June 2007

Meetings are made easier

A new service will allow people with little or no speech to book independent third person professionals to attend appointments and help with communication.

CAUS, formerly the Communication Aid User Society, has established the Communication Support Worker booking service. 

CAUS is an advocacy agency whose Communication Support Workers are specifically trained to understand a range of communication methods and devices to support and/or relay communication for a person with little or no speech to another person.

Communication Support Workers help clients who are able to express their intentions either using impaired speech or augmentative strategies such as manual sign or high/low tech communication aids.

The need for a Communication Support Worker to help people access services or be heard arises in a range of situations.

These include meetings, conferences, medical and legal appointments and educational settings. 

While support services such as language or Auslan (sign language) interpreters have been accepted and in place for a number of years, people with little or no speech have not automatically had the right to ensure a professional and independent third person attends appointments for them where required to assist in the communication process.

CAUS began in 1982 as a self-help and peer support group for people using communication aids.

CAUS is a statewide non-profit organisation managed by a volunteer board of directors and funded through the Department of Human Services.

As well as advocacy and the Communication Support Worker services, CAUS provides information to the wider community on issues, services and products relevant to communication and speech impairment.

•             For more information visit www.caus.com.au, call 9557 5551 or email info@caus.com.au.