29 January 2025
RCSLT’s new accessible animation ‘What is speech and language therapy?’ is available now to help explain the vital work of speech and language therapists and how it can support people with communication and/or eating, drinking and swallowing needs.
Developed as part of our 80th anniversary, the animation follows three fictional characters: Samira – a speech and language therapist, Patrick – a man in his 60s recovering from a stroke and Katie – a young girl who has trouble communicating, and showcases some of the different ways speech and language therapists can support people with communication and/or eating, drinking and swallowing needs.
The video is designed to help increase the general public’s awareness and understanding of what speech and language therapy is, how it can help people and the role of the speech and language therapist.
Available in both English and Welsh language, both versions of the video feature BSL as well as closed captions in English and Welsh, and have been designed to be used by a wide range of audiences. It will have a permanent home on the speech and language therapy section of our website as well as on our YouTube channel.
How can I use the video?
We hope this video is going to be a useful way to introduce people to the world of speech and language therapy for many years to come. Some of the ways you might consider using the video include:
- to promote the profession either by sharing digitally or screening it at events/meetings
- as a tool, as part of presentations or in information packs
- sharing it with colleagues in multi-disciplinary teams to help increase understanding about the role of speech and language therapists
- to help inspire students/career changers.
We’d like to thank the members of our accessibility reference group (which includes service users with lived experience as well as SLTs) who co-produced the video with us, for their guidance and input on the video.
