JCPSLP November 2017

Table 1. An analysis of communication terminology in relation to aspects of inclusive communication continued

Includes all people who have difficulty commu- nicating

Communica- tion term

Easily under- stood by lay person

Definition/explanation

Medical model

Social model

Applies to some or all specific disabilities

Terms inclusive of the role of the environment

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Aphasia friendly

Aphasia friendly is when “barriers to participation in an environment are removed and facilitators for participation are provided or enhanced, in order to make the setting suitable for use by an individual or group of individuals with aphasia” (Howe, Worral & Hickson, 2004, p. 1033). Such an environment would include the following features: information written in an aphasia friendly format, facilitators and barriers to be evident in systems and policies across all life areas, communication partners are skilled communicators. and the attitudes of health professionals and members of the public are positive. Autism friendly refers to an enabling environment. For a child on the spectrum, the features of this environment should be based on information from an individual assessment, with input from parents and carers. The focus should be on facilitating an understanding of the social environment, and the use of visual supports for communication, considering the developmental stage of the child. Features of the sensory environment in relation to the child need to be considered and adapted (Guldberg, 2010). Dementia friendly refers to a community “where people living with dementia are supported to live a high quality of life with meaning, purpose and value. For people with younger onset dementia, this should mean the option of being supported to stay at work, like any other disabled person, as being dementia friendly is not only about social engagement” (Alzheimer’s Australia, 2016). Communication friendly is an environment that “should make communication as easy, effective and enjoyable as possible. It should provide opportunities for everyone to talk, listen, understand and take part. Developing a communication friendly environment can also be seen as removing barriers to communication. A communication friendly environment will also support learning, social and emotional development” (The Communication Trust, 2017). Communication access “occurs when people are respectful and responsive to individuals with communication disabilities, and when strategies and resources are used to support successful communication” (Solarsh & Johnson, 2017, p. 56). “Communication access is when everyone can get their message across and understand what is said to them” (Solarsh & Johnson, 2017, p. 56). Inclusive communication means “sharing information in a way that everybody can understand. For service providers, it means making sure that you recognise that people understand and express themselves in different ways. For people who use services, it means getting information and expressing themselves in ways that meet their needs. Inclusive communication relates to all modes of communication: Written and online information, telephone and face-to-face. Inclusive communication makes services more accessible for everyone. It will help to achieve successful outcomes for individuals and the wider community. It enables people to live more independently and to participate in public life” (Scottish Government, 2011).

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Autism friendly

No

Yes

Yes

No

TBD

Dementia friendly

Communica- tion friendly

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Communica- tion access

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Inclusive communica- tion

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JCPSLP Volume 19, Number 3 2017

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