Support

We support local teams, families and users of both high tech and low tech communication aids.

This service has been funded for Newcastle upon Tyne since 1990. With new funding for extra staff, it will be extended across the whole of the area covered by the Specialist Commissioning Consortium for Communication Aid Services:

• Co. Durham
• Gateshead
• Newcastle upon Tyne
• North Cumbria
• North Tyneside
• South Tyneside
• Sunderland
• Teesside

Some typical support issues

• Whether to refer for a communication aid assessment
• How to identify vocabulary needs
• Gathering information for a Communicate assessment
• Following through the action plan agreed at a Communicate Assessment
• Designing "low tech" systems
• Getting to know new equipment
• Introducing a communication aid to the user, family, school, college, etc.
• Designing activities and materials
• Record keeping materials and methods
• Problems when someone is "anti" communication aids
  

We provide support through:

• Workshops
• Peer supervision
• Coaching
• Working together towards an agreed goal
• "Networking" people with common interests