Homefield College employs an in-house Speech and Language Therapist to support students’ communication needs within their learning environment. The College recognises the importance of communication to making informed decisions and life choices, and maximising independence in adulthood. Communication objectives are embedded in to curriculum subjects to develop meaningful, functional and social communication skills. Each student has their own Communication Plan, which informs others how best to communicate with them.
Part of the role of the Speech and Language Therapist is to promote and facilitate an inclusive communication environment within the college. This involves valuing and responding to attempts to communicate, adapting the environment to maximise communicative opportunities both between staff, students and between peers, and ensuring that staff receive regular training with regards to strategies, high and low tech systems, and use of visual methods and resources such as timetables, Talking Mats, Makaton, and symbols.
‘’People need to be able to communicate to fulfil their social, educational, emotional and vocational potential’’
International Communication Project 2014 http://www.communication2014.com/