In the second part of the Boys’ Corner mini-series, Rich and Cristian sit down with Mark Campion; an SLT and former UCL student who currently works in an adult in-patient team in a North London Hospital Trust. We hear how Mark entered the profession and get his thoughts on what it’s been like navigating SLT as a man. Together, we open up a candid conversation about identity, visibility, and what masculinity can mean in a profession where men make up just 3% of the workforce. 

Want to hear more about the discussion around gender in SLT? Check out this RCSLT SLT Voices article: https://www.rcslt.org/slt-voices/the-gender-equity-debate/

Did you know men make up just 3% of the speech and language therapy workforce in the UK? In Boys’ Corner, a new mini-series hosted by Rich and Cristian, we explore what it’s like to be part of that small percentage. In Episode 1, we start unpacking the current landscape of men in SLT, sharing our own experiences as male practitioners, and hearing directly from SLT students about what it’s been like entering the profession. 

For the facts and figures: 

• HCPC Diversity Data Report 2021: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/resources/reports/2021/diversity-data-report-2021/
• HCPC Diversity Data: Speech and Language Therapists 2023: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/resources/data/2023/diversity-data-speech-and-language-therapists-2023/
• A paper discussing the "unicorn" of male SLT representation worldwide (2018): https://pubs-asha-org.libproxy.ucl.ac.uk/doi/10.1044/persp3.SIG17.29
• RCSLT diversity in SLT figures: https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/workforce/student-slt-diversity/#section-4
• Women in STEM: https://www.stemwomen.com/women-in-stem-statistics-progress-and-challenges

In their final episode hosting the Giving Voice Podcast together, Nathalie and Issy collaborate with the UCL Communication Clinic once more to discuss Developmental Language Disorder, or DLD, in adults. They are first joined by UCL's Simone Ojei to discuss the work carried out at the clinic's Adult DLD Assessment Service. Later, Issy and Nathalie chat to Shelbi about her experience of DLD as an adult and of not being diagnosed until she was 25 years old.

For more information, check out the following resources:

• RADLD: https://radld.org/
• Afasic: https://www.afasic.org.uk/
• DLD and Me by Anna Sowerbutts & Amanda Finer: https://www.dldandme.co.uk/the-book
• The RCSLT article mentioned: https://www.rcslt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Vision-for-Developmental-Language-Disorder.pdf
• Shelbi's Instagram to check out her work with RADLD: https://www.instagram.com/dldwhycantyouseeme/

Issy and Nathalie speak to Aarti Panchmatia, a speech and language therapist, whose role is split between Level 1 neurorehabilitation in a neuropsychiatric unit and working in a mental health unit with adults. Aarti shares how she arrived at her current role, the skills needed, and the importance of MDT working.

Considering a career in voice? In this episode, Hannah and Hannah speak to Sue Cowen, who is a voice teacher, speech and language therapist, and Head of Voice/MFA Professional Voice Studies at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Sue shares her journey from school to becoming a hospital-based speech and language therapist, and eventually Head of Voice at Bristol Old Vic. She also offers valuable advice for those interested in pursuing a career in voice work.

For more information, check out the links below:

• The Professional Voice Studies course at Bristol Old Vic - https://oldvic.ac.uk/course/mfa-voice-studies/
• RCSLT information about all areas within the scope of a voice SLT - https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/clinical-information/voice/

The second episode in the UCL Communication Clinic series focuses on the Creative Language in Aphasia (or CLIA) programme. Nathalie and Issy are first joined by student SLTs Cate and Lottie, plus UCL's Dr Jennie Grassly and Dr Michael (Mickey) Dean, who run the programme alongside the student SLTs. They discuss how the CLIA programme works and the reason for the creative underpinning. Later, Neville and Priscilla, two people with aphasia who attended the clinic, share their experiences and the incredible artwork and poem they created.

For more information, check out the links below:

• The Creative Language in Aphasia programme: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/pals/research/language-and-cognition/ucl-communication-clinic/creative-language-aphasia-clia
• Look at all the artwork created at the clinic: https://bsky.app/profile/clinicucl.bsky.social/post/3ldgrptp4bc2a
• The website created by the next cohort: https://www.aphasiatales.co.uk/

Nathalie and Issy are joined by Tim, Julian, and Filomena again, but this time by their partners/family members as well. This episode focuses on the support the three ambassadors received for their aphasia, from both those close to them and speech and language therapists.

Issy and Nathalie speak to Tim, Julian, and Filomena, who are three ambassadors from Dyscover. They share their experiences of living with aphasia and the impact it has had on their lives, both socially and emotionally.

This is the first episode in the three-part mini series in collaboration with Dyscover, an organisation that supports people with aphasia and their families. Issy and Nathalie speak to Julie Samuel, the service manager and lead speech and language therapist, and Charlotte Prentice, a volunteer at Dyscover, to hear all about the support they provide and the experience of being an volunteer.

Check out Dyscover’s website here for more information: https://dyscover.org.uk/

Plus some links to aphasia charities that provide services free of charge:

• Aphasia Support: https://www.aphasiasupport.org/
• Aphasia Re-Connect: https://aphasiareconnect.org/
• Say Aphasia: https://www.sayaphasia.org/
• Stroke Association support services: https://www.stroke.org.uk/stroke/support

The first episode of the UCL Communication Clinic series is all about Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). Nathalie and Issy are joined by lots of incredible guests:

1. Dr Anna Volkmer and three UCL students, Hannah, Tristan and Diellza, discuss their work at the Progressive Aphasia Speech and Language Therapy Clinic.
2. Geoff, Mike, Yin, Maggie and Jane share their lived experiences of having PPA/having a partner with PPA.
3. Anna Volkmer and Rosemary Townsend, an SLT from the PPA service at Dyscover, talk about the first ever PPA Awareness Day taking place on 4th April.

For more information, check out the links below:

• The UCL Progressive Aphasia SLT Clinic: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/progressive-aphasia-speech-and-language-therapy-clinic
• The link to sign up to the PPA Awareness Day webinar on 4th April: https://speechtherapyppa.com/ppa-awareness-day.html
• The PPA service at Dyscover: https://dyscover.org.uk/support-groups/primary-progressive-aphasia-support-groups/
• Follow Anna and Rosemary on X: https://x.com/volkmer_anna & https://x.com/RosemaryTowns15
• Keep up to date with PPA Awareness on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ppaphasiaawareness.bsky.social