DEAL - Breaking the Silence
cartoon Inability to communicate is the most devastating of all disabilities. Without communication you can't enjoy an education, have a full social life, or even ask for a drink. You are doomed to life as an observer. With communication, you can become a participant.
DEAL Communication Centre provides services to people who are unable to talk, or to talk clearly, as a result of conditions such as cerebral palsy, strokes, acquired brain damage, autism, Down syndrome, or intellectual impairment - anyone whose speech is not clear enough, fluent enough or reliable enough to allow them to get across everything they want to say.

arrow What does DEAL do for people?
Most people with little or no speech know more words than they are able to say. People who know more words than they are able to say may be able to expand their expressive communication by using Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) strategies.

  • We assess each clients' communication needs and abilities.
  • We try to find some means of communication for people who have little or no speech and no alternative means of communication.
  • We give people who have only a limited means of communication (a symbol board or a few manual signs, say) a chance to try out alternatives, such as speech synthesisers.
  • We help parents, therapists, caregivers and teachers discover the communication possibilities of people in their care, and where necessary we teach them to use non-speech communication methods (including Facilitated Communication).
  • We establish training programs to improve clients' skills.
  • We loan communication aids so that people can practice their skills and make informed decisions about selecting equipment.
  • When appropriate we obtain equipment for clients through the government-funded Electronic Communication Devices Scheme.
  • We auspice the Big Mouth Camp for school-age communication aid users.

DEAL has helped more than two thousand people since the Centre opened in 1986.

We have enabled people move from special schools into mainstream education, we have given people with communication impairment who had previously been thought to be profoundly retarded the skills to graduate from secondary school and go to university, we have given men of forty the means to tell their mothers "I love you" for the first time.

Contents

 arrow What resources does the centre offer?
Our staff includes an augmentative communication specialist, an occupational therapist, a speech pathologist, a computer consultant, and an educator.  We have a range of communication equipment, from simple picture boards to sophisticated computers with voice output. We have switches, switch mounts, and other equipment to allow people with severe physical disabilities to operate communication devices.

arrow What is DEAL?
DEAL is a non-government non-profit charitable organisation. Any person with a commitment to the rights and welfare of people with communication impairments can become a member of DEAL. Donations to DEAL are tax deductible.

arrow What are DEAL's hours?
9.15 am to 5.15 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
(Appointments may be made for other times if needed).
For appointments and queries ring 03-9509 6324.

DEAL receives no government funding. Most of its income comes from donations, and all donations are welcome.
Donations above $2
are tax deductible
and can be sent to
The Treasurer, DEAL,
at the address below --
or
make a credit-card on-line donation via

Our Community's 
Donation  Site

Rosemary Crossley, A.M., Ph.D.
Director

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538 Dandenong Road, Caulfield, VIC 3162, AUSTRALIA
ph. (61-3) 9509 6324
fax. (61-3) 9509 6321
e-mail: dealcc@vicnet.net.au

Minor corrections to this site were made in January 2006.  A new DEAL site is under development.
This site is proudly sponsored by Vicnet