Ruth Sedgewick, Head of Office at Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists NI
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is today marking one year since the launch of Communication Access UK (CAUK), which aims to make life easier for millions of people in the United Kingdom.
CAUK is an initiative developed in partnership with charities and organisations that share a vision to improve the lives of people with communication difficulties.
The free online resource was developed by RCSLT, in partnership with the Stroke Association, Headway, MND Association, Disability Rights UK, Business Disability Forum, Communication Matters, The Makaton Charity, and the National Network of Parent Career Forum.
CAUK is an online training course that provides individuals, businesses and organisations with the knowledge and understanding of communication difficulties and how best to support those living with them. Completion of the training allows for the service/business to display the CAUK symbol, demonstrating a commitment to providing an inclusive communicative environment for all.
Over 30,000 people live with long-term communication difficulties in Northern Ireland, including up to 90% of people with learning disabilities, 33% of Stroke survivors and more than 20% of people with a brain injury.
Research has shown that inclusive communication has wide ranging economic benefits for society including reducing hospital admissions and an increase in autonomy and independence for service users and their families, which in turn reduces pressure on public services.
Ruth Sedgewick, Head of Office at the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists NI said:
“Many of us take for granted the ability to communicate freely but in reality, two in ten of us in our lifetime will experience a speech, language and communication difficulty. Having a communication difficulty can place a huge strain on a person, affecting day-to-day activities such as going to the shop or getting public transport.”
“That is why this initiative is so important. It has offered a lifeline to those with communication difficulties throughout the pandemic who have felt increasingly marginalised due to the range of restrictions.”
“To mark the first anniversary of the symbol, RCSLT NI are encouraging people to become communication inclusive by taking part in the Communication Access UK training. More people completing the training would be a positive step towards improving the lives of those in Northern Ireland living with speech, language and communication needs.”
Barry Macauley, Associate Director for the Stroke Association NI, explained that:
“On the first anniversary of the Communication Access UK initiative, we continue to encourage NI businesses and services, to sign up to CAUK and avail of the free training and publicly display the Communication Access symbol. We are very proud to have been the first partner organisation to adopt the scheme in Northern Ireland. We know that after a stroke, communication problems like aphasia are very common and can have a profound effect on the quality of a person’s life and that of their family.
“Around a third of people who have a stroke will experience aphasia which is a language and communication disorder. Communication is vitally important to all of us each and every day. I hope that as this scheme continues to gather momentum across the UK, those who are living with a communication difficulty for whatever reason, start to see a tangible improvement to how others in society engage and interact with them.”