Creating Communication Accessible Frontline Police Services

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the current knowledge of uniform police at one 24-hour police station regarding people with communication disabilities, in order to implement effective communication strategies, and award the Communication Access Symbol. Twenty-nine frontline uniform police from one police station responded to a paper-based survey that probed the frequency of their interactions with people with a communication disability and their knowledge of communication strategies. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results indicated that although the majority of respondents were experienced police who frequently faced difficulties in interactions, they had limited communication strategies and had received little or no training in using visual supports. The results from the survey informed the communication strategies that speech language pathologists will employ to address the barriers police face in initial interactions with community members with communication disabilities.

Keywords::

• Augmentative And Alternative Communication
• Communication Access
• Communication Disability
• Justice
• Police

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Georgia Burn

Georgia Burn is a Communication access consultant speech pathologist and researcher at Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre (CIRC).

Hilary Johnson

Hilary Johnson is a(@johhil) Senior researcher at Scope’s CIRC and adjunct associate professor at La Trobe University.

Barb Solarsh

Barb Solarsh is a Senior speech pathologist and coordinator of the communication access service at Scope.

Denise West

Denise West is a Regional general manager at Scope, and previously manager of Scope’s CIRC.

Katie Lyon

Katie Lyon is The manager of Capacity Building Services within Scope’s CIRC.

Mark Nichols

Mark Nichols is a Inspector within the Priority Communities Division’s Capability Department at Victoria Police.