IASLT in Conversation

Tom qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist from the University of Galway in 2012. His SLT journey has seen him venture from London to the English Lake District, to Edinburgh, and back to Ireland in 2020. He is currently a Little Voices Programme Coordinator with ABC Start Right in Limerick, supporting schools, crèches and community organisations to implement universal and targeted SLT strategies and interventions. He has an Msc in Digital Healthcare Transformation from the University of Limerick.

In this episode, Sean Pert shares his experiences of gendered expectations of how to interact with clients on placement, the benefits of being a male SLT where male clients and fathers find it easier to identify with a male SLT, having to invent your professional persona because of a lack of role models in the profession, and breaking down barriers for men to enter the profession by having conversations about men in SLT. Sean also talks about linguistic racism, the importance of supporting home languages for bilingual clients, and working to ensure equity in service provision for all clients.

In this podcast, we delve into Abbie's experience of cultural diversity in the HSE community and SLT in particular. She shares how this diversity shapes her daily work life, especially as she supports clients during some of their most vulnerable moments. Abbie hopes that this conversation shines a light on what is often a significant blind spot for those who don't face these challenges daily. Her aim is to foster greater compassion, acceptance, and awareness, ultimately leading to better support for culturally diverse staff in the workplace.

In this podcast we talk about David's experience as one of the few men in a career dominated by women. We discuss the management of clients with different cultural backgrounds and the importance of fostering an environment where everyone can feel welcome. David highlights that the job of a speech and language therapist is not to change a person's cultural identity or their accent but to help them celebrate them

In this episode we talk to the 2024 winner of the IASLT Unsung Hero Award, Aideen Lawlor, SLT Manager from St Mary's hospital in Dublin. Aideen was nominated by her colleagues who said that she has helped countless patients with communication and swallowing impairments in St Mary's Hospital in her role as the SLT manager. Under her guidance her team has expanded and the services provided have increased impressively.

In this episode we talk to Dr Áine Kearns, Associate Professor at the School of Allied Health at the University of Limerick, and the 2024 winner of the IASLT Service Excellence Award. Áine was nominated because she has demonstrated excellence in developing a postgraduate training for SLTs who wish to offer a specialist additional service to vulnerable witnesses in the Irish Criminal Justice System

IASLT in conversation chats with four SLTs working in the area of FEES: Patricia Gillivan Murphy, Clinical Specialist based in The Mater Hospital Dublin, Sheila Robinson, SSLT based in Cork University Hospital, Ciara Landy, SSLT based in Our Lady's Hospital Navan and Monica Clancy, SSLT working in community-based FEES service within Mid-West Community Healthcare.

In this episode we talk to Anne Healy from the IASLT about the MRA process and what is involved.

In this episode we talk to Caroline O'Flynn SLT who is the social media co-ordinator for this year's IASLT conference. The conference will be held online on December 5th and 6th and will showcase the best of Irish SLT research and practice. Register today to secure your place! https://www.iaslt.ie/learning-centre/iaslt-biennial-conference-2023-registration-now-open/

On this episode we talk to Siobhán ward Lynch, Senior Speech and Language Therapist and Practice Tutor based in Letterkenny Primary Care centre. Siobhán is the 2023 winner of the SLT Support and Mentor award from IASLT.

Today we are talking to Aoife O'Shea, Senior Speech & Language Therapist working with Happy Talk in Cork, and the 2023 winner of the Speech and Language Therapy Service Excellence Award. Aoife was nominated as she has developed relationships, inspired confidence and skill and brought so much joy to the people that she works with, while managing to carry out research, present at conferences, deliver Happy talk training to SLTs across the country. Today we are going to talk about Aoife's career to date and her involvement with Happy Talk and also to hear about the exciting future plans for the recent Health Research Board grant to complete a randomised control trial on Happy Talk across the Country. For more on Happy Talk see https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/lho/corknorthlee/therapy/happy-talk/

In this podcast we are talking to Fiona Guihen, Senior Speech & Language Therapist based in Primary Care in Meath and the 2023 winner of the IASLT Unsung Hero Award. Fiona was nominated because of her unwavering enthusiasm, innovation and above all commitment to improving the lives of people with communication and/or swallowing difficulties with a passion that is hard to find. We talk about Fiona's career to date and in particular her involvement with health promotion.

Sandra Brandon, Senior Speech and Language Therapist in Galway University Hospital and PhD candidate at NUIG talks about her research and experience working with EMST

In this episode, Grace Walsh and SLT working in the area of infant mental health talks to Anna McLeod, and SLT working in CAMHS. Both are part of the IASLT Mental Health SIG and talk about the current and emerging roles of SLTs in the area of mental health

To kick off season 2 of our IASLT in Conversation podcast, we talk to Edel Dunphy, COO of the IASLT to hear about the developments in the organisation and what members can look forward to in 2023

In this episode, Bríd Spillane, SLT with St John of God Community Services talks to Dr Sinéad Kellaghan, acting SLT Manager from HSE South East Community Healthcare Carlow/Kilkenny and Caroline Howarth, SLT Manager/ Director of Adult Clinical Services at St Michael's House, Dublin about the ADMA and the implications for SLTs

In order to celebrate this year's DLD Awareness Day: Growing with DLD, we asked Aisling O'Connor, a primary school teacher that is relatively new to DLD to talk to Orla Savage, a teacher with many years' experience in working with children with DLD and their families. Orla shares her advice and experience on including children with DLD in the classroom and how to work collaboratively with SLTs and others

A panel discussion exploring diverse perspectives on aphasia advocacy and raising awareness among health professionals, policy-makers and members of the public. Panel members included:Aoife Carolan, Senior Speech and Language TherapistHelen Kelly, Lecturer in Speech and Language TherapyLarry Masterson, Advocate and person living with aphasiaMeadhbh Larkin, Speech and Language TherapistMartin Quinn, Advocate and person living with aphasiaThe discussion was facilitated by Ruth Mc Menamin (NUI Galway) and Molly Manning (University of Limerick).

Here we are in conversation with Practice Education Coordinator Kerrie O'Grady and Dr Fiona Ryan, an SLT clinical specialist to talk about the challenges and solutions to taking SLT students on placement. With back to University approaching, we are encouraging all SLTs to consider taking an SLT student this year. See more at https://www.iaslt.ie/a-career-in-speech-language-therapy/practice-education/ #supportastudent

Here we are conversation with Inclusion Ireland CEO and former Speech and Language Therapist Derval McDonagh. Derval talks about her role, and how SLTs can help advocate for people with Intellectual Disabilities

March is Brain Awareness Week. Claire Meskill joins Gary Boyle to talk about Parkinson's Disease and the role of the SLT

Here we talk to the IASLT Website Chairperson Anne Barrett about what we can expect from the new www.iaslt.ie website

Listen to Dr. Ciara O' Toole interview Emma O' Leary from life with tiny humans about what toys are useful to support speech and language in the lead up to the busy Christmas period!

In anticipation of DLD day taking place on the 15th of October 2021, listen to Brenda Mockler, parent to a child with DLD discuss DLD from the perspective of teachers and parents of secondary school pupils with DLD with Julie Sweeney.

Listen to Dr. Ciara O' Toole, who is a member of the scientific committee on this years IASLT Biennial conference committee discuss what to expect from this years virtual conference in terms of the platform, keynote speakers, topics, presentations and more! Don't forget early bird tickets can be purchased until the 11th of August 2021!

An interview with Sophie Franks about her experiences as an adult with DLD

Dr. Ciara O' Toole interviews Damian Quinn ahead of DLD day 2020.

Dr Ciara O' Toole interviews Dr Aoife Gallagher on the needs of children with DLD in School

Listen to Dr. Helen Kelly share her wealth of knowledge about aphasia, with some hints and tips about how to communicate with and support people with aphasia. Dr. Kelly also discusses the Aphasia Café and the experiences of both patrons with aphasia and SLT students who have attended.

Verbal Dyspraxia Awareness Day took place on the 14th of May 2021. Listen to Dr. Ciara O' Toole interview Professor Trish McCabe on her experience of working in this area and use of the ReST intervention. Stay tuned for some exciting CPD opportunities coming up with Professor McCabe soon!

In recognition of Parkinson's Awareness month, Veronica Clark is featuring on the IASLT in conversation. Veronica is the current chair of the European Parkinson's Disease Association and a practicing Speech and Language Therapist in the UK.

World Down Syndrome Day 2021 is celebrated on the 21st of March. Listen to six young adults with Down Syndrome share with us their experience of Speech and Language Therapy and the benefits it has had on their lives

Children's Mental Health Week took place from the 1st to 7th February 2021. Mental Health is a topic that is becoming more and more prevalent in recent times. Listen to Mary and Sarah, who share a joint SLT Manager position at Lucena Clinic share their experiences on what it's like to work in this area as a Speech and Language Therapist, including the highs and lows, as well as the impact Covid-19 has had recently on the area,

To mark International Cochlear Implant day, which takes place on the 25th of February 2021, clinical specialist Speech and Language Therapist Jennifer Robertson, working as part of the National Cochlear Implant Programme in Beaumont Hospital joins us to share her vast amount of knowledge and experiences working in this ever-changing field. We speak about the impact of COVID-19 on the programme, the high's and lows, and everything else in-between.

Listen to Dr. Ciara O' Toole invite a parent of a child with DLD to share their experiences of living with DLD from a parent perspective, recorded to raise awareness for Developmental Language Disorder Day (RADLD) 2020!