JCPSLP Vol 18 no 2 2016

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JCPSLP Volume 18, Number 2 2016 103
a range of people with complex needs and I could never
admit to knowing everything I need to know for every
person I support, no matter how much experience I have.
We require managers who understand the unique difficulties
that we face. People often need information in an Easy
English format and visual resources are often required to
enable people to be a part of the conversation.
Conversations often take time and we really need people to
be part of their own plans. We need to ensure that the need
for economic sustainability does not cause us to lose sight
of all the things that we have learnt over the years about
being person centred and allowing people to inform their
own plans. Managers who understand these things are
invaluable to our services.
9 SOS and Suzanne Evans Morris
I have recently been sucked back into the busy vortex that
is early intervention. It had been several years since I
worked in this area and I needed to brush up some of my
skills. I was being asked to work with some children with
very complex feeding issues and all the paediatricians kept
asking about my credentials. Had I done SOS training or
did I believe in the Graz approach? Very early in my career I
had the good fortune to attend a live-in Suzanne Evans
Morris training course as professional development (PD)
here in Victoria, which has always formed the basis of how I
approach feeding issues, but I decided it was now time to
invest in some new PD. I spent a very intensive three days
in Brisbane learning all about SOS and I am pleased to say
I found it very useful. I was impressed by their emphasis on
giving children time to overcome their early negative
experiences with eating and drinking and to develop the
skills that they require to eat and drink effectively. PD has
increased my confidence and benefitted the people I support.
Morris, S.E., & Klein, M.D. (2000). Pre-feeding skills: A
comprehensive resource for mealtime development (2nd
ed.). San Antonio, TX: Therapy Skill Builders.
Suzanne’s New Visions website is worth a look for
anyone working with children and infants with feeding
difficulties:
For information regarding SOS training, visit http://www.
10 Wonderfully supportive businesses
Whenever I am assisting people to determine which
communication device will be the best for them, we always
make a list of each device that we have trialled and the pros
and cons of each one. Within this approach I often think
about who will be supplying the equipment and how much
support we will receive after they have acquired their
device. Suppliers, such as Zyteq, that get to know people
with communication difficulties and make it easy for them to
independently ring and troubleshoot difficulties are
empowering for people we support. It is inevitable with
technology that something will go wrong, and people can’t
always get hold of me, so to be able to go straight to the
supplier is invaluable. I should also mention the wonderful
support that we get from our Electronic Communication
Devices Scheme staff at Yooralla. I don’t know about other
states, but when I look at how difficult it can be for our
occupational therapists and physiotherapists to get
equipment for people, I am grateful that I am a speech
pathologist!
For information about Zyteq, visit
For information regarding the Electronic Communication
Devices Scheme, visit
accommodation services as possible. They are skilled up in
a range of strategies to assess and provide communication
supports for the people they are working with. They
become champions of communication within their service
and endeavour to foster a culture of communication. I
envisage networks of therapy assistants who could be
trained and then meet regularly to share ideas and develop
skills to support people achieve their communication goals
within the community.
6 My ipad
A few short years ago, it was unimaginable that we would
be carrying these marvellous devices around with us
everyday. I know they have their limitations, but they have
literally changed the way we do things. I can access my
emails and workplace network, take photos for
communication, utilise any number of games and activities
during sessions, and trial a range of communication apps
with the people I support. Even if I know that they might
benefit from a dedicated communication device, this is a
great place to start and I have it all at my fingertips. Ipads
are mainstream and easily used by families and carers. I
have also been amazed at the ease with which videos can
now be used to practise conversational skills. Federation
University Australia has developed a website to help people
with fluency difficulties practise conversations. But I have
found it just as useful for the people I support. Go to http://
to check out interview practice,
ordering at a fast food outlet and many more typical
scenarios. I attended a presentation by one of the
developers at this year’s “Having a Say” conference and he
said that they were keen for ideas about relevant scenarios
that others might require. This website has led me to
develop my own conversational scenarios utilising the
Pictello app on my iPad. I really can’t believe how quick and
easy it is to develop my own video resources. Pictello
$30.99, available via
7 The Australian standardised labels and
definitions for texture modified foods
and thickened fluids
No doubt most people will be aware of this work that was
done as a collaboration between the Dietician’s Association
of Australia and Speech Pathology Australia. The standards
have become a mainstay of the work that we do on a daily
basis. It has made supporting people with dysphagia easier
and safer, not only by improving the consistency of
therapists’ language, but also in improving staff
understanding of the appropriate terminology, and they are
asking questions when things appear confusing. I am
seeing a real change in the level of care and support around
mealtimes and am interested in seeing how this is
transferring to a better quality and life expectancy for
people with disabilities. It is possible that this was the
impetuous behind the development of better quality
thickeners, and it has improved the outlook for people with
dysphagia. For more information, visit: http://www.
modified-foods-and-fluids
8 Supportive managers
The NDIS is really changing the way services operate.
Everywhere you go, there are marketing departments and
business analysts. It is really important to ensure that we
have managers who understand therapy and what we
require to get the job done. In disability we work with such