Dear Members,   We are delighted to share our latest news with you. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who have responded to our call for IASLT Heroes. We need more volunteers to help us with fantastic projects, as described in this month's newsletter.   Please see Document Attached to read newsletter in full!   Yours in membership.   Marijke Morris Chairperson

The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) encourages all members to participate in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, August 13th , 2020. The meeting will be held virtually to ensure that every IASLT member has the opportunity to engage in the democratic processes that govern our professional association and to ensure the health and safety of our members during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Register Here for the AGM Notice of AGM 2020  Proxy Vote Form  AGM 2020 Agenda & Reports IASLT Audited Final Accounts 2019  IASLT Proposed Consitution 2020   Read the existing constitution here 

IASLT are delighted to publish a new position statement today to support our members. This is a 'Position statement regarding the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Speech and Language Therapists performing aerosol generating procedures as part of dysphagia management of individuals with COVID-19 (positive, suspected or non-COVID)'. (See Document Attached).   The IASLT holds the position that clinical dysphagia assessment is an Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP). Full risk assessment and identification of required levels of PPE should apply whilst conducting clinical dysphagia assessments with all individuals who present with COVID-19 (positive, suspected or non-COVID).   Current HSE Guidance for AGPs in the management of COVID-19 does not acknowledge clinical dysphagia assessments as an AGP. IASLT are currently reviewing our COVID-19 Guidance (version 3 updated 28th April 2020) and we hope to make this available to members shortly.

Please find IASLT guidelines on Telepractice (SEE DOCUMENT ATTACHED)  -  Thank you to our MRA colleagues in RCSLT and SPA for sharing their documents with us and allowing access to IASLT members.   The following are resources that may support your learning in relation to telepractice.   The University of Oxford have produced step by step guidance on delivering video consultation in general practice although this also may be applicable to other settings: https://bjgplife.com/2020/03/18/video-consultations-guide-for-practice/.    Getting started with telepractice; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U86ijUKaR_0    COVID-19: What AHP Services need to be doing digitally and NOW! AHP Scotland   https://ahpscot.wordpress.com/2020/03/18/covid-19-what-ahp-services-need-to-be-doing-digitally-and-now/   BMJ Opinion: Better use of data and digital offer rapid opportunities to address covid-19   https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/03/13/better-use-of-data-and-digital-offer-rapid-opportunities-to-address-covid-19/   BMJ Editorials: Video consultations for covid-19   https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m998   Ekberg, Stuart, Danby, Susan, Theobald, Maryanne, Fisher, Belinda, & Wyeth, Peta (2019) Using physical objects with young children in ’face-to-face’ and telehealth speech and language therapy. Disability and Rehabilitation,    https://eprints.qut.edu.au/116759/1/Physical%20objects%20in%20therapy.pdf   InformMe Telehealth Resources: https://informme.org.au/News/2020/03/26/COVID-19-Telehealth-resources   Speech Pathology Australia have added 5 new webinars on 'Delivering Complex Disability Services via Telepractice' to their 'Learning to use Telepractice' web page; https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/Professional_Education/Learning_to_Use_Telepractice/SPAweb/Professional_Development/Telepractice/Service_Delivery_Telepractice.aspx?hkey=20094f96-5204-4ee5-a744-408f77385f6d#pn06  

COCHRANE Healthcare Library is temporarily unrestricted! Cochrane conducts systematic reviews of healthcare evidence and is currently undertaking various activities relating to COVID-19. https://www.cochrane.org/coronavirus-covid-19-cochrane-resources-and-news   ELSEVIER:  To support the extraordinary efforts of the health and research communities combatting coronavirus ELSEVIER have created a range of free resources including textbooks, evidence-based clinical guidance and research articles. https://www.elsevier.com/novel-coronavirus-covid-19     WILEY Wiley  have put together a virtual OA issue of The International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders - 'Remote and Technology Enhanced Speech and Language Therapy Practice' to support our SLTs to continue to deliver EBP interventions in these difficult times'. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1460-6984.remote.technology.enhanced   Dysphagia: Find the #ESSD #COVIDー19 #webinar from last Wednesday - full version and individual speakers' sessions available the ESSD website;   https://worldswallowingday.org/webinars   Thanks to our RCSLT Colleagues for sharing their recent webinar COVID-19: Critical Care for SLTs : https://www.rcslt.org/learning/covid-19/rcslt-guidance#section-3