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The speech therapy department at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) has teamed up with the young radio reporters at RX Radio to help children with speech-related difficulties to be better understood.
Chantel du Toit, a speech therapist at the hospital, has a special interest in helping children communicate more effectively by means of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Although using AAC (communication devices, systems, strategies and tools that replace or support natural speech) is not a new concept, she went further and approached the RX Radio team so that the young AAC users can choose a voice match according to their age, ethnicity, gender and language (English, isiXhosa, Afrikaans and a bit of isiZulu). This personalises the process and greatly assists in the uptake and acceptance of AAC in general.
RX Radio is a radio station run by and for children, operating from Red Cross.
It is the first radio station in the world to train child reporters to broadcast from within a hospital.
It is run by the RX Radio team for the children and youth in the hospital, their parents or caregivers and hospital staff – and the public can listen in too.
Fourteen young RX Radio reporters participated in the voice donation project. Their voices, a collection of everyday words and simple phrases, will be stored on a device that will assist these children.
One of those stored voices belong to Nurroonisha Pienaar.
The 10-year-old, who lives in Steenberg, says it was wonderful to be part of such an amazing project which helps children who are not able to speak.
“And I had so much fun doing it and hope it helps them and makes their life easier,” Nurroonisha says.
Talitha Counter, another RX Radio reporter, is also grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this project. Talitha (16), who is from Khayelitsha, says, for her, being a part of a project where children are helped to form their words is a big deal.
“And it brings me joy knowing that I also had an impact on the child’s life,” she says.
RX Radio station manager Noluyolo Yolie Ngomani says, even though the project was not conceptualised at RX Radio, it speaks to what the station stands for.
“We feel very fortunate that Chantel approached us and made us part of this exciting project. This is a very significant project for our reporters who have conditions that somehow limit and hinder them from taking part in a range of activities,” Ngomani says. She adds this was empowering for the reporters too – being in a position to assist someone who has a condition that in a way limits them. “As they also know what it feels like to be limited by their respective conditions,” she says.
Dr Anita Parbhoo, acting CEO of the hospital, says the Red Cross is always looking at ways to improve the lives of their patients.
“It’s what we do, it’s part of us all here at Red Cross. Chantel and the speech therapy team, together with RX Radio, did an amazing job and we are certain that this will have a positive impact on the children of the Western Cape and South Africa,” Parbhoo says.
