I am so proud of my colleague A/Prof Kate Crowe who has just had her edited book published by Routledge.
It is titled: Communication and Sensory Loss: Global Perspectives
I was very honoured to write the foreword for the book. Here is a segment of my foreword:
Communication and sensory loss: Global perspectives is a rich resource for governments, professionals, students, communities and families sharing insights about the communication of children and adults with hearing and/or vision differences. The book contains 11 chapters. The first part (chapters 1 and 2) eloquently sets the scene, by clearly articulating terminology, frameworks, and intersectionality to support the strengths and participation of people with sensory loss. The second part focuses on sensory loss in childhood, specifically for children with hearing loss (chapter 3), visual impairment (chapter 4), deafblindness (chapter 5), and with complex communication needs (chapter 6). The third part focuses on sensory loss in adulthood, specifically acquired communication impairment in adults with sensory loss from childhood (chapter 7), adults with hearing loss (chapter 8), vision loss (chapter 9), deafblindness (chapter 10), and complex communication needs (chapter 11). What is remarkable about each of these chapters, is that they are co-authored by people from different professions, different parts of the world, and with different lived experiences so that each chapter acknowledges communication rights of “everyone”. The case studies challenge pre-conceived notions of people with sensory loss, uniquely focussing on the, lives, strengths and challenges of a diverse range of children and adults from across the world.
This remarkable book is written by 31 different authors who work in Asia, Oceania, North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. All of the authors have professional experience supporting the communication of children and adults with hearing and/or vision differences. Uniquely, a number of the authors also have with lived experience of hearing and/or vision differences, and use their experiences and knowledge to advocate within their own countries and across the world...
Readers can approach this book like they would approach the world‘s most inclusive icecream shop. Readers can find foundational knowledge (vanilla) to understand overarching issues relating to communication and sensory loss. They can find common flavours (chocolate and strawberry) that are included in most books about sensory loss. However, they also can find unique insights about sensory loss from across the world (e.g., lychee, turmeric, durian, honeycomb, rosewater). The case studies provide exquisite additions (e.g., chocolate chips, sprinkles). And, there is attention to everyone – providing a strengths-based approach to inclusion (e.g., lactose free sorbets and gluten free alternatives to icecream cones). Indeed, this book can be read from beginning to end (e.g., like an enormous sundae), or can be revisited again and again gaining a unique combination of insights...
As a result - Kate and I celebrated with icecream!
