Supporting every student to communicate, connect and participate in ways that work for them.
Communication is an important part of learning, building relationships and making choices. At Yarraville Special Developmental School, Speech Pathologists support students with a wide range of communication needs, recognising that every student has their own strengths and ways of expressing themselves.
Speech pathology is about more than spoken words. Students may communicate through speech, signs, gestures, objects, pictures, symbols or voice-output communication devices. Our approach values these different forms of communication and helps students understand others, express preferences, share ideas and take part in everyday school activities.
Speech Pathologists work alongside teachers and education support staff to develop practical strategies that can be used throughout the school day, creating more opportunities for students to communicate meaningfully.
Our multimodal approach supports students to access communication methods suited to their individual needs. This may include spoken language, key word signing, visual supports, picture or object symbols, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
Communication opportunities are built into classroom learning, play, routines and interactions with others. By working together, staff can provide consistent support that helps students communicate with greater confidence and participate in meaningful activities.
Speech pathology support is tailored to individual strengths, needs and goals. Depending on the student, areas of support may include:
Helping students express needs, preferences, feelings and ideas using communication methods that are meaningful and accessible to them.
Supporting students to understand words, signs, symbols, instructions and everyday messages through appropriate communication supports.
Exploring and using communication tools such as picture symbols, communication boards and voice-output devices to support participation.
Creating opportunities for students to connect with peers and staff, make choices, initiate interactions and take part in shared experiences.
Supporting access to reading, writing, symbols and language-based classroom activities in ways that match individual learning needs.
Assessing feeding and swallowing difficulties where needed and providing individual recommendations to support safer participation in mealtimes, in collaboration with relevant professionals.
We recognise and celebrate communication in all its forms. Through individualised support and collaboration with families, teachers and education support staff, we aim to help each student be understood, make choices, build relationships and participate fully in school life.
