Purpose In this article, we consider the literature on international student placements to contextualize and describe a 10-year relationship that enables speech-language pathology (SLP) students in their final year of studies at a Canadian university to complete a 10-week clinical placement with a nongovernmental organization in Kenya. Method This work can be best described as a qualitative case study that includes the varied perspectives of students and colleagues (from both minority and majority worlds) involved in this partnership, which annually places Canadian SLP students in Western Kenya. Perspectives include the director of the nongovernmental organization, 1 East African speech-language pathologist responsible for hosting and supervising students, the clinical placement director in Canada, and the students themselves. The perspectives of minority world universities and their students tend to be privileged and more widely represented. This work contributes to the literature by including the views of the hosting majority world SLP partner agency. Results The varied perspectives reveal that the perceived advantages and difficulties of international SLP clinical placements differ for various stakeholders. Conclusions As the SLP profession moves forward in an increasingly globalized world, it may be necessary for SLP peak professional bodies to develop best practice frameworks for overseas engagement.
Purpose: Although street-connected children with communication disability have been identified in Western Kenya, little is currently known about the impact of communication disability on this group. In order to inform future service development, this qualitative study sought to understand the experiences, views and needs of street-connected children with communication disability, and of their caregivers at home and at school. Materials and methods: 13 children, 12 caregivers and 12 school-based Learning Support Assistants participated in interactive sessions, semi-structured interviews and focus groups respectively.Interviews were translated, transcribed and analysed thematically, using framework analysis.Results: Six main themes, with sub-themes, were identified: understanding and awareness of communication disability; the role of others; needs of the children and what might help; impact on those supporting the children; caregiver and Learning Support Assistant needs: support to better help the child; thoughts about the future. Participants' responses highlighted the importance of improving others' attitudes, awareness and willingness to adapt their communication, as well as a need for trusted relationships and some specialist help. Conclusion: organisations working with street-connected children should take communication disability into account in their services and interventions. Input based on a social model of disability is likely to be acceptable.
Background: The need for communication-related services in sub-Saharan Africa to support individuals experiencing communication disability is a longstanding and well-documented situation. We posit the inequities highlighted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) make this a relevant time for speech language therapists and the professional bodies that govern us to broadly consider our roles and practices in education, health and disability in local, national and global contexts.Objective: To illustrate what services developed with local knowledge can look like in Kenya in order to promote dialogue around alternative speech language therapy models, particularly in contexts where there are insufficient services, few trained speech language therapists and limited structures to support the emerging profession.Method: This article examines three clinical case studies from Western Kenya, using a conceptual framework for responsive global engagement.Results: Service needs in Western Kenya well exceed a direct one-on-one model of care that is common in the minority world. The service delivery models described here emphasise training, skills sharing and engaging the myriad of communication partners available to individuals with communication disabilities.Conclusion: We offer up these case studies of collaborative practice as contextual realities that may be present in any speech language therapy programming in under-resourced communities. We dispel the idea that success in this work has been linear, progressed on planned time frames or come to fruition with targeted goal attainment. The fact that our relationships have endured in these communities since 2007 is our primary success.
This clinical focus article describes speech-language pathology practices of one nongovernment organization in Western Kenya and the professional shifts brought about by COVID-19 in East Africa. This first-person account presents a local overview of the situation, including practical challenges, which are ongoing.
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