Karen Penney
Autism Consultant | Senior Developmental Educator
Karen graduated with Honours in a Masters of Teaching in 2010 to fulfill her passion for working with families and educating children. She has enjoyed a diverse teaching career which also includes working within a large Not For Profit Organisation that specialised in the support and teaching of children on the autism spectrum. Karen was able to combine her passion for working with children with additional needs and their families, and also support teachers to increase their ability to teach and support the inclusion of all children in the classroom.
The diversity in Karen's work drove her to establish Autism Outreach Services, where she provides support to those in her community. Karen has undertaken additional study in various areas including Positive Behaviour Support, Functional Assessment and Autism-specific teaching and learning strategies. Karen has a special interest in supporting teenage girls with autism as she believes they have unique needs that are often overlooked or misunderstood.
Prior to teaching, Karen was a Registered Nurse , which saw her travel Australia - working predominantly in Accident and Emergency and ICU- in both city and rural areas. Karen moved with her partner to the Adelaide Hills from the eastern states, where she is raising her 3 children and enjoys being active in her local community. Karen's family have a keen interest in outdoor activities and feel blessed to be surrounded by the beauty of the Adelaide Hills.
Cool Kids Accreditation
Cool Kids is a structured 10 session program run over a minimum of 10 weeks that teaches children and their parents how to better manage a child’s anxiety. The program is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), involves the participation of children and parents, and focuses on teaching practical skills. Topics covered in the program include:
- Learning about anxiety
- Learning to think realistically
- Parenting an anxious child
- Facing fears using stepladders and
- Learning coping skills such as assertiveness or problem solving
The Cool Kids program was developed by Macquarie University and has been running since 1993. The program has undergone continual scientific evaluation and development to include the latest understanding of anxiety and its treatment. It has been translated into a number of languages and today, is used in clinics, schools and hospitals around the world. Current results indicate that most young people who complete the program show significant improvement in academic achievement, school attendance, confidence and decreases in worry, shyness, fear and family distress.
Ashleigh Howie
Speech Pathologist
Ashleigh is an experienced speech pathologist and double-degreed professional who holds a Masters of Speech Therapy and Bachelor of Behavioural Science. She specialises in paediatric practice, working with babies through to adolescents in the areas of feeding, speech, language, literacy, developmental delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disabilities. Throughout the past 10 years she has worked in private practice, non-government organisations, childcare centres and schools supporting children with a variety of needs.
Ashleigh is passionate about supporting clients and their families to reach their goals and full potential. Her approach is neurodiversity-affirming, evidenced-based, collaborative, supportive, flexible and understanding of each client’s individual needs.
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice SIG
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice is a group of speech pathologists who are interested in changing the status quo. We are passionate about listening to and learning from neurodivergent people in order to ensure we are providing therapies that are empowering to all our clients.
Reach out to the team
Karen Penney
Autism Consultant | Senior Developmental Educator
Karen graduated with Honours in a Masters of Teaching in 2010 to fulfill her passion for working with families and educating children. She has enjoyed a diverse teaching career which also includes working within a large Not For Profit Organisation that specialised in the support and teaching of children on the autism spectrum. Karen was able to combine her passion for working with children with additional needs and their families, and also support teachers to increase their ability to teach and support the inclusion of all children in the classroom.
The diversity in Karen's work drove her to establish Autism Outreach Services, where she provides support to those in her community. Karen has undertaken additional study in various areas including Positive Behaviour Support, Functional Assessment and Autism-specific teaching and learning strategies. Karen has a special interest in supporting teenage girls with autism as she believes they have unique needs that are often overlooked or misunderstood.
Prior to teaching, Karen was a Registered Nurse , which saw her travel Australia - working predominantly in Accident and Emergency and ICU- in both city and rural areas. Karen moved with her partner to the Adelaide Hills from the eastern states, where she is raising her 3 children and enjoys being active in her local community. Karen's family have a keen interest in outdoor activities and feel blessed to be surrounded by the beauty of the Adelaide Hills.
Cool Kids Accreditation
Cool Kids is a structured 10 session program run over a minimum of 10 weeks that teaches children and their parents how to better manage a child’s anxiety. The program is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), involves the participation of children and parents, and focuses on teaching practical skills. Topics covered in the program include:
- Learning about anxiety
- Learning to think realistically
- Parenting an anxious child
- Facing fears using stepladders and
- Learning coping skills such as assertiveness or problem solving
The Cool Kids program was developed by Macquarie University and has been running since 1993. The program has undergone continual scientific evaluation and development to include the latest understanding of anxiety and its treatment. It has been translated into a number of languages and today, is used in clinics, schools and hospitals around the world. Current results indicate that most young people who complete the program show significant improvement in academic achievement, school attendance, confidence and decreases in worry, shyness, fear and family distress.
Ashleigh Howie
Speech Pathologist
Ashleigh is an experienced speech pathologist and double-degreed professional who holds a Masters of Speech Therapy and Bachelor of Behavioural Science. She specialises in paediatric practice, working with babies through to adolescents in the areas of feeding, speech, language, literacy, developmental delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disabilities. Throughout the past 10 years she has worked in private practice, non-government organisations, childcare centres and schools supporting children with a variety of needs.
Ashleigh is passionate about supporting clients and their families to reach their goals and full potential. Her approach is neurodiversity-affirming, evidenced-based, collaborative, supportive, flexible and understanding of each client’s individual needs.
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice SIG
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice is a group of speech pathologists who are interested in changing the status quo. We are passionate about listening to and learning from neurodivergent people in order to ensure we are providing therapies that are empowering to all our clients.
