JCPSLP Voll 15 No 3 Nov 2013

Interprofessional education and practice

Top 10 transdisciplinary resources Nicole Limbrick

I am a new graduate speech pathologist who recently commenced work as an Early Childhood Intervention Officer in Shepparton, Victoria. My practice follows the transdisciplinary model and our team consists of speech pathologists, an occupational therapist, physiotherapist and educational advisor. While my specialist knowledge is within the speech pathology realm, I take on a more generalist role as a key worker for families of children with developmental delays and disabilities. I also provide consultations for team members from other disciplines if children have communication or feeding needs. Ultimately, thinking outside the square is essential when working in transdisciplinary teams because activities need to target broader goals – such as fine and gross motor skills as well as communication development. In my experience, working in a transdisciplinary team is supportive and there are many learning opportunities. However, the transdisciplinary model of practice can be challenging. The Top 10 resources listed have a paediatric slant and are frequently relied upon in our team. A big thank you to the colleagues who helped me compile this list! 1 Visuals Never underestimate the power of visuals. Visuals are used by all members of our transdisciplinary team for a variety of purposes, including daily routines, schedules, social stories, regulation of emotions, and communication. For instance, visuals are essential for implementing the Picture Exchange Communication System [PECS] (by A. S. Bondy & L. Frost (1985); available from Pyramid Educational Consultants). Boardmaker is an essential computer program (available from $589.00 from Spectronics, http://www. spectronicsinoz.com/) for generating visuals or symbols

for a wide range of vocabulary items. If creating visuals from scratch is too time-consuming, Boardmaker Share is a handy website (http://www.boardmakershare. com/) where you can access thousands of ready-made Boardmaker resources (e.g., books, schedules, activities) for free. There are also online resources that contain ideas for incorporating visuals in practice. For instance, the Getting Started resources (http://carsonst.wa.edu.au/ parent-info/getting-started-books/) by speech pathologist Dolly Bhargava outline strategies for using visuals to target communication, play and self-esteem development, positive behaviour and emotional management. 2 Key Word Sign resources Key Word Sign (KWS) is used by our team to promote children’s communication development and participation in daily life by enhancing their comprehension and ability to follow routines. KWS can positively impact children’s well-being and overall development. Resources available from Key Word Sign Australia include books containing vocabulary and scripts for using signs in common activities, a CD-ROM, and a DVD (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/ research-centre/special-education/key-word-sign-australia/ signing-resources/). KWS workshops are held throughout Australia and are well worth attending. Nursery Rhymes to Sing, See and Sign resources include visuals, KWS posters and song lyrics (e.g., “Wheels on the Bus”, “Baa Baa Black Sheep”) with corresponding KWS. These free resources are great for early language stimulation and encouraging emotional attachment between children and caregivers (http://www.scopevic.org.au/index. php/site/resources/nurseryrhymes). 3 Hanen resources The Hanen resources are renowned among speech pathologists for their evidence-base, sought-after training workshops and parent-friendly manuals. Our entire team frequently turn to the More than Words and It Takes Two to Talk manuals for early communication strategies to combat the age-old question: “How do I get my child to talk?” The techniques fit well into families’ everyday routines and are appropriate for use with children with language delays and autism spectrum disorder. The pictures, minimal speech pathology jargon and simple step-by-step strategies make the Hanen techniques suitable for implementation by other professionals under the guidance of speech pathologists. Hanen resources can be purchased online from Dart Products (www.dartproducts.com.au). 4 Developmental Occupational Therapy (WA) Inc. resources Our occupational therapist introduced me to the DOT (WA) website (http://dotwa.org.au/play-and-early-learning- handouts/). There are play, motor skill and early language handouts that are suitable for parents and professionals.

Nicole Limbrick

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JCPSLP Volume 15, Number 3 2013

Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology