25/08/2026
To celebrate Speech Pathology Week, we are putting the spotlight on some of SAL's fabulous "Speechies" with some Q&A and fun facts.
𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚 - 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐍𝐓
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙘𝙝 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩?
I really enjoy working in dysphagia and mealtime management. I love problem-solving around swallowing difficulties while balancing a person’s safety, wellbeing, autonomy and quality of life.
More recently, I’ve developed a real love for early intervention, particularly early language and pragmatic language development. Who doesn’t love getting to play and educate at the same time?!
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 “𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮” 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪?
To me, “Communication Creates Possibility” means that everybody is entitled to a voice, a say and an opinion.
Communication doesn’t have to look or sound a certain way. Whether someone communicates through speech, gestures, signs, visuals, AAC or a combination of different methods, their communication deserves to be recognised and supported.
When people have an effective way to express their wants, needs, thoughts, feelings and choices, they have greater opportunities to advocate for themselves, build relationships, participate in their community and have more control over their own lives.
𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙥 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙨𝙚
Take time and find out what communication supports your client already uses. Do they have a communication device, visual supports, a chat book or an About Me book? If a Speech Pathologist is involved, seek their guidance about how you can communicate in a way that best supports that individual.
𝙁𝙪𝙣 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩
Communication is so much more than talking! Supporting communication isn’t simply about improving speech, it’s about giving people more opportunities to connect with others, make choices, be understood and participate in the things that matter most to them. MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT is a human right!
