News

Young People's Day - 6 September 2008
The day is for young people aged 11-16 will be held in Belfast and give young SLI people a change to meet and get to know others. Full details are available here.

posted May 2008 [top of page]

Summer Schemes 2008
It’s that time of year again!
There will be two summer schemes this year. The two schemes follow similar programmes and cover a wide range of topics including making new friends, finding your way around, travelling on public transport, coping with bullying, what to do if things go wrong etc.

The emphasis is on having fun and making new friends and there is a fun event/outing on the final day.

Shantallow  Monday 21st July – Friday 25th July
12 places are available for young people moving from primary to secondary school.
Closing date 16th July

Lurgan Monday 4th August – Friday 8th August
12 places are available for young people moving from primary to secondary school
Closing date 30th July
Contact Mary Wright to reserve a place - 028 3756 9611

posted May 2008 [top of page]

Parent Support Workshop - 8 March 2008
This special half day workshop is designed to support children with the move from primary to secondary school.

The workshop is delivered by a parent, a teacher and a specialist speech and language therapist. The aim is to share as much practical advice and as many helpful tips as possible.

Further information and a booking form is available here.

posted February 2008 [top of page]

Young People's Day - 10 November
Afasic Northern Ireland is running a Young People's Day in Belfast on Saturday 10 November. Further details are available by reading the attachment.

posted October 2007 [top of page]

Northern Ireland Speech and Language Therapy Task Force
The Task Force was set up by the DHSSPS in response to a report from the office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) that highlighted problems with the time taken to get assessments and appointments with a Speech and Language Therapist.

However this has provided an opportunity to look at the wider issues and look forward and plan the sort of service that will best serve the needs of children and young people with a speech language and communication impairments. The report will be submitted to the Minister for Health in December. You may read the last newsletter here.

posted September 2007 [top of page]

Lunch with the Education Minister
The Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane, invited a small group for a light lunch in the Long Gallery Stormont on 8 August 2007.

This was an opportunity to meet with her and some of her team in the Education department, she was particularly interested to discuss inclusion and I have sent her a copy of Afasic thoughts on inclusion.

It has been very encouraging to see the interest in speech and language at a strategic level in both the departments of Health and Education.

posted September 2007 [top of page]

Have Your Say!
Following two reports by the office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) on Speech and Language Therapy provision within Northern Ireland, a regional Task Force was set up by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Education in September 2006. The Task Force is looking at the key issues identified within the NICCY reports and will be making recommendations as to how they should be addressed.

The Task Force is keen to meet with children and young people and their parents/significant carers to hear their experience of the service and get their views on what future service provision should look like. In order to do this two consultation events are planned:

Tuesday 2 October 2007, Sperrinview Special School, Dungannon
Thursday 4 October 2007, Thornfield School, Newtownabbey

I am a member of the Task Force and would urge as many as possible who can to attend, this is an excellent opportunity to have a say in the services we want for our children and young people.

posted September 2007 [top of page]

Project Launch
Young people from Thornfield school are working on the Youth handbook for N Ireland, developing a web page on the Afasic website and starting a youth forum. For all this work they were awarded a day off to attend the project launch in the Long Gallery Stormont but...there are no free lunches and 5 of them addressed the guests and told them about the work that they have been doing, not many 14 year olds can say that they have spoken to an audience, that included the Education Minister and 6 MLAs, in the N Ireland Assembly building!!!!

posted August 2007 [top of page]

Summer Schemes
Shantallow Monday 23rd July – Friday 27th July
10 young people enrolled on the summer scheme in Shantallow Derry. This was the first time the scheme had been offered in this area and all those involved really enjoyed the week ending with a trip to the cinema and a lunch in a local restaurant.
Lurgan
There are 12 places reserved on the summer scheme that will run in Carrick Primary School Lurgan from Monday 6th August until Friday 10th August While there is a bit of work to be done the emphasis is on having fun and making new friends while learning skills to support moving comfortably to secondary school.

posted August 2007 [top of page]