- What is Language Disorder?
Language Disorder impacts a child’s ability to understand and use language.
Language Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disability that impacts a child’s ability to understand and use language. It impacts children and young people’s everyday social interactions and education.
What is Language Disorder? - School Support Services
Every child deserves the chance to succeed at school.
Getting a good start in school provides the foundation for a child’s learning and development for the rest of their lives.
School Support Services
Lisa Quinn
BSpPath MSPA-CPSP
Head of Allied Health
Lisa has worked extensively in supporting children and young people to reach their full potential by supporting their speech, language and literacy abilities, and brings this expertise to lead the allied health team at Language Disorder Australia. She has worked as a Manager of Allied Health Teams, Speech Pathologist and Clinical Educator across a range of settings, including health, education, and university sectors. She is passionate about advocating for students with Language Disorder. Lisa loves spending time with her three daughters, travelling and her morning coffee.
Athena Panagopoulos
BSPath, CPSP
Senior Speech Pathologist and Allied Health Coordinator – School Support Services
Athena is a speech language pathologist and the Allied Health Coordinator for the School Support Services team, with previous experience in private practice. Athena has worked extensively as part of a transdisciplinary team to support students in accessing the curriculum, especially those with Language Disorder and related difficulties. Being from a bilingual family, one of Athena’s areas of interest is working with bilingual and EALD populations. Athena also has a passion for assessment and intervention of higher order language skills, as well as the link between language and social-emotional skills. As part of her current role, Athena enjoys presenting at PDs and conferences to advocate for young people with Language Disorder and related difficulties and strongly encourages qualitative assessment to support students’ holistic needs. This approach ensures successful educational outcomes and empowers schools to understand that language is a significant piece of the puzzle. In her personal time, Athena is an avid movie fan and also loves trying new cuisines and restaurants.
Our Specialist Educators
Specialist Educators bridge the gap to support the implementation of individualised approaches for students with Language Disorder. In supporting school staff, the specialist educators provide evidence informed strategies, resources and recommendations to optimise student engagement with the Australian Curriculum.
Our Speech Language Pathologists
Speech language pathologists (SLPs) work with school staff to support students who have Language Disorder. Effective communication underpins many of the skills required for success in the classroom. Our SLPs provide a range of strategies, resources and recommendations specific to developing language and communication skills within the curriculum.
Our Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists (OTs) support a student’s ability to participate in both required and desired daily school activities. This is achieved by providing strategies, resources and recommendations to teachers and support staff to address a range of areas, including perceptual, motor, and social-emotional skills.
Our Psychologist
The psychologist assists school staff to understand the impact of cognition on language development, as well as the implications of Language Disorder on mental health and wellbeing. They provide strategies, resources and recommendations regarding co-occurring difficulties with executive functioning (attention, working memory, planning), processing speed, problem solving and higher order thinking.
Our Administration team
The team is ably supported by administration officers who assist the running of the program.
Our Support Networks
Therapy support for children and young people with Language Disorder and other developmental and learning needs.
A full educational experience for children and young people with Language Disorder – from Prep to Year 12.
Enhancing outcomes for students with Language Disorder through consultation, capacity building through intensive support and professional learning for school staff.
Head office
Level 3, 88 Jephson Street,
Toowong, QLD, 4066, Brisbane
