Melissa McIlhiney

During my degree I took a gap year to work in a nursery. I then went on to work in a Special School in Leigh-on-Sea, which was an Autism base linked to a MLD school. I really loved my job, but after two years I decided I wanted to move closer to my family. So, I applied for a role in the NHS.

Over the next 6 years I was placed in a variety of Special Schools and mainstream schools. I also was involved in working with community paediatricians to run sessions.

I subsequently left the NHS to work within an independent service, where it was my role to help support their ASD and complex needs service develop. I stayed with the company until I ventured on my own to set up Powerful Voices because I wanted to solely focus on supporting individuals within complex and AAC needs. 

I believe my vocation in life is helping young people to find their voice. It is something I am deeply passionate about.

I don’t believe just because you may have complex needs that you don’t deserve to be heard, which are the foundational values that Powerful Voices is built on.

I am also committed to improvement for the young people we serve, that comes in the form of regular and diverse training across the team or attending Communication Matters every year to ensure that all the research and most up to date technology is brought back to the team.