WorkStart student teaches OT undergraduates

One of the WorkStart students from Kingston region shared her experience of using AAC devices with students from the London South Bank University (LSBU) who are studying Occupational Therapy as part of her work experience.

Freya has used a number of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices and she shared her experiences of using the devices to help her to communicate. She reminded the students of the importance of speaking to her, the user, rather than the device or the person who is supporting them.

She also told them, “Treat me like my age, not a child and give me eye contact.” And even shared a joke with the students but said “It is harder to joke using the AAC, because people assume I do not have a personality.”

Freya, who has ambitions of becoming a speech and language therapist herself, was invited to take part in this teaching session for Second Year students at the university. She joined Jenny Hung, the clinical lead for Speech and Language Therapy at the College, and Kim Martinczak, the clinical lead for Occupational Therapy at OHC and a lecturer at LSBU.

The students took the opportunity to ask Freya questions about how easy it is to learn to use the AAC devices and whether she pre-programmed them. The session ended with a group photo to support Natspec’s The Power of Specialist Education national awareness week.

Freya hopes to return to the university to speak to other students as she gains work experience over the course this year.