both our staff and clients. This includes accompanying our clinicians and engineers on installs and helping out with training on the technology and software.

Simon Bull

When I was training as a Speech and Language Therapist, a team from Ace Centre came in and presented about their work in AAC, and I thought “I want to do that!”.  After qualifying, I was lucky enough to secure an AAC development post at the Frenchay Communication Aid Centre (now the Bristol Communication Aid Service) and went on to work for Ace Centre a few years later.  Alongside my clinical work, I have always enjoyed being part of research and development.  Although I love working with technology and seeing how it is developing and changing, I am also really passionate about low tech AAC, and was involved in developing the <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/look2talk/">Look2Talk</a> resource to support the use of symbols by children using eye pointing.  More recently, I have been involved in producing a series of iBooks about low tech AAC and have helped to revise and update the popular Guide to <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/developing-using-communication-book/">Developing and Using a Communication Book</a>.

Katharine Buckley

I am an Occupational Therapist who has been working at the Ace Centre since 2015. Whilst completing both my BSc and MSc in Occupational Therapy, I worked as a Teaching Assistant in a school for visually impaired children, where I first saw Assistive Technology in action. Prior to joining the Ace Centre, I worked as a Rapid Response OT, preventing hospital admission and supporting people to stay in their own homes.
Every summer since 2012, I have volunteered with a small charity in Romania, and have since become a Trustee. We work in the children’s centre providing therapy and supporting the staff. My experience with the Ace Centre has allowed me to introduce symbols and the use and awareness of AAC within the Centre.
I am part of the Ace Centre’s assessment and training team, with a keen interest in EMG switches and complex access to technology, more recently completing <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/project/switch-scanning-frequency-analysis/">“Analysis of the language of one user to improve scanning efficiency”</a>.

Samantha McNeilly

I began working as a Speech and Language Therapist in 2000 working with children and young people with complex physical and communication difficulties in mainstream and special schools.  Having the opportunity to explore a range of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems and observing how these empowered and enabled these individuals and their families to achieve their potential developed my passion in this area. This led to working as part of a multidisciplinary team with these individuals and a key role in developing a local service for communication aids.
Following the exciting opportunity to join the Ace Centre team in 2010, I have continued to develop my knowledge and enthusiasm working with children and adults, their families and local services to find innovative and bespoke solutions for communication.  As part of my role, I am also involved in projects, conferences and enjoy the opportunity that this role gives to exploring the latest assistive technology to support those we work with.

Karen Bailey

I am a teacher who loves to learn. I initially trained in primary education, specialising in Modern Foreign Languages. I taught in the Special Education Sector for seven years before becoming an advisory teacher. My interest in AAC and AT led me to move to Ace Centre in 2015. Initially joining Ace Centre as part of the training and assessment team, I discovered my previous skills in design and manufacture of stained glass windows and the joy of cave exploration provided a foundation for engineering. I enjoy finding solutions to mounting communication devices and ways to improve access.

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