Medico-Legal Experience

Deeba Akram is a multi award-winning Consultant Speech and Language Therapist with over 21 years’ experience, including more than 15 years preparing assessments and reports for medico-legal cases and SEND Tribunals. She is regularly instructed by legal firms, local authorities and rehabilitation providers to assess children and young people with a wide range of communication needs.

Working bilingually in English, Urdu and Punjabi, Deeba provides detailed, evidence-based assessments for children aged 2–19 with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and acquired brain injury. Her reports are known for their clarity, clinical depth, and relevance to both legal and educational frameworks.

She has completed Bond Solon expert witness training, including Courtroom Skills and Excellence in Report Writing, and is experienced in giving evidence in SEND Tribunal proceedings.

Clinical Experience

Deeba leads Stepping Stones Speech and Language Therapy, an independent service providing strategic consultancy, clinical assessment, specialist therapy and training across the North West. She has held senior NHS roles, including Consultant Therapist and Service Manager, with a focus on leadership in school-based provision and service transformation.

Her work includes developing and implementing language strategies for primary and secondary schools, creating language screening tools for multilingual settings, and training educators and clinicians in culturally competent practice.

She is an ELKLAN tutor and has completed training in SCERTS, PECS, Attention Autism, and the Lidcombe Programme, among others.

Special Interests

• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Acquired brain injury
• Bilingual assessment (English, Urdu, Punjabi)
• Speech, language and communication needs in educational settings

Memberships of Professional Bodies

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

Further information

Download Ms Akram’s CV to learn more about his qualifications and experience.