SLT Student Conference 2026

The BSc Speech and Language Therapy Student Conference 2026

You are invited to join staff and students at the annual conference on Friday 3rd July. It will be based in Health & Wellbeing Hub Lecture theatre, at Plymouth Marjon University.

The conference celebrates student success including invited speakers, student presentations and posters on a range of topics.

Registration will close on Friday 26 June

Along with student presentations and posters the invited speakers are :

• Ruth Jones, SLT and author

Ruth Jones qualified as a speech and language therapist in 2010 from the University of East Anglia. So far, she has worked in autism specialist schools and is now an independent therapist. Her work now involves supporting individuals and their families, schools and supervising speech and language therapists. Ruth holds her values closely that as a profession we can do more to enable and affirm individuals, being committed to neurodiversity affirming practice through curiosity and compassion. Recognising that this applies to us within our relationships with clients, but equally in our relationships with colleagues, families and beyond too.

In 2026 Speechmark Routledge published the book 'Neurodiversity Affirming Practice for Speech and Language Therapists: Supporting Curiosity, Compassion and Conversation' written by Ruth. She is currently writing her second book, with a working title 'Transforming Speech and Language Therapy: Practice-Based Evidence of Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice'.

Find her on Instagram: @ruth_jones_slt or www.ruthjonesslt.com

• Howard Wicks, author and founder of Locked-In Trust

Howard Wicks, 31, is an author, speaker, and founder of the Locked-In Trust charity, which empowers individuals living in a locked-in state to live meaningful, rich, and fulfilling lives.

Following a brainstem stroke in 2011 at the age of 16, Howard lives with locked-in syndrome and communicates primarily through eye movements. Through his advocacy, talks, and charitable work, he raises awareness around communication accessibility, person-centred care, resilience, and rebuilding life after stroke.

Here is the conference schedule:

Registration: Health and Wellbeing Hub, bridge entrance

9.15 Conference opening & welcome: Dr Alister McCormick, Academic Director Allied Health & Nursing

9.45 Student speakers:

• Rachel Mayne: Subtle yet significant: Exploring the communication profiles of autistic girls.
• Helen Woodgate: Whose recovery is it anyway? Ethical challenges in SLT for people with aphasia and anosognosia.
• Zoe Bluett: The creation of Sing to Speak: a choral plan and novel song for dysarthric speech.

10.30 Student speakers:

• Marjon Giving Voice Society (represented by Sophie Viney, Madeleine de Rozarieux, Martha Davey, Molly Squires, Olivia Street, Taylor Simmonds, Emily Green & Imogen Bray):

Giving voice without words

10.45 Coffee break

11.15 Student Speakers:

• Sarah Ackroyd: Story stages: a scaffolded role-play intervention pack for young children with DLD.
• Emily Preston: Enhancing therapeutic outcomes for female voice users.
• Penelope Caraher: Collaboration between SLTs and teachers in supporting children with DLD.
• SLT travels in Vietnam:

12.30 Lunch (catering facilities on site): Student poster display on the theme of Brain and Behaviour

13.30 Invited speaker: Ruth Jones: Neurodiversity Affirming Practice: It's Everyone's Responsibility.

14.30 Student Speakers:

• Lucy Noble: Streets and Language Therapy: Increasing professional awareness of paediatric homelessness and the implications on speech, language and communication.
• Holly Whittaker: Spectrograms and Spire Views: How looking outside of SLT can help you grow.
• Sophie Viney: Every interaction matters: Young people with special educational and communication needs.

15.15 Invited speaker: Howard Wicks:

16.00 Final thoughts & Prize Giving: Professor Saul Bloxham, Dean of Faculty

16.30 Conference close.

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the achievements of our Speech and Language Therapy students

Registration will close on Friday 26 June

Please contact Alex Mallinson if you require any further information at amallinson@marjon.ac.uk

Please note: Paid parking is available on site. Payment is made via the RingGo app, or by phoning 0203 0460010.