SaLT Help

[MuffinToptheMule]

Hello everyone.

I'm a regular mumsnetter (but not a mum) and a lurker on the SN board.
I hoping to get a place on a postgraduate SaLT course next year. One of the requirements for the course is that applicants should have experience from the speech and language therapy world. This could things such as work experience at a hospital, working as a SaLT assistant etc. I have managed to get some work experience but would really like to get some more.
I had an idea about how to get work experience but thought I would run it by some parents of children who require SaLT.
I was thinking about placing an advert on Gumtree or in the local paper offering my services as a volunteer to help parents and their children with exercises or therapy sessions.
My thinking is that I could help families who might not have enough time to sit down one to one with their children and by doing this I would get a further insight into speech and language therapy.

Would you find this kind of service useful? Do you think that this is a good idea?

Thanks for your time.

I'm in Aberdeen. I know there are some mumsnetters up here.

I've done some ABA previously but really didn't enjoy the experience.
It's funny that you link to Autism Support Services as Ruth has been my supervisor for a family I used to work for. Although I'm not opposed to working with autistic children I have experience with this area already. I haven't yet worked with any children who have Speech and Language problems who aren't on the spectrum, so it's something I'm keen to do.
Thanks for your replies though.

That's a great idea. I'd never thought of approaching private SaLTs. Thanks for your help. Is your child currently in a SaLT programme? You seem to know alot about the subject.

That seems to be a common theme. It is something that worries me about the profession that so many people aren't getting the services that they should be.

Hi Muffin
We're in central Scotland, otherwise I'd have been offering to bribe you with cakes and chocolate to come and work with my DS (who has CP and although vocal isn't yet able to form proper sounds).

I don't know anyone with SN children who isn't at their wits end with scarcity of SALT and OT therapy for children.

I've looked at trying to get someone privately, but there actually aren't that many listed in our area, plus I don't really have the money at the moment.

Starlight - I've contacted a local independent therapist and I hope to hear back from them. Thanks for the idea.

SookieD - Cakes and chocolate are two of my favourite things. . It's good to know that my idea would be of interest to you.

I had a look on the internet and also in the yellow pages and there are only 3 independent SaLTs in my area.

Could I ask, if your SaLT provision is quite scarce does that mean that you haven't been given things to work on with your ds in between appointments?