Rate My Professor Rebecca McNeil

Rebecca McNeil is a Lecturer and Unit Convenor within the Department of Linguistics at Macquarie University, part of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences. A Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist, she plays a key role in the Master of Speech and Language Pathology Program, serving as convenor for units such as SPTH8824 – Lifelong Disability and AAC and SPTH8830 – Body Functions and Structures for Speech Pathology. McNeil holds a Master of Speech and Language Pathology from Macquarie University, awarded in 2018. Her clinical career spans public, private, and not-for-profit sectors in New South Wales and the Northern Territory, including work with First Nations communities in Central Australia, delivering lifespan disability services and diagnostic assessments. She brings this practical expertise into her academic teaching and research.

McNeil's research focuses on disability reform in Australia, neurodiversity with emphasis on autism and neuro-diversity affirming practices, community-centred approaches, the influence of disability on identity formation, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, equitable healthcare access amid cross-sectional disadvantage in speech pathology, and neurodivergent student experiences in higher education, including neuro-inclusive learning environments. Notable publications include the 2024 report 'The Macquarie University Neurodiversity Initiative: a vision for making Macquarie University a sector leader in neuroinclusion,' co-authored with multiple colleagues, and 'Verbosity, traumatic brain injury, and conversation: a preliminary investigation' (2023) in Aphasiology. In her teaching, she fosters neuro-inclusive classrooms through neurodiversity acknowledgements, sensory tools, adjusted lighting, movement breaks, and student-informed slide designs. Her contributions earned the 2024 FMHHS Education Excellence Awards (team) and the Rising Star, People's Choice award. McNeil co-chairs the Macquarie University Neurodiversity Community of Practice.