Project Updates

January 2003

Speak Up has just completed its educational support to people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and community service agencies in the Toronto area. Plans are currently underway to extend services in Hamilton and Sudbury in 2003.

Services for people who use AAC:

11 clients were involved in sexual health education services May – July 2002. This group went on to participate in a 10 week series of workshops on strategies to reduce their risk for sexual assault / victimization (Sept. – Dec.2002). These sessions were provided by sex educators, a social worker / counselor, AAC user facilitators and a consultant in AAC. A number of the participants were also provided with individual counseling and support.

Development of Vocabulary:

Speak Up worked closely with Mayer-Johnston Inc. in developing and field-testing graphic vocabularies on sexuality and sexual abuse. Picture based communication displays and text based displays will be available on the Speak Up website in January 2003. Displays have been developed on the following topics: people, body parts, sexual health, birth control, feelings, words about sex, human rights, assault / victimization, communicating about abuse, legal vocabulary, reporting, crimes, court procedures, outcomes etc.

Accessible Resources:

Speak Up developed information kits on sexuality, safeguarding and abuse for AAC users containing accessible resources for non-readers and people who cannot physically handle text. These resources are available for loan by AAC users and service providers supporting AAC users in the Toronto area. Kits contain approximately 63 books, videotapes and fact sheets. Speak Up adapted many of these resources for AAC users - CDRoms; Enlarged text binders; audio CDs and cassettes.

Personal Support Circles:

Speak Up provided two workshops for AAC users and their circle facilitators in 2003.

Community Workshops:

Speak Up conducted two workshops for abuse counsellors and sexual health educators in the Toronto area. These workshops were attended by 34 partcipants. A survey of agencies detailing their services along with accessibility features was compiled. Few Toronto based services currently extend their services in sexual health and/or abuse counseling to adults who use AAC.

Speak Up has deferred educational sessions for other community service providers (i.e., police, legal professionals, service providers and attendants) until 2004 in all locations due to the need and consequent increased service time to AAC users on sexual health education. It was also felt that these workshops would be more meaningful and effective after the task force committees develop best practice guidelines in 2004.

Evaluation:

Speak Up is currently evaluating all aspects of its services in 2002.

Website:

Speak Up established a website in 2002. The website is an integral component of the resources being developed to meet the education needs of AAC users.

Plans for 2003:

Speak Up is currently planning its services in the Hamilton and Sudbury areas for 2003 while working on plans to sustain its services in the Toronto area.