MEDIA RELEASE 26 August 2014

Yooralla’s choir for stroke survivors sings for speech pathology awareness week

Yooralla’s Stroke a Chord choir for stroke survivors is helping to celebrate Speech Pathology Week by performing a special concert at the Monash Hospital. Speech Pathology Week runs from 24-30 August 2014 and aims to raise awareness of communication difficulties and the role speech pathologists play in their treatment.

Stroke a Chord will be performing at the Monash Hospital at 3:00 pm in Lecture theatre 2 on the ground floor on Tuesday 26th August 2014.

Singing in Yooralla’s Stroke a Chord choir enables stroke survivors with aphasia, people who can often sing but not speak, to use their voices to express themselves, to communicate, and to enjoy entertaining and raising awareness through public performances.

According to Speech Pathology Australia, more than 1.1 million Australians have difficulty communicating. This year the theme for Speech Pathology Week is ‘Nation for Communication’. This theme aims to increase the awareness and understanding of communication disorders and how they impact on individual’s lives and on our community.

Yooralla speech pathologist Bronwen Jones said that raising awareness of speech difficulties and access to speech pathology was important in order for communities to engage with people experiencing speech difficulties and provide an inclusive environment.

“It’s important for people to understand that many people in the community have communication requirements,” Bronwen said.

Yooralla supports many people with disabilities. Speech difficulties occur in adults and children and can range from mild to severe. Yooralla’s team of speech pathologists works across a variety of areas of the organisation.

“Yooralla speech pathologists work with clients in their homes, at Yooralla services and with young children at schools across Victoria,” said Bronwen.

Around 13,000 Australians use electronic communication aids to communicate their needs and wishes to those around them. Yooralla also provides communication

devices through the Electronic Communication Devices Scheme (ECDS). ECDS is a state-wide service assisting people who have no speech or speech that is difficult to understand, to buy speech generating devices and software. For photo opportunities interviews and further information contact: Yooralla Media and Communications Manager Lauren Bradley(03) 9666 4528 or 0477719181 lauren.bradley@yooralla.com.au