Supporting SLTs with disabilities: case studies

Case study 2: student placement

As pointed out by the RCSLT, colleagues and students with a disability can bring valuable lived experiences and understanding to their learning, practice and workplace. As I live with a life-changing disability I am constantly learning about how to adapt to the environment around me and how to request environmental changes to suit my needs.

Having a disability has developed my assertiveness skills and enhanced the way in which I interact with the world. I view the landscape ahead of me differently from that of an able-bodied person. I notice inconsistencies in the arrangement and planning of the environment and schedules. There can often be a better way. I find I risk assess situations where often the potential risks I see could be a risk averted for many.

With a learning support plan from the university in place, I felt well supported as I embarked on a summer placement. I was thrilled to have a place at a local teaching hospital on an acute adult ward working with patients with dysphagia, and in two outpatient clinics, working with people with head and neck cancer and voice problems.

Before I started the placement, a hospital placement coordinator liaised with me knowing details of my learning support plan. Together we created a feasible programme. I knew that I would not manage to be on my feet all day, nor would I be able to walk long distances.

I spread my five-day placement over three weeks; three days in the first week consisting of one full day, a half day, another full day followed by a rest day and then a half day. In the second and third week I carried out a full day on each Tuesday. This was following a particular voice outpatients clinic.

I actually really appreciated spreading these sessions over two weeks, as I was able to see the same patients and the developments after seven days of practice and how the therapist progresses patients on and/or steps down exercises for those in need.

Of course I had a dialogue with my practice educator and I accommodated the speech and language therapy team’s needs as well. The staff had varied work patterns and particular days were more suitable for the team than others. There was a mutual benefit to the arrangement.

On arrival at the hospital I was struck by the building. It was built at the turn of last century and continues to function with this original configuration. There were lots of long corridors and staircases to climb with lifts in unintuitive places. Of course I would not be the only one to struggle with this layout.

The hospital had placed folding chairs along the corridor walls to be used by patients as and when as an interim improvement. I understand that there are plans for a new hospital building so there is a reluctance to invest in the current building. I certainly used these chairs for rest breaks as I went to the wards from the speech and language therapy department and back. While I was on the ward my practice educator ensured there was a chair for me to utilise and while I was in the outpatient clinics I was happily sat in the therapy room.

I had an incredibly rich experience on placement and am grateful for this opportunity. By disclosing my needs and limitations a suitable programme was put in place with reasonable adjustments. I certainly did not have a lessened experience.

Case study 3: deaf/hearing impaired student on a placement

The student perspective

My clinicians understood my equipment and were willing to use a mic in sessions, as well as explaining to parents what it was so everyone was comfortable. They gave me time and were supportive of me comparing our notes when I felt it was appropriate, to check that I had heard everything that was said.

As part of giving feedback, my clinicians were open to discussing any concerns about my hearing which increased my confidence to lead sessions.

Although feedback would often be discussed in the car, which was noisy for me, the clinicians did what they could to maximise my hearing by turning the radio off, raising their voices as appropriate, and repeating things when asked, without hesitation.

They also implemented strategies that supported a positive communication environment for all involved, including:

• Setting up the seating so that everyone could see each other’s faces.
• Encouraging me to move if I could not hear a child when playing, so I felt comfortable to move myself to maximise my learning opportunities.
• Sitting together when leading presentations and being ready to support if I could not hear the participants, which gave me further confidence.
• When writing on a board, they finished writing and then turned round to speak to the audience.
• Including the client’s questions within answers – allowing me to internally check what the client had asked and make sure we were all on the same page.

Extra adaptations were also needed due to being on placement during a pandemic. My clinicians understood and adapted to communicating behind masks, for example by raising their voices, speaking more slowly and clearly, giving me time to check back, using more gestures or repeating themselves.

There were more difficulties hearing clients on the phone or online, but my clinicians were supportive and willing to take over if needed, which supported my confidence though thankfully, this did not need to happen.

The clinical educator perspective

In terms of working with a deaf student on placement we knew that we would need to be led by the student as to what adjustments would be useful. As SLTs we are aware of things which would be useful in terms of positive communication, eg facing the student while talking, one person talking at a time etc. However, the reality of the role working with preschool children meant that conversations would often take place while driving and that there would be interruptions from children and families during sessions.

The student was very proactive in using her technology and her ease and confidence in putting her microphone in the middle of the table during meetings reassured us that she would do what she needed to do.

During parent training sessions it was possible to encourage people to speak one at a time. The student had excellent skills as a trainer and was able to summarise participant contributions and link these back to the training points. This was an area she had been worried about, so we were on hand to support if needed. In fact the student did not need any support.

In sessions the student wore her microphone on her finger to allow her to transcribe. This was fascinating for the children and worked well for the student.

In terms of adaptations to the placement, in retrospect, we could have made more adjustments to support her learning. For example, ensuring the student had an agenda for the first meeting and a list of abbreviations to allow her to follow more easily.

We tried to ensure feedback was delivered in a quiet environment, but, in reality, conversations often happened while driving. However, our open dialogue throughout meant that any potential difficulties were discussed, and solutions found before problems arose.

The student had an exceptionally successful placement which was due in large part to her skills as a communicator and learner.

Lara Meredith, Charlotte Tracey and Bibiana Wigley