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The Down Syndrome CEN
Committee

The DS CEN Committee

Welcome to the official website of the Down Syndrome Clinical Excellence Network (CEN). The Down Syndrome CEN aims to support speech and language therapists working with children and adults who have Down syndrome. This website is designed to share information about the Down Syndrome CEN, including events and opportunities for speech and language therapists interested in this field.

Chair
REBECCA BAXTER

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
LETS Go!

I am a speech and language therapist who specialises in children and young adults who have Down syndrome. I worked as part of the team at Down Syndrome Education International (DSEI) before starting LETS Go! in 2011.  LETS Go!'s Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/LETSGoUK.org

 

LETS Go! is an independent practice providing services which support children and young adults with Down syndrome. I am actively involved in research and work with collaborators at the University of Manchester and DSEI. I was awarded my PhD in 2023 having developed and evaluated a language intervention for children with Down syndrome. 

Secretary
ROLE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

 

Please get in touch if you are interested in this position or read more about joining the committee here:

Treasurer
SUSAN CHRYSSOVERGIS

Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust

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I’m an NHS Speech and Language therapist working for the Complex Needs and Children’s Integrated Therapy and Nursing Service Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust. I have worked as an SLT for over 20 years and I am the clinical lead for complex needs for the trust.

 

I have a special interest in Down syndrome and with the team have written a document called the Down Syndrome toolkit detailing research in the field, with the support of Prof Sue Buckley and Dr Kelly Burgoyne. I am also a visiting lecturer on the UCLAN Speech and Language Masters course

Support group coordinator
JO GAWN

Speech and language therapist

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I have over 30 years experience as a speech and language therapist and have worked across a range of settings and organisations in that time. I work with children, teenagers and young adults with Down syndrome as part of the provision offered by local charities and parent led networks as well as for Symbol, where I currently lead their specialist Down syndrome service.

Support group coordinator
ZEIN PERERIA

Independent speech and language therapist

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 I have 32 years experience as a SLT, both in the NHS and more recently in independent practice. Over the past ten years, I’ve developed an interest in working with nursery and school age children with Down Syndrome. My MSc project examined parent views on the transition of their children with DS from nursery to reception.

 

Prior to working independently, I was an NHS clinical lead for children with speech and language disorders, across two education authorities.

​Termly members' meeting coordinator
MIRJANA JEREMIC

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist; PhD Student

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I’m a Speech and Language Therapist working for the More House School in Farnham. I have worked as an SLT since 2000 and I have special interest in parent mediated interventions and telehealth.

 

I am currently completing my PhD with the University of Reading; our goal is to, together with parents, co-create a language intervention for young pre-school children with Down syndrome

Media coordinator
DR EMMA PAGNAMENTA

Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy

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I am a speech and language therapist with clinical experience of working with children and young people with Down syndrome since qualifying in 2006, and more recently, experience of delivering teaching on Down syndrome and conducting research studies to develop and test interventions for young children with Down Syndrome and their families.  Prior to taking up my current role at the University of Reading, I was the RCSLT Research Manager and Associate Editor for the Bulletin Magazine, which provided me with a wealth of experience of working with the speech and language therapy profession.

Website coordinator
KIRSTIE HARTWELL

Research Associate -  University of Manchester

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I am a postdoctoral research associate at University of Manchester, working with Dr Kelly Burgoyne to adapt the PACT early language teaching programme for parents and young children with Down syndrome (PACT-DS). You can view my research profile here: https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/kirstie.hartwell

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Before joining PACT-DS I completed a BSc Speech and Language Therapy degree at the University, then joined the Child Study Centre as a Psychology PhD researcher. I have significant experience working with young children and their families, and on research projects focused on children’s social and cognitive development.  My Twitter account is https://twitter.com/KirstieHartwell

Working Group around developing guidance lead
COLETTE
 LLOYD

Speech & Language Therapist

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I am a speech and language specialising in Down Syndrome, and am also a National Advisor on Down Syndrome for the Royal College of Speech and Language therapists. 


I currently chair the Guidance Committee for the DSCEN, but have had a long interest in working with people with Down Syndrome, as one of my four children has that extra chromosome. 


I am employed by the OWL Centre and contracted to an Academy Trust.  I also run early development groups for Down Syndrome Oxford which is the best day of my week! I am passionate about supporting the rights of people with Down syndrome to access evidence based practice and the therapy that they need to reach their potential. 

Research lead
DR KELLY BURGOYNE

Lecturer in Psychology and Education -  University of Manchester

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I am a lecturer in Psychology and Education at the Manchester Institute of EducationUniversity of Manchester. My research focuses on language and literacy development, disorders, and intervention.  You can view my research profile here: https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/kelly.burgoyne

 

Whilst I am passionate about finding ways to better support speech and language skills for all children, I have particular interests in children with Down syndrome. I have published papers on research with children with Down syndrome, and am lead author on Reading and Language Intervention for children with Down syndrome.  

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