Experience-based co-design with students with communication disorder to improve health literacy in speech pathology report writing

The importance of supporting school students with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) to make informed decisions regarding their needs is well recognised in literature and educational policy. Building individual health literacy capacities can assist students to advocate for equitable, timely, and inclusive access to services. Speech Language Pathologists (SLP)s can facilitate health literacy by providing written assessment reports that are accessible to students. However, very limited research is available in relation to actions that make SLP assessment reports accessible. The aim of this project is to co-design strategies to reduce barriers to SLP report accessibility for secondary school students. The project will use an experience-based co-design action research approach. A total of 16 school-based SLPs and 20 secondary-school students with SLCN will be recruited to share their opinions and perceptions in focus groups with results analysed using applied thematic analysis. Focus group findings will then be used to facilitate co-design meetings where SLPs and students with SLCN will collaborate on practical recommendations. These recommendations will assist school SLPs, service managers, and university educators to reduce health literacy barriers through accessible SLP assessment reports thereby promoting inclusion and engagement of students in decisions about their own services and supports.