A Big Warm Hello!!   The last few months have been a rollercoaster for everyone. SLT’s have often been on the frontline of the pandemic and all members have felt the impact on their lives and frequently livelihoods as well. We all bow our heads together in grief for lost loved ones as well. This newsletter is aimed at sharing information with members, in lieu of the much loved Update magazine, which we would love to get going again.     Read the newletter here!

IASLT aim to survey as many Irish SLTs as possible and would ask you circulate to your networks and colleagues as soon as possible. IASLT's objective to capture experiences of as many (ALL!) Irish SLTs across the island as possible. the results will be used to advocate for much needed services during / and post pandemic. Including the erosion of direct services due to limited technology/capacity/appropriateness of telerehab and alternatives for the people we support. Can I please ask that you circulate widely to your SLT networks.   Link to survey: https://bit.ly/35WlQfp   Our international colleagues, ASHA, NZSTA, RCSLT, SAC, SPA are running similar surveys for their members and having an Irish SLT voice is vital to ensure effective representation at national and international levels. For IASLT to effectively represent Irish SLTs we ask that everyone please take the time to participate and circulate ..... Communication is a Human Right... Stay Safe.

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