Speech pathology for kids in India

Flinders University students prepare for a volunteer trip to Himcha/ Pradesh

In September a group of ten srudents from Plinders Universic:y Bachelor of Speech Pathology program will be going co Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, on a volLmteer clinical p lacement for a period of three weeks.

Their will provide vo lllllteer speech pachology services and health education to children and cheir families living ,vich disability. Services will focus on improving the children's access to communication, using communication aids, educating carers and famil y, and enhanc ing social interaction skills.

Thescudents are in their 3rd and 4th years of the speech patho logy degree. The)' hope to give kids with speech disorders or delays, communication skills that wiU give them a voice they may not have at the moment. Their goal is to help teachers and care r s facilitate communication skiUs in the children. Services will be provided ac two centres for children with disability in Palampur, che Harmony Through Education Centre and the Rotary School for the Disabled.

This is the first time the volm1teer placement has been organised, and for the smdents, ic is che first time they are visiting India.

Adam Caruana, one of the students, is excited at the prospect of learning bow to work outside the conventional framework of speech pathology.

"I d o n't really know what to expect from India, though," he confessed, "oche r tban that it will be an assault on the senses!"

The group also plans to raise awareness in parents, famiJies, and the community about cLifferent ways to communicate, and also what speech pathology can do for children. This will give the kids greater access co their own fumre.

" W/e will also be encouraging good oral hygie ne and assisting the children in develop ing safe swallowing habits, to help prevent the development o f conditio n s such as pneumonia tl1at are quite common for children with certain concLitions," Adam said.

Tl1e program requires participants to volunteer tl1eir time and cover all associated costs of the trip. 1n addition, smdents are required to anticipate, somce and develop any resources that may be required for speech patl1ology and educational purposes whilst in India Since there i s no speech therapist at the Centres, the students do not know what resomces are avaiJabl e there. They hope co use local resources or make aids with materials available.

Buc being there for only three weeks, ic is al l a challenge. There are bud get issues too

So tl1e students, off their own bats, have been seeking sponsorsbip to help enable them to deliver services to these children and famiJies in Pa lampu.r, inclndiug donations in. the following forms:

• Speech pathology resources

• General education resources, including books, educational coys and games

• Oral hygiene resources

• Healch resources , inclucLing awareness p oste r s

• Stationary, both to donate to the children and for the purpose of creating resources for th e children prior to departure

• l'v[o necary donations, to purchase any of th e above items/materials either in Australia or in IucLia, with an y remaining funds ro be donated to the centres

They have also negotiated with the airlines for allocation of extra luggage for the purpose of t ransporting resources. They are organising fundraise rs and trying to contact people and organisations for donations in cluding for che ir Book Drive

Adam says, "As we will only be in IncLia for chree weeks, it w:iU be unrealistic for us t o deliver intens ive speech and language inter vemion and expect dramatic improvemencin children's skills in such a smaU period of time. Instead, our aim is to prov ide the children with greater access to cotumuoicatiou - through verbal means, vis ual / picn1re boards, gestures,

''The students also plan to raise awareness in parents, families, and the community about different ways to communicate, and also what speech pathology can do for children

This will give the kids greater access to their own future simple signs - any metl1od that helps eacl1 child to get their intentions across and be 'hea rd ' b y those around them".

Why books?

"Boo ks can play an extremely important role iu communication developmenc. They can be interactive and enjoyable for children , and help them to develop skills such as joint attention and n1rn taking that do not always come nanual ly. Books provide exposure to rich language, bur the reader can also choose to adapt sto ries based on the pictures if the language is too comp lex Lastly, cl1iJdren can learn important social skills th rough the stories that are read to them".

The IncLian Community RacLio in Adelaide is helping the group with the Book Drive, assisting them in collecting booksespeciaUy Indian books which che children and the ir families can relate to. It does not really matter which language the books are in, but books in HincLi would be an added advantage.

The smdent5 a lso hope to make contacts in India who may be

''Our aim is to provide the children with greater access to communication - through verbal means, visual/ picture boards, gestures, simple signs - any method that helps each chi ld to get their intentions across able co purchase resources in the bigger cities and send to Palampur.

''So, as they set off on their big lndi an adventure, combining study with volunteer work and us ing tl1e skil.Is they have learned so far for the greater good, and we wonder what their expectations are, whether chere are any fears.

There seems co be a bit of trepidation since no one has done tl1is p lacement before and so t!1ey don't have any existing guidelines to go by. However, they are all quite excited (even witb the fact that they might only be eating daf and mti for 3 weeks!) and are sure i t wiJl b e a life-changing experience.

They will probably learn co improve their own communication skills, build up their awareness of Indian culture and will no doubt have a great time coo. Jndian Li"k w ishes them luck!

Ifyou have books or otber 1·esources to donate, callAdn.111 Cllr1Jn11a 011 0430 923 856 or email him at caru0043@ffoulers.edu.au