20 December 2024
The RCSLT is delighted to announce the publication of its new International Engagement Strategy and Workplan, marking a vital step in our work advocating for speech and language therapy and the rights of people with communication and swallowing needs globally.
The new strategy highlights RCSLT’s dedication to international collaboration and advocacy, emphasising the critical role of speech and language therapy services in supporting communication and swallowing needs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. A central focus of this strategy will be understanding and addressing the perspectives and experiences of service users.
The strategy is rooted in several key priorities including:
- promoting speech and language therapy and the benefits of the service that they provide
- creating awareness of the role of speech and language therapists
- increasing understanding of communication and swallowing disability and their impact and the effectiveness of SLT interventions
- advocating for people with Communication Disability and Swallowing Needs, including how their rights are being eroded
- achieving recognition of Communication Disability as a disability in its own right
- promoting communication as a human right.
RCSLT extends heartfelt thanks to its members who work in international and humanitarian contexts, where they continually advocate for and support individuals with communication disabilities. We are especially grateful to the European Speech and Language Therapy Association (ESLA), Communication Therapy International (CTI), and the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP) for their collaborative spirit and partnership. Their dedication plays an essential role in shaping this strategy and amplifying its global reach.
This International Engagement Strategy and Workplan represents a shared commitment to advancing the rights of people with communication and swallowing disabilities and supporting SLTs globally in their efforts to make a meaningful impact. Together, we strive toward a world where communication is recognised as a human right, and every individual has the support they need to communicate effectively and safely.
For more information about RCSLT’s international engagement strategy, please visit the international section of our website or contact najmul.hussain@rcslt.org.
