What DEAL Does
In Victoria, DEAL provides augmentative communication services to any Victorian, regardless of age or diagnosis, who cannot speak (or cannot speak intelligibly) and who can attend the DEAL centre.
At DEAL
- we assess each client's communication needs and abilities.
- we try to find the most empowering means of communication for people who have little or no speech and no alternative means of communication.
- we give people who have only a limited means of communication (a symbol board or a few manual signs, say) a chance to try out more powerful alternatives, such as speech synthesisers.
- we help parents, therapists, caregivers and teachers discover the communication possibilities of people in their care, and where necessary we teach them to use non-speech communication methods (including Facilitated Communication Training).
- we establish training programs to improve clients' skills.
- we loan communication aids so that people can practice their skills and make informed decisions about selecting equipment. (Victorian residents with CCN are entitled to government funded communication aids.)
DEAL staff visit schools, adult day programs and nursing homes and make regular vists to some country centres. By special arrangement, our staff can also visit facilities interstate.
DEAL assists Victorians to obtain free electronic communication devices up to a value of $7,000 through the government-funded Aids and Equipment Program.
DEAL delivers seminars and workshops on aspects of augmentative communication at tertiary institutions, schools and centres - just ask us.
Breaking the Silence
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