Darshana Suresh
Speech Language Therapist
BA Psych, MSLTPrac, Member NZSTA

Darshana completed her Masters of Speech Language Therapy Practice at the University of Auckland, and has since gained experience working with tamariki and their whānau in different roles across the education and disability sectors. She started at the Ministry of Education, where she worked alongside schools, early childhood centres, and whānau, to support children with their speech and language development. She also has experience working in the Early Supports team at CCS Disability Action, providing speech, language, and feeding support for disabled children in their preschool years. She currently works part-time at a mainstream primary school in Manurewa, providing communication support to ākonga with a wide range of needs.

Darshana is a registered member of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists' Association (NZSTA). She has her Communication Assistive Technology (CAT Level 1) accreditation, and is a member of the Assistive Technology Alliance New Zealand (ATANZ). She is trained in Talking Mats, Hanen More than Words, Routines Based Intervention, and Facilitating Lego-Based Therapy. She is passionate about working with and supporting autistic children, and has completed training in gestalt language development and sensory processing in autism.

Originally from Tamil Nadu in South India, Darshana has been living in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland for over 20 years. She is continually attempting to find her way home to her mother tongue, Tamil. She understands the importance of language and communication, and how closely it is linked to connection, identity, joy, and wellbeing. She centres neurodivergent affirming, inclusive practice, and believes in being alongside families as they navigate how to best support their tamariki.