Working with Children Experiencing Speech and Language Disorders in a Bilingual Context

The complexity of speech and language disorders can be daunting in a monolingual context. When working with a bilingual child assessment and intervention may appear to be even more complicated. In this book Sean Pert provides the reader with the tools needed to overcome this perception and develop skills in working in a language that they don't share with the client. By adopting a home language first approach the book discusses how to: - identify diversity from disorder - introduce effective approaches in line with the best clinical practice - work successfully alongside interpreters - make assessments and plan interventions - set goals for therapy. At the heart of the text is the therapist creating essential partnerships with parents and truly valuing the bilingualism, culture and identity of the child. This leads to better outcomes, not only in speech, language and communication, but also in self-esteem, mental health, social participation and educational and employment success. The book concludes with a handy toolkit of resources including quizzes, case studies and printable extras making it the perfect resource for both experienced and newly qualified practitioners with bilingual and multilingual children in their care.

Sean Pert (he/him) worked in the NHS for almost 20 years, in one of the few departments to deliver a speech and language therapy service exclusively in the family's home language or mother tongue. He provided a service to children with the most severe and complex speech and language disorders and shares his specialist knowledge as a trainer both in the UK and internationally. He is currently a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester, and a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist. A three-times joint winner of the Sternberg Award for Clinical Innovation, Sean is the Service Lead for the Voice and Communication Therapy Team, Indigo Gender Service, and Chair of the Board for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. See his full biography at www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/sean.pert.html

List of contributors List of tables List of figures Preface Acknowledgements List of acronyms and abbreviations Introduction Definitions and terminology Differentiating language disorder from language difference Working alongside interpreters Translation protocol Language assessment and intervention in home language Speech sound disorder in a bilingual context Alternative and augmentative communication Authors: Lizzie Sadiku, AAC Consultant Katherine Small, AAC Consultant Suzanne Martin, AAC Consultant Cultural inquisitiveness and the bilingual service delivery checklist Barriers to working with bilingual children and how to overcome them Authors: Dr Carol Stow Resources