The following manuscript has been accepted for publication:
Marshall, J. E., Wylie, K., McLeod, S., Barrett, H., McAllister, L., Atherton, M., Hettiarachchi, S., Owusu, N. A. (2024, in press May) Communication disability in low- and middle-income countries: A call to action. BMJ Global Health.
Summary:
- "Communication disability is a common but under-reported and often neglected part of health, rehabilitation and disability services, despite communication being a human right.
- Communication disability has far-reaching impacts throughout life.
- Innovation is required in contexts where services for people with communication disability are limited - particularly low and middle-income countries.
- Local and national governments, funders/commissioners, communication disability experts, universities, non-government organisations, communities, health, social care, rehabilitation services and education sectors all have a role to play in putting communication disability on the global disability/ (re)habilitation agenda.
This paper took many years to write and get published - mostly because it is not easy to distill important research with clarity. I worked on a version while at Manchester Metropolitan University last year. I am very glad it has been accepted and thank Julie Marshall and Karen Wylie for leading this paper.
This work speaks to the World Health Organization's Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240063600
