Laura Leighton Jones (LJ)

Bachelor of Linguistics and Language Sciences from Macquarie University. Currently completing a Master of Applied Behaviour Analysis at Monash University.

I have worked across a variety of settings including SSPs, schools, preschools, clinics, day programs, home and community settings. My experience includes working as an SLSO, disability support worker, activity leader in disability support programs, and behaviour therapist across homes, clinics, daycares, preschools and community environments for several years. 

I have supported children with a range of additional needs across communication, behaviour, social, play and independence goals, with a strong focus on skill-building through play-based learning. I now primarily focus on 2-6 years old early intervention age groups but also have experience and passion working with young adults ages 17-25 years. 

I was drawn to the opportunity to make meaningful change during the most crucial years of development through early intervention. I love supporting children to learn through joy, connection and child-led play, and helping build skills in ways that feel engaging, empowering and meaningful to each child.

After years of modelling play skills, teaching play sequences and practicing group social games within therapy sessions, I walked into the playground to find one of my longest-standing clients independently playing duck-duck-goose with friends. Seeing a skill we had worked on so intentionally transfer naturally into a real social setting was an incredibly meaningful moment, and one that reinforced exactly why I love this work.

Inclusion means the environment changes, not the child. It means creating spaces where children are understood, celebrated and supported to participate in ways that are truly meaningful for them. To me, inclusion means it is our responsibility to adapt the environment and tailor our supports so that every child is set up for success.

Reptiles and amphibians. I was always fascinated by them and spent a lot of my childhood researching and caring for reptiles, breeding frogs, and raising lizards. I also had a pet bearded dragon who I absolutely loved.