Bristol Communication Aid Service (BCAS) Bristol Communication Aid - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Bristol Communication Aid Service Tel: 0117 414 5850 E mail: cacadmin@nbt.nhs.uk

Bristol Communication Aid Service (BCAS)

AAC- What is this?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Equipment or strategies to supplement existing speech Equipment or strategies to replace speech which is unintelligible

Impairment, Participation, Activity, Well Being

What is AAC - Practical examples

About the Service - Funding

• Since April 2015 AAC services have received direct

funding from NHS England

• To provide assessments and equipment to the top 10%

complex cases “low incident high cost”

About the service – The team

• Clinical Lead (SLT)
• SLT’S
• OT’s
• PT’s
• ASP’s
• Equipment manager
• MTO’s
• Admin

About the Service - The Region

About the Service - Who we see

Who does AAC assist

Adults with progressive neurological conditions Adults and children with Cerebral Palsy Children and adults with ASC Syndromes Childhood dyspraxia Stroke Head Injury clients

About the Service – Referral rates

• Receive around 190 per year
• This is rising each year
• 60% adults
• 40% paediatrics

What do assessments involve

• Multi professional assessment
• Speech and language therapist (lead)
• Occupational therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Assistant practitioner
• Accompanied by family, school staff and local SLT
• 2 hours

Assessment pathway

• Initial Assessment
• Equipment Provision session
• Training and support sessions (remote or direct)
• Reviews

What assessments involve - Hardware

What assessments involve - Software

What assessments involve - Vocabulary

What assessments involve – Access Method

What assessments involve – Mounting

Why we do this work

• Case history of CS
• Case of JS

For more information …..

• www.nbt.nhs.uk/bcas
• www.communicationmatters.org