| Speaking
at the launch in the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Ruth Nesbitt,
Head of Speech and Language Therapy Services with Craigavon
and Banbridge HSS, commended the commitment of those involved
in the project. Ruth along with her colleagues has been instrumental
in the production of the guide and believes it will be a great
support for teachers in the classroom. She said, "The
'Listen Hear!' Booklet and information sheets have been produced
in close consultation with teachers, parents and children
and will help Speech and Language Therapists and Educational
staff to work more closely together. It will ensure that therapy
goals for children with communication difficulties are incorporated
into day to day learning plans - a joint approach which research
has shown to be the most effective, and which will achieve
the best therapy and education outcomes for these children."
The launch brought together primary teachers, speech and language
therapists from across Northern Ireland, Department representatives
from both Health & Social Services and Education, along
with Board members from the Health & Social Services Trust
and Education Board and local politicians.
Southern Education & Library Board Chairman, Mrs Moira
Alexander welcomed the booklet as a valuable resource. Speaking
at the launch, she commented, "The area of speech and
language provision for pupils with communication difficulties,
remains one of the most important challenges faced by education
and health services for several years. The 'Listen Hear!'
booklet is a positive step in the right direction and will
become a valuable resource for the classroom, which will ultimately
benefit the child. For these reasons the Southern Education
& Library Board welcomes the document and commends its
use in schools across the board's area."
Also speaking at the event was Mary Wright and her son Patrick.
Patrick has experienced such communication difficulties and
he and his mum have first hand experience of the impact speech
and language difficulties can have on learning. Mrs Wright
added, " Speech and language disorders are considered
as the hidden disability. There is no quick fix, no pill you
can take and yet they have a huge impact on a person's life.
All children learn differently and some require very specific
strategies to address their learning needs and help them to
access the educational curriculum. 'Listen Hear!' is good
news for parents who often need to be the channel between
the speech and language therapist and the teacher. Parents
can now be assured that their child's teachers will be better
informed regarding their child's communication problem and
deal with it more effectively." She continued "But
most of all it is good news for children, in that those people
working with them have a better understanding of their problems
and can identify and support them more effectively. 'Listen
Hear!' will result in improved links between professionals
and help to prevent additional difficulties both educationally
and socially. It is a chance to ensure that these children
become stakeholders in society. 'Listen Hear!' is a step towards
realising that goal."
The 'Listen Hear!' guide was available for invited guests
on the day and will also be distributed to the Principals
and SENCO's in all primary schools in the Craigavon and Banbridge/
Newry and Mourne/ Armagh and Dungannon Health Trust areas.
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