Let's Talk Small Talk

Libby discusses the upcoming conference on 7th September in London with Lucy Sanctuary and Ruth Fine: 'International Developments and Perspectives in Autism Research and Clinical Practice.'
Understanding of Autism has changed considerably since it was included in the DSM-3 as “Infantile Autism.” However, research highlights what we don’t know, as much as what we do. Even though there is a diagnostic criteria, we still cannot answer the question, “What is autism?” Attempts to answer this, have raised even more questions, e.g., are there gender-based differences? Are there different genetic groups within the umbrella of autism? Global perceptions, cultural beliefs and practices are equally varied, which is reflected in research, assessment, intervention, equality, diversity and inclusion across the world. The conference  brings together renowned speakers from different backgrounds and parts of the world to share international perspectives on research and clinical practice in Autism.
Book here https://lucysanctuary.com/autism-conference-2026

Lucy Sanctuary is a neurodivergent Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, an internationally certified ADOS-2 Trainer,  a cognitive behaviour therapist, specialising in autism. She works work with neurodivergent young people and their families & is deeply committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion, to reducing stigma that surrounds neurodivergence as this has a significant impact on quality of life.
Her job has 3 main parts:
- Diagnostics: ADOS-2 as part of a multi-disciplinary team with all ages. She specialises in complex assessment and has a particular interest in working with autistic girls & women.
- Intervention: Lucy uses adapted CBT to support young people and their families. Her approach is bespoke to the individual.
- Training and talks: Lucy is an ADOS-2 trainer. She  runs ADOS-2 training courses, reliability workshops & ADOS Refresher courses. She is often part of GAIN Reliability Workshops.  She has hosted webinars on autism and related topics for ACAMH, and she has written four published resource books, contributed to Mary Sheridan’s From Birth to Five Years, been involved in research on autistic girls & masking.
Website lucysanctuary.com

Ruth Fine is a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with diverse and varied experience of working with children, young people, and adults with speech, language, and communication needs. She has worked in a range of settings carrying out assessment, intervention, and training, developing her knowledge and skills around online assessment and input using a variety of platforms.
She has a wealth of experience across a range of settings and in multidisciplinary teams. She primarily works in the area of diagnosis and therapeutic input for autistic people and other neurodivergence and is passionate about neurodiversity informed practice, providing an exceptional standard of care, using evidence based practice, and continually learning and developing her knowledge and clinical skills.
 fineruthie@hotmail.com

All HCPC registered staff are required to have supervision; Libby interviews Rachel Jackson,  who is a very experienced clinician but also a very experienced and skilled supervisor.
Indeed, she has over 30 years of experience as a Speech and Language Therapist — including 10 years as an NHS Team Leader — and more than 15 years delivering clinical and operational supervision to AHPs (such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, specialist nurses, and health visitors), she offers a supportive, practical space designed to meet both your needs and those of your clients.
If you want to know more about her tailored supervision for independent Speech and Language Therapists and other Allied Health Professionals, guiding you through complex cases, refining your skills, and enhancing your clinical decision-making, you can contact her  www.speechandlanguage.co.uk/supervision

Libby Hill talks to Rike Brand about PDA and Rike's new book. It has been a best seller in Germany for a while and is now available in the UK. Rike is a mother of two. It was her journey as a parent which sparked her interest in PDA. With a background in cultural anthropology, she has spent years deeply immersed in the PDA community, learning from families, advocates, and lived experience. A seasoned nonfiction author and entrepreneur, Rike combines her research and storytelling skills to create practical, empathetic guidance for parents navigating the complexities of neurodivergent and PDA children. She is an active part of the PDA community on Instagram (@rikebrand). 
The book is available on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/03ZNpaqu

In this episode, Libby is joined by author and advocate Elly Chapple, founder of Flip the Narrative and writer of Diagnosis Human. Elly shares the deeply personal story behind her book and the lessons she learned from her deafblind daughter, Ella — lessons about identity, presence, and seeing the world differently.
Together, they explore the realities many families face when navigating education systems and professional support for children with complex needs. The conversation touches on advocacy, the impact of budget cuts on services, and the challenges parents experience when trying to ensure their child is understood.
Libby and Elly also discuss the importance of language, relational safety, and moving from reactive to responsive approaches in both families and professional settings. Above all, this episode highlights the importance of trust, allyship, and collaboration between parents and professionals to support children in ways that truly respect who they are. 
Read more about Elly at www.ellychaple.com and buy her brilliant book here https://amzn.eu/d/08VWyVTs available in paperback and kindle

Libby interviews Rishi Kaushal who has created "The Speech Heroes" to empower children with speech and language delays, inspired by his son Aryan's journey. Following a diagnosis, Rishi used music (song "Speech Bound") and authored the book The Speech Heroes vs. The Word Stoppers (released Feb 2026) to help children find their voice. They talk about what led to this and his personal journey. His book is proving very popular with both children and their parents https://amzn.eu/d/00VKcx53
To find out more https://www.thespeechheroes.com/about