Faces for Tomorrow half marathon

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

Regular contributor to Speech & Language Therapy in Practice Paula Leslie is running a half marathon to raise funds for a small charity with a big goal of providing medical and surgical services to children around the world with facial deformities. (You can support her at firstgiving.)

One of Paula's colleagues Rhona Galera worked with Faces of Tomorrow on its first mission in Ecuador, and hopes to return in January 2010. Rhona and Paula wrote an evidence-based article in the Summer 09 issue about the importance of nurturing native language and traditional family cultures. Faces of Tomorrow emphasises that it works within the cultures of the communities it serves. On the 2009 trip the team carried out over 100 assessments, over 80 surgical procedures and dental work, and offered education sessions on subjects such as speech issues.

Paula explains, "The Speech Pathology component of this clinical team is essential to the communication outcomes of the people who have surgery. Rhona's work goes beyond just the trip because she trains and supports the local speech team in many aspects of our field, not just the cleft lip and palate work." Rhona features in this trailer of a film made by Meg Pinsonneault about the team's experience in Ecuador.

Posted in Craniofacial, Overseas, Speech and Language Therapy, Voluntary organisations | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Listen to Stuttering Stan as he Takes a Stand

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

Stuttering-Stan-illustratio[1] Artie Knapp tells me that his children's book 'Stuttering Stan Takes a Stand' is now available as a free audio book.

The book was reviewed positively in the Winter 09 issue of Speech & Language Therapy in Practice by Sandra Unsworth, with the help of two teenage clients and a class of primary children. Sandra said, "The issues arising from the story are: learning to share, not to tease / bully, to stand up for yourself without being a bully yourself, being kind to others and accepting that others have difficulties with different things."

Readers may also be interested in Artie's 'Getting to Know Ronnie: A Story About Autism' , which was published in the magazine California Kids (September issue, p.22).

Posted in Autism, Books, journals and articles, Speech and Language Therapy, Stammering | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Kenyan laryngectomee workshop appeal

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

Speech & Language Therapy in Practice member Emma Shah has forwarded an appeal for funds from the Kenya Association of Laryngectomees to enable a unique residential workshop to take place in November/December.

The organisation is looking for kes.220,000 (just under £2000). This will cover the cost of boarding facilities for one week, lecture materials, transport and counselling. All other professionals, including Emma, give their time and expertise for free.

Although there is a monthly meeting of the group in Nairobi, distance and transport costs prevent many people from attending. At least 20 laryngectomees will participate and, if funds allow, there will be a session for spouses and carers.

Organising Secretary Bishop Duncan Mbogo Wanjigi's enthuasiasm is infectious. He says, "The Kenya Association of Laryngectomees is committed to creating awareness of the existence of the voiceless but not speechless persons in Kenya and that laryngectomy is not the end of life – life continues!"

The Bishop says cheques made payable to 'KENYA ASSOCIATION OF LARYNGECTOMEES' can be mailed to Kenya Association of Laryngectomees, Town House, 4th Floor Room 412, Kaunda Street, Box 42086-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Alternatively money can be paid into the Association's account at Equity Bank Ltd, Thika Branch, Account # 0340-291602170.

Posted in Head & Neck, Overseas, Speech and Language Therapy, Voluntary organisations | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Online communication community

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

Icom person logo RGB-HiRes I recently heard about an ambitious online venture called icommunicate.This global online community provides free information and resources around communication skills, written by speech and language therapists / pathologists. As well as sharing within the profession, the site aims to help clients, parents, teachers and other professionals.

icommunicate leading light Johan Langfield explained to me that his motivation came from seeing "a lack of resources for many people that really needed them." Working for a time in the public sector, he saw children "who were not getting sufficient help because they were not deemed severe enough to fit the criteria for funding. This really bothered me." He says that, as icommunicate evolved, "the more we felt we could create something really great, that people could use, that would help people."

The success of icommunicate will depend ultimately on the number of speech and language therapy professionals who choose to send in their activities, ideas, videos and stories for inclusion and participate in the forum. This video link explains how it all works.

Posted in Speech and Language Therapy, Web/Tech, Writing for publication | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Leys new Chair of British Stammering Association

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

Leysgeddes2007rs

Newly elected chair of the British Stammering Association Leys Geddes - known to many as speakingout2 on YouTube - has put raising awareness at the top of the agenda for his three year tenure.

Leys says, "It is difficult to raise awareness of a condition which many people are trying desperately hard to reduce or even hide, for fear of prejudice. I have no instant solution, but have pledged to ensure that the BSA does everything possible to help stammerers. But, to make real progress, we need to spend more time speaking to the 99% of people who don't stammer, so they will understand the difficulties we face, and help us achieve change."

Leys is calling for more funding to

  • educate teachers and parents about how early intervention can enable 9/10 of those at persistent risk of stammering to talk fluently
  • help even more speech and language therapists develop their early intervention skills
  • educate politicians to give stammering a higher priority
  • carry out a lot more research into causes and potential treatments.
Posted in Speech and Language Therapy, Stammering, Voluntary organisations | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carole Pound moves on from Connect

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

It was an emotional day on Friday for Carole Pound as she said goodbye to the communication disability network Connect, which she co-founded with Sally Byng in 2000.

Latterly Carole has been Director of Innovation at the national charity, overseeing the creative development of projects, training, publications and consultancy. She leaves with justifiably high hopes for Connect's future: "That we build on 10 great years of championing the skills, competence and rights of people who live with aphasia. That we have more active citizens with aphasia, more user involvement, more power in the hands of people with aphasia to influence the services and opportunities available to them. And have people with aphasia out there, not just being supported and involved, but in control and in the driving seat."

I first met Carole at a study day on empowerment in Edinburgh nearly 20 years ago. This had a profound influence on me, and she continues to be one of the speech and language therapy profession's foremost thinkers and doers. Although Carole will retain links with Connect, she is turning her focus to a PhD at Brunel University. It's no surprise to hear that its priorities will be driven by a team of people with communication disability.

Along with her Connect colleagues, I wish Carole all the best in her new venture.

Posted in Aphasia, Speech and Language Therapy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

NICE and Slo

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

Mathew Done from Slo Drinks has been in touch to say that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has finally approved Slo Hot Chocolate and Slo White Coffee on prescription at Stage 1 and Stage 2 consistencies.

Pre-thickened Slo cold drinks in blackcurrant, lemon, orange and peach were already approved as a "nutritional supplement for patient hydration in the dietary management of dysphagia" for anyone over the age of 3 years. The new additions appear to be the only pre-prepared [thickened] hot drinks available on prescription.

The company started three years ago with the aim of addressing the many practical difficulties caused by a variety of people measuring and adding thickener and trying to bring drinks to the prescribed consistency. It has taken two years to get this approval from NICE. I asked Mathew what he thought had made the difference: "I'd like to think we changed their minds by providing them with research we had done over several months. That proved the worth of providing elderly dysphagia patients – who prefer hot drinks to cold – with safe hot drinks."

To receive a Slo newsletter, you can e-mail your name to newsletter@slodrinks.com.

Posted in Dysphagia, Speech and Language Therapy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Accessing the literature

Posted on September 15, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

SAGE is offering free access to 14 language and linguistics titles until 30th September. This free trial includes Child Language Teaching & Therapy and the International Journal of Bilingualism.

Many speech and language therapists say they don't read journals because they don't have time, and the articles are too obscure and 'researchy' to be of use in real-life practice.

I have had personal subscriptions to Child Language Teaching & Therapy and Aphasiology but, as a generalist therapist with limited time for reading, the cost began to outweigh the benefits. I have also purchased individual articles online; this is expensive, especially if the article doesn't live up to the promise of the abstract.

A combination of publishers' e-mail journal alerts services with the UCL Language and Speech Science library photocopying service has proved an ideal, cost-effective solution. I now read far more journal articles on a wider range of topics, and have started 'Editor's Choice' in Speech & Language Therapy in Practice to report on my favourites. 

If you take advantage of the SAGE offer and find an article that gives you food for thought, do let me know. 

Posted in Books, journals and articles, Speech and Language Therapy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cover star is editor

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

All the Autumn 09 issues of Speech & Language Therapy in Practice have now been mailed to subscribers, so should be arriving later this week.

Aut09cover As always, I am grateful to our cover models who, on this occasion, are Hal and Margaret Bailey. Hal, a retired managing director of a software company, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2004. In the Autumn issue he gives his views on the Motor Neurone Disease Association's Year of Care Pathway, which he believes will increase healthcare professionals' ability to respond to the particular and changing needs of individuals.

Hal sent me a link to the Cheshire Branch of the MND Association as he is their newsletter and website editor. He says, "I volunteered to take on this role in order to help raise awareness of the disease and to put something back into the system." As well as tips for people with motor neurone disease, the website includes information for carers and people who are considering volunteering.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

HPC renewal in the post

Posted on August 30, 2009 by Avril Nicoll

The Health Professions Council has asked me to pass on a reminder to speech and language therapists that the deadline date for registration renewal is Monday 30th September 2009.

It was a timely reminder for this registrant at least, and my renewal is now on its way.

Two and a half per cent of speech and language therapists are being audited this year to make sure they are meeting the HPC's standards for continuing professional development.  HPC has made a DVD to help registrants understand the standards and prepare for audit. I certainly found the DVD helped me feel much less daunted by the prospect of being audited and very clear about what I would need to do if I was chosen.

If you have been selected for audit, you could think about making the most of the work you have put in by submitting some of your reflections for publication. Do get in touch if you would like to discuss this further.

Posted in Professional standards, Speech and Language Therapy | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment