My Story

I grew up in South Africa and qualified as an occupational therapist at the University of Pretoria in 2000. I moved to England for a gap year in 2001 with the idea to work and gain international experience, but somehow that year extended from 1 to 21, and England became my second home. It is where I met my husband and we had our two sons. In 2022, we moved to Australia and settled in arguably one of the most amazing spots on the east coast – the Central Coast.

My career has always included working with children, and in 2012 I started focusing solely on working with kids. In 2015 and by chance, my world collided with those who have the unique profile of being twice exceptional/2e or dual or multiple exceptional/DME. I have not looked back since!

I am particularly passionate about 2e/DME children as their needs remain largely misunderstood, and the positive impact that occupational therapy can make is largely unknown. It has therefore become my professional mission to advocate both for these children and the importance of my profession to help them.

My journey so far has resulted in the development of the informal DME-C therapy approach, training of other occupational therapists, contributing to international conferences, receiving an award, and the publication of a book co-authored with Rebecca Howell, where we extensively share about the DME-C approach.

Whilst I have a specialist interest in 2e/DME, I work with children with a wide range of needs. I believe all children have the right to be happy and succeed at what is important to them. I am of the opinion that they will thrive in an environment where everyone involved with them works together. This is why I regularly also provide online and in-person training courses on topics related to 2e/DME, handwriting, and sensory lifestyles.

I am an OT at heart. I am passionate about continuing my own learning, but also supporting my colleagues on their journeys. Occupational therapy is, in my view, quite simply the best profession in the world!