Following his introduction to the world of special educational needs in the 1970s, when he worked with children and young people with challenging behaviours, his educational journey provided him with the opportunity to work with learners experiencing significant difficulties in acquiring literacy skills. In the early 1990s Joe was introduced to the world of visual impairment. His journey has continued to unfold, resulting in his specialisation in the field of profound and complex learning disabilities. This has allowed him to work very closely with children and young people, and their families, as well as with fellow professionals from other disciplines.