23 Nov 2023
The notion of parents as experts when it comes to their children is well known in the SEN community so it is perhaps not surprising that a St Albans mum wanted to go even further to help her daughter by qualifying as a speech and language therapist.
When Sian Thomas faced unanswered questions around how to help daughter Aida with her speech she remarkably embarked on a two-year long Masters of Science course alongside the rest of her already busy life, in order to better support her.
She said: “Singing, dancing and acting has always been a passion of mine. Having completed a musical theatre diploma and drama degree, I previously worked with children, running various childhood development classes and supporting children with additional needs through drama.”
“When Aida was born in 2016, as she grew beautifully, I followed all the developmental milestones and she was meeting them all – all except first words. I waited in anticipation but they never came.”
Sian said that she spent hours self-studying various reasons for delayed speech and then tried to access a speech and language therapy service which had a substantial waiting list.
Then Covid struck and after having waited such a long time, Aida only had four online sessions before being put back on another waiting list.
“I wasn’t getting the answers I needed. Aida was soon to start school and she couldn’t yet say her own name.”
The 35-year old mum-of-two began taking Aida to private speech and language therapy and Aida was diagnosed with severe neurological motor speech disorder – Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia.
Although Sian was learning as much as she could from browsing the internet she felt she needed more. So she started a Masters in Speech and Language Therapy at City University of London on the day Aida started reception!
She said: “It was the hardest two years of my life.
“A solo parent of two, I had to constantly ensure the right provisions were in place at school to support her complex needs, whilst studying and working part-time. I was completely burnt out.
“I lost count of the amount of times I claimed I couldn’t do it throughout those two years, but Aida was always the driving force that kept me going, alongside my son’s constant cheerleading. He would say to me ‘You’ve got this mummy!’ and I did keep going.
“I would think about how desperate Aida is to communicate but has a neurological difference that prevents her producing the correct speech sounds needed to communicate verbally.
“I’d remind myself how much I wanted to learn everything I possibly could about the thing she struggles with the most and gain the knowledge needed to support my child and other families just like my own.
“Nothing was going to stop me from achieving my goal and this summer I completed the course and am now a registered speech and language therapist.”
Sian now works part-time for Hertfordshire NHS trust as a paediatric speech and language therapist which she loves.
She has also launched Story Box – an interactive storytelling and drama class for children with a special focus on supporting the development of communication potential through the use of original stories, drama and song.
She added: “It was particularly important for me to provide inclusive activities that not only supports child development, but provides opportunities for children with special educational needs to interact with their peers.
“So now my days are filled doing what I love the most, and although it’s a long road ahead for Aida, she is making huge improvements every single day.
“She uses Makaton sign and symbols to help her communicate and her speech is coming along nicely!
“She has a cracking personality and I couldn’t be prouder of the confident, talented young lady she is becoming.”
If you would like to find out more about Sian and Aida’s journey go to Instagram: little_red_aida To join a Story Box class visit www.storyboxdrama.com
