Communication disability and communication access

On this page is information about communication disability, tips for successful communication, and video case studies that highlight the importance of communication access and how speech pathologists work with Australians every day to ensure they are communicating with confidence. Find out how to get involved with Speech Pathology Week in 2022.

In recent years there have been increasing efforts to raise awareness, and develop programs, resources, standards and guidelines to improve communication access for people with communication disability.

These efforts have effected changes in legislation in some countries to better uphold the human rights of people with communication disability, though legislation in this area in Australia remains limited with ‘access’ tending to focus on physical access, or general access to information and communication technologies.

Despite numerous activities to promote ‘communication access’, there remains lack of clarity and consistency regarding terminology. There is also inconsistency in the existing communication access standards and guidelines. Speech Pathology Australia is working to address this, and it is a founding member of the Communication Access Alliance.

1.2 million Australians^#

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has established that 1.2 million Australians have communication disability.

Communication disability affects a person's ability to understand and be understood by others. Levels of limitation range from mild to profound and can be temporary or last a lifetime.

• Children and older people make up the majority of people with communication disability.
• Children are more likely to have profound/severe communication disability than older people.
• People with communication disability are less likely to have a non-school qualification (42%) than people without communication disability (61%).
• Thirty-eight percent of people with communication disability are participating in the labour force compared with 80% of people without communication disability.
• One in 7 people with communication disability need formal assistance with communication.
• Half of all people who need formal assistance with communication have an unmet need for this assistance.
• Three in 5 people who have an unmet need for formal assistance with communication are children.

View either the Australian Bureau of Statistics fact sheet on communication disability in Australia and/or read the ABS profile of people with communication disability in Australia.

^#Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Profile of people with communication disability in Australia, www.abs.gov.au/

Tips for successful communication*

• Always treat the person with the communication disability with dignity and respect
• Be welcoming and friendly
• Understand there are many ways to communicate
• Ask the person with the disability what will help with communication
• Avoid loud locations, find a quiet place
• Listen carefully
• When you don’t understand, let them know you are having difficulty understanding
• If you think the person has not understood, repeat what you have said or say it a different way
• Try asking the person yes or no questions if you are having difficulty understanding them
• Ask the person to repeat or try another approach if you don’t understand
• To make sure you are understood, check with the person that you have understood them correctly
• If you ask a question, wait for the person to reply
• Allow the person time to respond, so always be patient
• Speak directly to the person and make eye contact. (Though be mindful that there are some people who may not want you to look at them, e.g. some people with autism spectrum disorder)
• Speak normally. There is no need for you to raise your voice or slow your speech.

*Source: Adapted from SCOPE, Communication for All Booklet, www.scopeaust.org.au

Video case studies

In the last few years, as part of Speech Pathology Week, Speech Pathology Australia has produced a range of video case studies to increase awareness of communication disability and role speech pathologist play in ensuring Australians communicate with confidence.

These case studies have involved interviews with speech pathologists and their clients, and highlight the challenges faced every day by Australians with communication disability.

The case studies also highlight the fact that not all communication is verbal and why communication is so important for every Australian.