JCPSLP Vol 18 no 2 July 2016

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: http://www.new-vis.com For information regarding SOS training, visit http://www. feedingworkshops.com 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 www.zyteq.com.au For information regarding the Electronic Communication Devices Scheme, visit https://www.yooralla.com.au/

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:// www.scenariaid.com 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 www.itunes.com.au 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. speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resources/terminology-for- 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

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JCPSLP Volume 18, Number 2 2016

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