Speech and Language Therapy Christchurch

08/01/2026

Lowest number of speech therapists per capita in the OECD.

Two and a half years wait for an augmentative communication assessment. (Like kids needing an iPad to talk).

NZ needs to do much better.

Struggling to find a speech-language therapist (SLT)? You’re not alone.

Aotearoa has only around 22 SLTs per 100,000 people – among the lowest rates in the OECD. That means long waitlists and people missing out on help to communicate and swallow safely.

NZSTA is calling for targeted investment in three high-need areas:
🔹 Assistive Technology & AAC – so people who rely on devices are not waiting years to have a voice
🔹 Dementia – keeping people connected, independent and safe for longer
🔹 Residential disability services – making sure it is safe to eat and free to communicate in every home

📣 Find out what we’re asking for and why it matters:
👉 https://speechtherapy.org.nz/advocacy/

16/12/2025

We know how vital the Total Mobility scheme is for independence and connection in our communities. The Government has confirmed that everyone who relies on this service will continue to get subsidised taxi fares, but with some essential changes to ensure the scheme’s long-term sustainability.
Key points:
• Subsidy changes from July 2026: The subsidy level will move from 75% to 65%. Fares will increase slightly, but the subsidy remains higher than it was before 2022.
• Immediate funding: $10 million is being invested now to support councils and keep the scheme operational.
📣We also want to hear from you
Consultation is open now on proposals to strengthen the scheme. You can provide your input on our website. Consultation closes 22 March 2026.
https://www.transport.govt.nz/consultations/proposals-to-strengthen-total-mobility

12/12/2025

The service provider for people with intellectual disabilities alleged education policies disadvantaged disabled students in schools.

Full story ⬇

12/12/2025

This is a personal one today.

Today, a new Trust in honour of my friend, Martin Nunn is being launched.

The Martin Nunn Trust for Research into Acquired Communication Difficulties (Registered Charitable Trust: 50245767)
https://martinnunntrust.nz/

Martin lived with a brain tumour for nearly 14 years until early this year and as a result of the tumour, he had an acquired language impairment called aphasia which severely impacted on his communication, particularly as it progressed. It was very difficult for Martin to find the words he wanted to say or write to express his views. So much more research is needed for how to support people living with aphasia and similar communication difficulties, and the Trust will support speech-language therapy students to undertake this research by awarding a yearly prize.

Please take a look and consider supporting the Trust with a donation, or finding out more about aphasia, and let me know if you have any questions. Happy to explain more about aphasia or what the Trust will be doing.

We (Martin's friends and family - four of us are speech-language therapists) set up this Trust because we miss him and want to honour him, and we want things to be easier for people living, like he was, with communication difficulties, and we want to support more awareness. We talked about a Trust earlier in the year at his memorial service but it has taken a while to get to this point, but the Trust is now registered as a charity, and we have a clear plan, a website and are ready to go. We'll be awarding a prize each year for student speech-language therapy research into acquired communiation difficulties.

Martin and I are in this photo here (Martin looks great but not the best one of me ever, but it looks like he'd made me laugh - which he did a lot - such quick dry wit which was so tough when words started to escape him!). His partner is one of my oldest friends (we go back to kindergarten days) and when she came to live in NZ too, it wasn't long before she met Martin through work. Our kids are honorary cousins and over the years we've all hung out a lot. As a speech-language therapist myself, I learnt a huge amount from Martin about the impact that having difficulties with language and communication has on a person, their family and well-being, and it's tough. We are hoping this new Trust will help raise awareness and improve things. You can read about Martin, aphasia and how to donate to support the Trust here.

https://martinnunntrust.nz/ and we've also set up a page which we'll add more to soon.

The Martin Nunn Trust for Research into Acquired Communication Difficulties

12/12/2025

Do you have lived experience and expertise in education for disabled students? We'd love for you to apply to join our new stakeholder group.

The Ministry has committed to a Framework for Action to tackle barriers in education for disabled students, following a settlement with IHC. This Framework will focus on areas such as:

✅ Improving data collection and reporting
✅ Access to specialist support services
✅ A responsive curriculum
✅ Accessible infrastructure

The new stakeholder group would support us to progress this Framework for Action, and we're looking for 6-8 members who have:

➡️ Lived experience as a disabled person in the education system
➡️ Tāngata whaikaha Māori and Pacific people's perspectives
➡️ Knowledge of supporting disabled students
➡️ Experience in the education sector
➡️ Awareness of current priorities and barriers for disabled students

To find out more, or to apply, head to our website: https://bit.ly/4s9PW99

If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or find it hard to talk, you can contact us through the New Zealand Relay Service: https://www.nzrelay.co.nz/

24/11/2025

Poor wee kids lacking the supports to thrive at school.

And why parents and children shouldn't be punished...

22/11/2025

30/10/2025

Research shows screen time recommendations for neurodiverse children are different to than neurotypical. If it is for communication plan for access all the time.

21/10/2025

As athletes train for the 2025 Special Olympics National Summer Games, to be held in Christchurch in December, a new resource aims to make it...

12/10/2025

When I tell people my daughter uses an AAC so many respond asking “why not teach her sign language?”

So my question is…. How many of you are fluent in sign language? Besides the simple and basic signs, similar to basic Spanish you’ve learned throughout the years.

Why is teaching her a language that’s not accessible and understood by majority of people a better idea than a high tech AAC app where she pushes a button and it speaks for her?

October is AAC awareness month! Let’s continue to normalize our technological advancements that are so beneficial and important for our disabled children.

We started on Proloquo2go before my daughter’s second birthday. We modeled it as often as possible. Gave her a large grid with robust language. We normalized it around different environments & with as many different communication partners as possible.

It didn’t happen over night. But it happened. She started using the device every single day to communicate her wants and needs. Then she started forming sentences on it.

And then she started speaking more words vocally with her own voice. And I swear it’s because of the AAC device. The way her brain learns and connects, when the device speaks words the same way consistently with no change in tone or dialect, it’s helped her.

She can say all the words, but she still has a language disorder and is not conversational. She rarely replies to questions. She can’t tell you how her day was, what she did, or what she ate yet.

Autism is complex. It’s understandably misunderstood. So I share our journey to give perspective. Because it’s important.

My daughter is 5.5 years old. She is joy, and she is Autistic.

07/10/2025

Research into speech therapy services in NZ.

03/10/2025

WooHoo! It’s almost October 🎉 …which means it’s almost time for AMAZING deals on AAC apps and special education supports for AAC Awareness Month!

A huge THANK YOU 🙏 to the vendors and developers who make these important supports accessible to more people in our AAC community.

💡 I’ve put together two downloadable versions:
• Graphic (clickable PDF with all the deals)
• Screenreader-friendly, simplified text version

👉 Download them here: https://bit.ly/AACAwarenessDeals2025

Let’s spread the word so families, educators, and professionals can take advantage of these savings all month long!