Zakiyya Laher is a South African enrolled in a PhD program at the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, at the University of Pretoria. She is a school-based speech therapist and audiologist working at a government-funded school. Her research focuses on the effectiveness of communication intervention approaches for persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). Zakiyya’s extensive experience as a therapist has shown that intensive interaction opens possibilities for communication, teaching and learning for persons with PIMD. She is deeply passionate about creating communication opportunities for children who are frequently “written off” by society and aims to train teachers, therapists, families and school administrators to communicate with persons with PIMD.
When Zakiyya was growing up, her mother refused to perpetuate gender-based roles and her father had the strength, courage, and wisdom to nurture her goals in the face of societal and cultural constraints towards girls. These values passed on by her parents made her deeply passionate about creating communication and participation opportunities for children with complex communication needs who are frequently “unheard” and “unseen” in their homes, educational, and social environments. It is a legacy she hopes to share with her colleagues and patients.
Zakiyya’s goals include undertaking evidence-based research that will assist and train families, teachers, therapists, nurses, and teaching assistants to interact and communicate with persons with PIMD in ways that enrich their own lives as well as those of children with PIMD.
She volunteers with support groups for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, and PIMD. Zakiyya also organizes parent and staff training workshops on augmentative and alternative communication strategies for children with complex communication needs.
