TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WE NEED TO REALISE THAT WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT IN THE WAY WE PERCEIVE THE WORLD AND USE THIS UNDERSTANDING AS A GUIDE TO OUR COMMUNICATION WITH OTHERS.
About Deborah Stodel
I grew up in the seaside village of St James and as a child I always loved to help those who struggled to learn. As a teenager, I sometimes took the train home from school in Rondebosch. I clearly remember at age 16 looking out of the train window at the children from the school for the deaf who were signing to communicate, and I knew with certainty that I wanted to help people like this one day.
I have worked as a speech therapist for 33 years and I found my special interest in Autism when I accepted a position at a school for children with Autism on returning to Cape Town, having completed my postgraduate studies in 1994.
My best teachers on this journey have been all the parents and children I have worked with over the years to whom I am very grateful.
Professional Background
- 1985-1988 – University of Cape Town, South Africa – Bachelor of Science, qualified as a speech therapist and audiologist
- 1988-1992 – Speech therapist, Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Cape Town and Johannesburg General Hospital’s Child and Family Unit.
- 1992-1994 – Columbia University, New York, USA – Master of Science degree in Speech and Language Pathology
- 1994-2001 – Speech and language therapist at Vera School for children with Autism. Social groups for teenagers and adults with Autism. Part-time lecturing and tutoring at the University of Cape Town
- 2001-present – Private practice. Registered with Autism South Africa as a recognised quality service provider for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders