IASLT Advocacy for People with Communication & Swallowing Difficulties

The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists' vision is that everyone will have the right to live well, irrespective of communication or eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.

Communication is the most fundamental of human capacities. The opportunity to communicate is recognised as a basic human right.  Everybody has the potential to communicate and must be supported in doing so in order to fulfil their social, educational, emotional and vocational potential. 

Communication takes many different forms.  Speech and language therapists support people with different  communication needs and their families to adapt so everyone can achieve their potential to communicate and be heard.

We are committed to playing our part in ensuring that the voice of people who have communication and swallowing needs is heard in our society.  We recognise especially the need to identify and remove barriers across society that prevent people who have a communication disorder or difference from living well, from accessing life opportunities and participating in their communities.  

We not only advocate for universal access to speech and language therapy services through our representations at national and global level, we also strive to dismantle these barriers by raising awareness and educating society to understand, include and embrace all those with communication and swallowing needs.

IASLT is a member of the International Communication Project (ICP) which promotes communication as a human right.  Learn more about the ICP here.