Lucia is a Specialist Teacher of the Deaf from Stockport, Manchester. Here she shares her story.

Story at a glance:

• Bilingual roots & lifelong passion: Growing up with both spoken and sign language shaped Lucia’s deep understanding of deafness and inspired her 19-year career supporting deaf children in education.
• Transformative AVUK training: Her training with Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK) was hands-on and reflective, equipping her to deliver tailored, evidence-based therapy that empowers families to support their child’s spoken language development.
• Family-centred philosophy: Lucia emphasises the importance of involving the whole family in therapy, believing that parents are the most powerful language teachers for their children.
• Personal inspiration: Her nephew Axel, who has a rare genetic condition which affects his hearing, vision and motor skills, fuels her dedication to inclusive, sensory-aware teaching and reinforces the power of communication.
• Holistic, reflective practice: Lucia values AV therapy’s evolving approach, integrating sensory integration and play-based learning to support each child as a whole, unique learner.
• Ongoing growth & vision: Now pursuing advanced AV training, Lucia aims to deepen her clinical skills, refine parent coaching, and contribute to a broader mission of empowering deaf children and their families.

“Coming from a family where many of my relatives have hearing loss, I grew up in a bilingual household with both spoken language and sign language, which profoundly influenced my understanding of deafness. And with 19 years of experience working with deaf children in education (six as a qualified Teacher of the Deaf), it has given me invaluable insights into the lived experiences of deaf children and has motivated me to ensure that all deaf children, are given the same opportunities to develop their communication skills.”

“My journey with AV therapy began when I trained with Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK), one of the leading organisations specialising in this evidence-based approach. During my time on the course, I was immersed in an accredited training programme designed to equip professionals to help deaf children develop spoken language through listening.”

“This training wasn’t just theoretical—it was incredibly practical and reflective. I worked closely with experienced Auditory Verbal Therapists, observing and delivering therapy sessions, and learning how to coach and empower parents to become their child’s primary language facilitators. Through case studies, mentoring, and structured feedback, I developed a deep understanding of how to tailor therapy to each child’s unique hearing profile, family background, and developmental needs.”

“AVUK’s approach also taught me to see the whole family as central to the therapy process. This experience profoundly shaped my professional philosophy: that meaningful, lasting change comes from partnership with parents and caregivers, and from creating an environment where listening and spoken language can flourish naturally, every day.”

“What inspires me most about AV therapy is its focus on empowering families. It isn’t just about teaching a child to hear and speak; it’s about giving parents the tools and confidence to become their child’s primary language facilitators. There’s something deeply hopeful and deeply human about that partnership. Watching a child hear their parent’s voice for the first time, or say “I love you” and truly be understood—it’s moments like these that reaffirm why I do what I do.”

“On a personal level, my nephew Axel has a rare genetic condition which affects his hearing, vision and motor skills is my passion for teaching because watching him navigate the world with limited hearing and sight has shown me just how powerful communication really is. His determination to connect, despite these challenges, inspires me every day to help children like him find their voices, build confidence, and feel truly included. Axel’s resilience, determination, and need for both listening support and creative, sensory-aware teaching are what inspire me every day to keep learning, so I can help him and other children unlock their voices and their confidence.”

“One of the most valuable parts of my Auditory Verbal (AV) training has been the culture of reflection it nurtures. It’s not just about delivering sessions; it’s about constantly stepping back, asking why, noticing what works, and being open to adapting. This reflective practice has deepened my understanding of each child and family I support, and it’s helped me see even small moments of progress as meaningful steps forward. It helped me become braver in my clinical decisions, clearer in how I coach parents, and more creative in finding ways to embed listening and language into everyday routines.”

“But perhaps most inspiring is the sense of being part of something much bigger than my individual role as a Teacher of the Deaf. AV therapy training connects you to a shared vision: that all deaf children should have the opportunity to develop spoken language if that’s their family’s goal—and that parents can and should be empowered as their child’s most important teachers. Knowing that my work contributes to this wider mission is both humbling and incredibly motivating. It reminds me every day that what we do goes beyond therapy sessions—it changes lives.”

“One thing I’ve found surprising—and actually quite exciting—during my AV therapy training is seeing how the more ‘traditional’ methods of Auditory Verbal therapy are evolving. While the core principles of listening and spoken language remain, there’s recognition of the whole child and the complex interplay of sensory processing in language development.”

“This has sparked a new professional interest for me in sensory integration. Exploring how a child’s sensory profile—whether it’s auditory, vestibular, proprioceptive, or tactile—can influence attention, self-regulation, and ultimately, their capacity to listen and learn, has been eye-opening. It adds another layer of understanding to my work: instead of seeing listening skills in isolation, I now consider how sensory strengths and challenges might affect a child’s ability to engage, attend, and communicate confidently.”

“For me, this expands my knowledge beyond the technical aspects of hearing and language. It deepens my ability to see each child as a whole, unique learner—and to tailor support in a way that feels more integrated and child-centred. It also enriches my conversations with families, helping them understand how different areas of development can work together to support spoken language and listening.”

“Now that I’ve completed the foundation course in AV therapy, I feel both excited and motivated to take the next step into the advanced stage of training. My goal moving forward is to deepen my clinical expertise so I can deliver truly impactful, evidence-based AV therapy that feels dynamic, reflective, and deeply responsive to each child and family I work with.”

“One of my ambitions is to grow my confidence in coaching parents even further—helping them to see themselves not just as supporters, but as their child’s primary and most powerful language teachers. I also want to refine my skills in using detailed diagnostic information from listening checks, language sampling, and auditory hierarchies to create even more tailored and meaningful therapy plans.”

“As I move into advanced training, I’m also passionate about exploring how AV can be enriched by integrating insights from other fields—like sensory integration and play-based learning—so that therapy is truly holistic and child-centred. I hope to keep expanding my professional toolkit so I can meet the diverse needs of the children and families I support.”

“Ultimately, my ambition isn’t just to become an AV practitioner in title, but to become someone who embodies the values of AV therapy: reflective, curious, collaborative, and driven by the belief that with the right support, deaf children can achieve incredible things. I’m excited to keep learning, keep questioning, and keep growing—because I know that journey will benefit every family I work alongside.”

“If you’re thinking about starting the AV therapy course, I’d say: absolutely go for it—but go in with an open mind and a reflective heart. It shifts your perspective completely and makes the work feel so much more meaningful and sustainable.”

“It’s also incredibly rewarding to see how theory comes to life in practice. You’ll find yourself looking at listening, spoken language, and family dynamics in a much deeper, more integrated way. And you’ll never look at a therapy session the same way again—you start to notice so many small but significant moments you might have missed before.”

Find out more about AVUK’s training course.