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New service to help communication needs - community encouraged to participateA 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 locally with assistance from Wellington Shire and East Gippsland Shire Councils. By Wellington Shire Council - 27th 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 team is inviting interested people 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 the 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 so that we can all interact more successfully with people who communicate using 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.
Said Wellington’s Mayor Jeff Amos: "This Regional Communication Service will promote the fact that through easier and more effective communication all people can contribute to community life. It will offer expertise and support to people with complex communication needs as well as to other people in their lives."
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 Wellington or East Gippsland Shire Council.
For further information please contact Jenny Maffei at Scope or 1300 855 898 or 56231033.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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