GSDD5007 Communication - Developmental Disability
Listen to a brief audio introduction by Bronwyn
This unit introduces students to practical issues and the empirical literature on communication for people with life long disability. Students will be introduced to the communication issues that impact on the lives of people with lifelong disability and those who support them, functional communication assessment and intervention strategies, augmentative and alternative communication, and the importance of communication in facilitating community participation.
At the end of this unit of study, graduate students will understand:
- The importance of functional communication and the role communication plays in quality of life and community integration
- Specific issues related to assessment and intervention strategies used with individuals with complex and multiple disabilities
- The principles involved in the collaborative teams' involvement in the assessment design and maintenance of AAC
- Advantages and disadvantages of different types of AAC systems
- Family and environmental considerations related to communication intervention and assessment
- The impact of a medical model and a social construct model of disability and on assessment, intervention and attitude towards communication
- The importance of a collaborative team approach to facilitating functional communication
- The importance of literacy skills for people with lifelong disability
- Communication issues for people who are unable to use symbols and those who support them
- Issues relating to ageing and communication across the lifespan of the person with disability
Communication – DD Unit of Study Coordinator Dr Bronwyn Hemsley
Bronwyn Hemsley is a speech pathologist with extensive experience in working with children and adults with disability and complex communication needs. Her work to date includes clinical services to children and adults and development of policy and teaching health professionals and others about working with people with disability and the use of augmentative and alternative communication. Bronwyn has been involved in the development and implementation of policies and clinical guidelines in working with people with disability. Bronwyn's research interests are in communication and life long disability and the application of qualitative research methodologies in this area.
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