Communication Access Now gives voice to those with speech, language difficulties

Superior Morning5:56Communication Access Now

What happens when you need help, but you just can't get the words out because of a speech or language disability? Nicole Deschamps and Robin Garner are with the Communication Access Now strategyRespect and a change in attitude are at the heart of a national campaign to give a voice to those who have trouble speaking.

Communication Access Now is raising awareness that many people with speech and language problems can still hear, and are not cognitively impaired, said Nicole Deschamps, a speech language pathologist with the Augmentative Communication Program at George Jeffrey Children's Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont.

"It's advocating that people with communication difficulties have the right to be understood as well as possible," she said.

Adults and children with brain injuries, strokes, cerebral palsy or certain degenerative illnesses like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) will sometimes slur their words, or have trouble finding the correct word, leading to the misconception that the person is drunk, or deliberately being rude, said Deschamps.

The campaign asks business owners, first responders and the public to think again.

Don't assume person is drunk

"Maybe looking to see if they are slurring their speech, if there is an underlying reason behind that and not making that assumption that they are drunk," said Deschamps.

It's a message that resonated with Thunder Bay police chief J.P. Levesque, after Deschamps and her colleague occupational therapist Robin Garner made a presentation about communications access to the Thunder Bay Police Services Board on Tuesday.

"Recognizing that someone is not intoxicated, that they have some type of disability, that's important to our people. It's something we deal with all the time," said Levesque.

"It's important that we're able to communicate properly with all the people we serve."

Show patience and respect 

Deschamps had these recommendations for improving communication accessibility:

• Be respectful
• ​Give the person enough time to try and get their message across
• Ask if there is someone who can help them communicate, or if they have a communication board
• Clarify what the person said by repeating it back to them, don't just guess at what he/she said
• Don't speak in a condescending tone
• Be patient
• If you're having trouble understanding, say that and try something else, such as using "Yes" and "No" questions

Communications Access Now is operated by Communication Disabilities Access Canada, which is a national non-profit organization.