Julie Hughes

B.S.- SALT; MA – Audiology, CCC-A (ASHA), NCFE – Level 2 certificate in counselling skills

Julie studied Speech-Language Pathology at Trenton State College, NJ (USA) with extra study in Education of the Deaf. Julie then went on to earn a Master's Degree in Audiology from Temple University, PA (USA), and holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association. 

Roles

  • Director of Intervention and Support
  • Resources Editor, Down Syndrome Research and Practice

Julie Hughes - Down Syndrome Education InternationalResponsibilities

Julie's primary responsibilities include intervention and advisory services strategy and leadership.  This includes organising and taking part in the Early Development Groups that take place at The Sarah Duffen Centre in Portsmouth as well as organising and taking part in Advice Days, in-house workshops and training days in this country and abroad. Julie is also responsible for reviewing new resources for Down Syndrome Online. 

Current project involvement  

Background

Julie was born and brought up in Philadelphia, USA, coming to England in 1994. Julie spent 12 years working for a charity for pre-school deaf children before coming to the Trust in 2005. Since working at the Trust, Julie has helped to run and co-ordinate the Early Development Groups. Among her roles, Julie was on the Advisory Team for the development of the Early Support materials – 'The Developmental Journal for children with Down syndrome'. She has also worked on the development of a training programme for the use of the Early Support materials. In addition, Julie has taken a lead role in making two videos – 'Activities for Babies with Down syndrome' and 'Speech and Language Activities for preschool children with Down syndrome'. She has travelled in this country and abroad providing training to professionals and parents, particularly in the areas of Speech, Language and Literacy Development and Early Years Development.

In her spare time, Julie enjoys running and walking and has completed The BUPA Great South Run in aid of DownsEd for three consecutive years.

Key Achievements

  • Presented at a 3-week lecture tour in New Zealand and Australia – focusing on speech, language, communication, literacy, memory and early development
  • Presented a 4-day conference on Language, Learning and Down Syndrome – Educational Series in Charleston, USA
  • Contributed to the development of the Early Support materials – The Developmental Journal for Children with Down Syndrome
  • Developed and implemented training for Early Support materials
  • Advisory Partner for Parent Point – part of the I Can-Talking Point website which provides a comprehensive information service for those working with and caring for children with a communication disability
  • Presented at the 9th Down Syndrome World Congress – Speech and Language Activities for Toddlers with Down Syndrome; Activities for Babies with Down Syndrome
  • Provide consultancy service and education for parents and professionals in Oslo, Norway
  • Present training workshops for parents and professionals on a variety of topics including:  speech, language and communication development, literacy development, memory development, early social and emotional development, development of cognition and play, and school inclusion

Publications

I Can – Parent Point information service – www.ican.org.uk