Sustainable Delivery of Speech-Language Therapy Services in Small Island Developing States Using Information and Communication Technology – A Study of the Maldives

Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a subgroup of Majority world countries, face complex challenges providing equitable access to speech-language therapy (SLT) services. Increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance SLT services is seen in the Minority world. This study explored the potential of using ICT to provide sustainable SLT services in one SIDS, the Maldives. A mixed method approach was used integrating data from (a) 21 online documents, (b) interview with an ICT official, and (c) surveys of 13 island councillors and 73 parents of children with communication difficulties. Almost 100% of the population had access to mobile phones and mobile broadband internet. Most parents were active and frequent ICT users. The government provided financial aid for people with disabilities which could be utilised to access ICT for services. Asynchronous service delivery using accessible ICT and parents as agents of service delivery can potentially enhance SLT services

Speech language therapy services for children in Small Island Developing States – the situation in the Maldives

Speech-language therapists (SLT) support people with communication difficulties to exercise their right to communicate. Yet, children in Majority world countries face great obstacles to accessing these services. Vulnerable countries within the Majority world, such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face complex challenges due to particular environmental, social and economic vulnerabilities. Access to services is unlikely to improve in underserved communities unless service delivery approaches take the context into consideration. This preliminary study used mixed methods to explore environmental, social and economic conditions affecting equitable access to SLT services for children in one SIDS, the Maldives. Forty publicly available online documents were analyzed, and online surveys were conducted with 107 teachers and 73 parents of children with communication difficulties to examine the conditions that affect equitable access to SLT services in the Maldives. This data revealed three major characteristics of the Maldivian context: (1) Barriers related to geography, dispersed population and transport, (2) Inadequacy of current services to meet needs, and (3) Significant need to minimize costs