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Speak Out
April 2015
Speech Pathology Australia
FEATURE
Just Sentences
is a
literacy pilot which began at
Tasmania’s Risdon Prison
in October 2013 with one
inmate – later adding a
second. Positive liaison
between the in-prison literacy
service and the external
speech pathologist was
the springboard into this
successful project. Each
service desired to learn
from the other and to share
knowledge and perspectives
with mutual valuing.
The title was the brainchild
of Melissa Iocco, the LINC
Literacy Coordinator at the
prison. We love the human
dignity which is encapsulated
within each permutation of
the meanings of ‘Just’ and
‘Sentences’. Merely language
– that language, spoken or
written, need not be baffling
– thus speaking of hope for
mastery! Merely a decree –
which speaks of acceptance,
reflection and attitudinal
choice. Right language – that
communication is a human
right; and honest, authentic,
honourable communication
has important place. Right
decree – which speaks of
rehabilitation and using
liberty-deprived time justly
to build skill in readiness for
pro-social return to society.
One participant, in his 50s,
had a presentation suggestive
of a past childhood apraxia of
speech and all that it brings
in botheration of literacy
acquisition. He had never
read a book, nor written. He
had always asked others
to fill in forms for him when
necessary. Blessed with a
sunny personality, he didn’t
show shame in the way we
know some people in his
situation might; but he would
– in his words – “get wild”, if
he felt that people responded
to him as if he were stupid or
needy. Across his adulthood
he had attended many
literacy programs but felt
put-down when he was
told “you can do this”. In his
words again – and through
gritted teeth – “I bloody can’t
do this”.
We know this scenario.
A well-meaning and
undoubtedly caring tutor was
trying to offer him support
and encouragement and
assure him that the task
was not too hard for him.
But actually, it was too hard
for him – and the tutor did
not have the background
knowledge to understand
why. This participant often
stated how frustrated and
belittled he felt when this
kind of ‘encouragement’
was given – it had the exact
opposite effect to that which
the tutor had almost certainly
intended.
Bringing a speech pathology
skill set to this inmate opened
everything. Just three months
into the program he wrote
the first letter of his life – to
his father – and eagerly read
texts of approximately grade
3–5 level complexity. He
generously says: “You are the
one who worked it out. The
others [volunteer tutors] didn’t
know what to do. Like, they
were nice and everything.
They tried different things,
but they didn’t know what to
do. It was confusing. But this
way, I get it. It’s not confusing
anymore.”
As we all know – this
success is not about the
Risdon Prison Complex, Tasmania.
Just Sentences:
prison literacy pilot project