Work

Implementation of the World Report on Disability: Developing human resource capacity to meet the needs of people with communication disability in Uganda

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: The World Report on Disability makes nine recommendations to ensure the inclusion, participation, and emancipation of people with disabilities. As described by Wylie, McAllister, Marshall, and Davidson (2013), the recommendations present a challenge for the development of services for people with communication disability (PWCD) in the Majority World, particularly recommendation 5: "increasing human resource capacity", since professionals with training in communication disability are often in extremely short supply. In partial answer to this situation in East Africa, a degree-level education programme for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) commenced in Uganda in 2008. This paper describes the establishment of that degree course, the current context of professional education, service development, and delivery, and describes how the World Report on Disability recommendation of increasing human resource capacity could be further addressed using culturally-appropriate, accessible, and innovative models of education. It highlights the need for a multi-strand and long-term approach to addressing communication disability at impairment, activity, and participation levels and offers a vision for the future of services in Uganda.

Source: International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology

DOI: 10.3109/17549507.2012.743035

Authors: Helen Barrett, Julie Marshall

Institutions: Makerere University, Manchester Metropolitan University

Language: English

Topic: Language Development and Disorders

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Partnerships for the goals, Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: World Health Organization