title: Promoting change through political consciousness: a South African speech-language pathology response to the World Report on Disability.
abstract: In the context of the World Report on Disability, Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall (2013) question how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) change practices to benefit under-served people with communication disability. This commentary provides a South African response premised on Political Consciousness. In South Africa, a grossly unequal society, the under-served population is not only those with communication disability but also include those who are at a communication disadvantage due to disabling conditions. As a consequence of the combined effects of a severe shortage of SLPs as well as maldistribution in service provision, the under-served are mainly poor Black South Africans who are the majority population. Political Consciousness allows one to examine how selected forces at the macro-level, meso-level, and micro-level may enable or limit services to the under-served majority. At a macro-level, this study appraises policies and actions advancing and impeding service delivery. At the meso-level it is argued that hegemonic professional knowledge is limiting and an equity-driven population-based approach is advocated. At a micro-level, the Relationship of Labouring Affinities is offered as a conceptual tool for critical engagement. In conclusion, it is suggested that the speech-language pathology profession must collectively become political actors at all levels to effect change.
authors: University of Cape Town, South Africa. harsha.kathard@uct.ac.za
authors: Harsha
authors: H
authors: Kathard
authors: Mershen
authors: M
authors: Pillay
mesh_terms: D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D014943:Global Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D035862:Vulnerable Populations