The World Report on Disability and communication disability: some considerations from an Indian context.

The aim of this paper is to reflect and comment on the lead article by Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall (2013) with reference to people with communication disability in India and illustrated by the work of one Indian non-governmental organization. Key themes and questions from Wylie et al. are identified and discussed. Suggestions for how the recommendations of the World Report on Disability might be implemented in an Indian context are made, notwithstanding the magnitude and scale of the demand for services in the context of the vast population. Nine recommendations at the meso- and micro-level are included. These emphasize three major themes: methodologies to ensure access for all those who need speech-language pathology services; enhancement of speech-language pathology training capacities to deliver holistic professional services in urban and rural settings; promotion of the involvement of advocacy groups in policy-making and, hence, facilitating people with communication needs to be more assertive about rights and entitlement.

Experiences of attendance at a neuromuscular centre: perceptions of adults with neuromuscular disorders.

PURPOSE: The aim of this research is to gain an insight into adults with neuromuscular disorders' experiences of attendance at a specialised, voluntary sector, Neuromuscular Centre and explore its value to these adults who attend for treatment, education or employment. METHOD: This study was qualitative in design. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine self-selected participants, recruited from the population of adults with neuromuscular disorders who attended the Neuromuscular Centre. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Thematic networks were utilised to aid interpretation. RESULTS: Participants saw the benefit of specialist input to remain mobile and independent for longer. The Centre created a culture of understanding and empathy which facilitated mutual support and self-acceptance. Opportunities for employment and education offered a sense of purpose. Sharing experiences developed self-knowledge and the ability to self-manage their condition. CONCLUSION: Attendance at this voluntary sector Neuromuscular Centre provided physical, psychosocial and economic benefits. The Neuromuscular Centre through its holistic approach offers a unique model for rehabilitation of adults with neuromuscular disorders. As an enterprise, satellite centres adopting the ethos of the Centre could be created, which could potentially help to redress the inequalities in health care for adults with neuromuscular disorders.