Speaking differently

Hello, everyone!

I have lots and lots of exciting news for you this month. So, sit back and prepare for a long read!

We at Speaking Differently have been working diligently on several new projects. First, the Drama Night. The production of our play is coming along swimmingly. Vice President Tony Diamante and
Administrative Assistant Garth Foote have been putting their heads together in collaboration. The writing of the play is 99% completed, and we are just looking for a place where we can put it on. All of the members of the Board will be performing. Who knows, maybe we will find a new Brad Pitt or Nicole Kidman!

Second, the Art Show. I'm particularly looking forward to this project because as an artist myself this is something I know

about.

We are considering displaying our creative endeavours at the

Cabbagetown Festival this summer. It should be fun!

Our organizational liaison list is growing as well. Speaking
Differently is currently working with several organizations including ICE (the conference for AAC users held in Toronto), The Aphasia Center, Anne Johnston Health Station, and Trillium.

I attended the Speak Up* task force meetings during these past two months. These two important meetings (which were headed by Barbara Collier) provided an opportunity for AAC users and people of community agencies that provide support services to people with disabilities to gather together. There was a wide range of groups involved: CILT (Centre for Independent Living in Toronto) Tobias House, Speaking Differently, OFCP (Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy), Speak Up, March of Dimes, Harmony Place, SexAbility, and Family Services Association. Most of these agencies already provide some services to AAC users.

During these two meetings, we analyzed information previously
collected from 14 AAC users about what supports they think are required in order to live independently within the community. The information identified the services that already exist, the service gaps and barriers in providing services and recommendations to address these gaps.

For more information on the Speak Up task force meetings, go to:
www.aacsafeguarding.ca

My last piece of news is a personal little tidbit, of which I am very proud! Last month, a book came out, published by McGraw-Hill and compiled by Dr Stanley Klein, called: "Reflections From a Different
Journey: What Adults with Disabilities Want Parents to Know ".
Forwarded by Malee Maitlin, the essays are all written by people who have various types of disabilities. In the section on Sexuality, yours truly contributed an essay called My Mother's Warnings, which
explains that just because you have a disability doesn't mean you don't have the same feelings and desires as anyone else. It is an important book for parents and other relatives of children who have disabilities. It's available at Indigo and most other book stores for about $30.00.

Have a great summer!

Anne Abbott, President

*Speak Up is an organization whose goal is to give people who communicate in different ways the information, education and means to communicate about healthy sexuality and sexual abuse.

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LINKS WITH ALS (ONTARIO) SOCIETY

Recently, President Anne approached the ALS Society to see how our two organizations might work together to improve things for persons who 'Speak Differently'.

In response, their Director, Ravi Jain thanked Anne for her initiative, and suggested that together we might lobby the appropriate authorities to:

1) provide the direction and financial assistance for paediatric clinics expand in order to provide AAC services to adults, and

2) increase the number of clinics to improve access for people in remote areas

The two groups share the ideal of improved access to AAC services for those people who need them.

They also agreed to make a link from the ALS website to the SD website ( and vice versa) so that people can easily move from one to the other.

We look forward to further developments in building such coalitions which can pressure for improved access and service for people who require AAC.

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E mail of the Month

As you heard from Urszula, in May, SD started a new venture: the Email of the Month.

Each month Urszula will send you an email, asking for your opinion on a subject of importance to people who use AAC.

It is simple to reply:

1. Click the "Reply" button

2. Type in your reply

3. Click the "Send" button

Your replies may be very short or lengthier. It 's up to you. And we will not publish your name without permission.

And, we'll publish the results regularly in this newsletter, Loud 'N Clear. If the response to these emails is good, we'll make it a permanent part of our
services to members. In addition, building this base of information will provide data for our lobbying efforts, and we can be sure that we truly reflect the views of SD members.

May's question is: What are the biggest barriers to communication that
AAC users face in their daily lives and what should we do about them?

If you haven't already done so, reply today!

ALSO, if there are questions you'd like included in our Email of the Month, let Urszula know.

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FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER TO A FRIEND!

ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN SPEAKING DIFFERENTLY

Trillium and Public Education

A new communication item by Tony Diamanti has been added to our public education materials. There now are 3 separate pieces available for your use. If you know of groups or situations where these materials would help people understand what it's like to 'speak differently', let Bern know, and we will arrange to make them available.

For example. if you are on a committee with people who know little about AAC, or doing a presentation to a group about AAC, these are great handouts. They also fulfill one aspect of our Trillium Project.

Members are urged to think about where they might take these informational pieces about how we "speak differently" and the impact on our lives.

Copies of the educational material is available for your use. Contact Bern O'Keefe at b.okeefe@utoronto.ca. Leave enough time for these to be sent to you prior to when you need them.

HOW TO JOIN SD

If you would like to become a member of SD, send your name, address and email address to Urszula May at u.may@utoronto.ca.

Fax: (416 978 1596) Or, go to the website:

www.speakingdifferently.org

to obtain a membership application form.

Membership in Speaking Differently is $4.00 for people who use AAC. Students may join for $5.00. Inquire about different levels of

support for persons who do not use AAC.

For information, contact

Urszula May at u.may@utoronto.ca

or write to

Speaking Differently Rehabilitation Sciences Building
University of Toronto
Department of Speech- Language Pathology
500 University Avenue

Toronto, ON M5G 1V7

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Write to the Editor on any topic at

nancy.christie@utoronto.ca

Loud 'N Clear: The SD Newsletter

LOUD ‘N CLEAR