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New Service To Help Communication NeedsA new service that will support the needs of people who either cannot speak or who have speech that is difficult to understand is being developed in the East Gippsland and Wellington Shires. By East Gippsland Shire Council - 19th October 2004 - Back to News Called the "Regional Communication Service" it is being developed by a project team comprising representatives from the Department of Human Services, Scope (Vic) Ltd, Noweyung Centre Inc and Rural Access Project Officers from both Councils.
To ensure the service meets local needs the project team is inviting interested members of the community to join a steering committee that will contribute to the development and evaluation of the Regional Communication Service and help distribute information about it within regional communities.
Funded by the State Government as part of a commitment to promote community inclusion of people with complex communication needs, the new service will provide additional speech therapy for people aged 18 to 65 years.
Information, education and resources will be available to community organisations, businesses and sporting and leisure groups to encourage successful communication with people who use methods other than speech.
Alphabet, word or picture boards, picture exchange communication strategies, as well as facial expression, signing and gesture are examples of methods that can be used when a person does not have speech or when their speech is unclear.
East Gippsland Shire’s Mayor Harvey Bates said the Regional Communication Service would promote the fact that through easier and more effective communication all people can contribute to community life.
"The service will offer expertise and support to people with complex communication needs as well as to other people in their lives," he said.
Information on how to become involved in the steering committee or to access a speech pathologist can be obtained by contacting the Rural Access Project Officer at either the East Gippsland or Wellington Shire Council.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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