Knowledge about how multilingualism and multiculturalism impact on the life of individuals with complex communication needs and their families is paramount to the success of therapy services. People with complex communication needs often require the use of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). However, information regarding multiculturalism and AAC and other assistive technology is not widely available. This case study depicts the communication challenges of a non-verbal 7-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, Ali (pseudonym), from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) background. No English was spoken at home. At referral, assessment of Ali’s communication and interviews with his family and support people revealed that he had no functional and reliable means of communication; he used only gestures, facial expressions and vocalizations. AAC intervention strategies were used to help Ali to achieve communicative competence.  Some of the main initial challenges during intervention were: (a) his family’s inability to communicate effectively in English; (b) his family’s reluctance to adopt any type of technology or equipment; (c) the need for a female interpreter at appointments; (d) the need to limit AAC intervention to his school setting. The success of the intervention was due to Ali’s high level of motivation, his family’s increasing knowledge and improved attitude towards AAC technology, and the high level of teamwork among all significant stakeholders, including Ali, his family, the school staff and the therapists at TCCP.

Joelle Zdravic is a Senior Speech Pathologist at CPTech at The Centre for Cerebral Palsy and has worked in the field of disability since 2002. She has worked in the School Age Intervention Program and in the Independent Living Program at The Centre. Since 2006 she has been working in the Assistive Technology Team in CPTech. Her greatest area of interest is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She is multilingual, being fluent in English, French and Mauritian Creole and is fascinated by how people can learn and speak multiple languages fluently. Hence her clients who learn to communicate using an AAC system also fascinate her as they learn yet another “language”…. the language of AAC