COMMUNICATION IS EVERYONE’S RIGHT

Sunday 22 August 2021 marks the start of Speech Pathology Week across Australia. The week is an opportunity to make all Australians aware of those in our community who have communication disabilities. Speech Pathology Week seeks to promote the speech pathology profession and the work done by speech pathologists with the 1.2 million Australians who have a communication disability. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the challenges faced by Australians with communication disabilities. Communication is a basic human right and Speech Pathology Week seeks to make Australians aware of this. Speech pathologists work to ensure everyone can communicate with confidence. It is important that the broader community understands that:

• 1.2 million Australians live with communication disabilities;
• communication disability is largely invisible. Unseen and out-of-sight;
• more confident communication helps maximise educational, health, and social outcomes; and
• communication is more than just speech.

  Here are a few simple tips to use to communicate while wearing a face mask:

• Make eye contact
• Introduce yourself
• Use hand gestures/point to objects
• Name emotions
• Slow down your speech