15 Mar 2015
Many in the Stuttering and SLP Communities Speak Out Against Australian Funding Proposal for “One Size Fits All” Treatment (Ep. 502)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS
Jane Fraser, Elaine Kelman, Craig Coleman, and Bob Quesal join Peter Reitzes to discuss a recent proposal by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) which has many professionals and people who stutter concerned. In an ASHA blog post, Craig Coleman explains this serious issue:
“Recently, Speech Pathology Australia (the national speech-language pathology association of Australia) submitted a proposal to the Australian Government Department of Treasury that would require Medicare rebates be made available for children who stutter, but only if they are treated using the Lidcombe Program.”
Much is said on today’s episode. Jane Fraser begins by sharing her experience at the Stuttering Foundation hearing from families who do not always find success using Lidcombe Treatment. Jane stresses that a major concern about the SPA proposal is that “one size does not fit all” in stuttering treatment. Ms. Fraser is asked about the Stuttering Foundation’s statement on this issue and a recent Stuttering Foundation blog post. Next, Elaine Kelman is asked about the International Fluency Association’s press release which explains why they feel the Australian Proposal is not fully consistent with evidence based practice. Craig Coleman and Bob Quesal then join the conversation and discuss how there are better ways to advocate for people who stutter then by choosing only one treatment approach to reimburse. Mr. Coleman and Dr. Quesal share their concerns about the possible negative ramifications of the SPA proposal and much, much more.
StutterTalk invited Gail Mulcair, Executive Director of Speech Pathology Australia or another SPA representative on air to discuss these issues. SPA did not accept the invitation to participate.
Jane Fraser is president of The Stuttering Foundation, has run the Foundation for more than 30 years and is co-author of If Your Child Stutters: A Guide for Parents now in its 8th edition.
Elaine Kelman, MSc, Cert CT, Cert MRCSLT is Clinical Manager at The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children in London, President of the International Fluency Association, a Certified member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, an International affiliate of ASHA, and a Member of the Health and Care Professions Council. Ms. Kelman, with Alison Nicholas, authored the textbook Practical Intervention for Early Childhood Stammering: Palin PCI Approach.
Craig Coleman, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-F is an assistant professor at Marshall University and a Board-Certified Specialist in fluency Disorders. Mr. Coleman is currently serving as coordinator of ASHA SIG 4 (Fluency) and as a member of the ASHA ad-hoc committee to revise the scope of practice in speech-language pathology. Craig is an adjunct instructor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Co-Director of the Stuttering U. summer program for children who stutter, their families, and SLPs.
Robert Quesal, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a person who stutters, a professor emeritus of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Illinois University, a fellow of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and a retired board certified specialist in fluency disorders.
Related Links:
- Speech Pathology Australia’s proposal/budget submission to the Australian Government for 2015-2016 – link
- The Stuttering Foundation’s Response/Statement titled Another Blunder from Down Under – link
- Craig Coleman’s post/petition – A Dangerous Precedent from Australia: What It Means and What Happens Next – link
- Speech Pathology Australia’s Response/Statement – link
- Craig Coleman’s ASHA blog post, A Controversial Proposal on Stuttering Treatment from Speech Pathology of Australia: What It Means and What Happens Next – link
- ASHA blog post by Ann Packman, Mark Onslow and Deborah Theodoros – link
- International Fluency Association Press Release – link
- Tom’s Weidig’s post at the Stuttering Brain blog, Lidcombe the only effective treatment in Australia? – link
30 Mar 2015
Speech Pathology Australia Members Share Concerns about Association’s Stuttering Proposal (Ep. 508)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS
Janet Beilby and Kathy Viljoen join Peter Reitzes to discuss a recent proposal by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) which has many professionals and people who stutter concerned. In an ASHA blog post, Craig Coleman explains this serious issue:
“Recently, Speech Pathology Australia (the national speech-language pathology association of Australia) submitted a proposal to the Australian Government Department of Treasury that would require Medicare rebates be made available for children who stutter, but only if they are treated using the Lidcombe Program.”
StutterTalk covered this issue at length on Episode 502. For a brief and creative background on this issue, check out Katie Gore’s amazing summary The Australian Budget Lidcombe Proposal Debate: A Primer in Memes. Today, Dr. Beilby and Ms. Viljoen discuss much, including their experiences with a number of preschool stuttering treatments which have benefited children and families. They also share that Lidcombe treatment does not “work” for all preschoolers who stutter and that the current Speech Pathology Australia proposal may have the effect of discouraging other treatments which may be beneficial and appropriate. Mr. Reitzes asks Dr. Beilby and Ms. Viljoen about a submission made to Australia’s Community Affairs References Committee of the Senate, on University of Sydney letterhead, which concludes in part, that the Australian government should consider the informed choice of parents regarding speech-language pathology services. Ms. Viljoin shared, “I would like to see the SPA proposal be amended to extend coverage to children presenting with the disorder of stuttering rather to a specific treatment per se.” When asked how she might respond to a person who states, “It is only ethical to use Lidcombe treatment with preschoolers who stutter,” Ms. Viljoen responded, “I would ask them if they have had a child who stutters, if they think it is ethical for a program to offer the client to fit the program as opposed to the treatment approach to fit the client.”
Janet Beilby, Ph.D., is Senior Lecturer and Clinical Educator at Curtin University in Western Australia and has been a lecturer, researcher and clinician in the field of stuttering for over 30 years. Dr. Beilby has treated thousands of clients, trained hundreds of students and been awarded over half a million dollars in research funds investigating varying aspects of stuttering disorders.
Kathy Viljoen is the mother of children who stuttered and a Clinical Educator at Curtin University in Western Australia specializing in the management of stuttering. Ms. Viljoen supervises both undergraduate and Masters students at Curtin University in their stuttering placements. The Curtin Stuttering Treatment Clinic is the largest treatment facility for individuals who stutter in Western Australia.
Related Links: