Complex Communication Needs
Some people communicate in ways that go beyond speech, and that is okay. We build individualised strategies around how a person communicates best, not around a standard template.
Special Needs Speech Therapy
Everyone deserves to be heard. Every family deserves to be connected.
Special needs speech therapy supports children and adults whose communication needs go beyond typical speech and language development, including complex communication needs, autism spectrum communication differences, and conditions that call for augmentative or alternative approaches. It is a specialist area, and one Jodi has built her career around.
Jodi holds a Master's degree in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) from the University of Pretoria, and spent four years embedded in a government school for children with autism. That experience shaped her belief that every person is capable of communicating when given the right tools, the right environment, and someone who truly believes in them.
What We Work On
What special needs speech therapy addresses
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
AAC covers the tools and strategies that support communication beyond speech, including picture-based systems and high-tech communication devices. We help children and adults find the right system and learn to use it with confidence, at home, at school, and out in the world. Try our free AAC board →
Makaton Signing
A structured signing system used alongside speech to support understanding and expression, especially valuable for children who are not yet reliably verbal.
The PROMPT System
A hands-on approach to building the physical movements behind speech, used with children and adults who need extra support developing clear, accurate sound production.
Autism Spectrum Communication Support
Communication support shaped around how each person on the spectrum communicates and learns best, built on years of embedded, in-school experience rather than theory alone.
How It Works
Five steps to finding what works.
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A free screening
We start with a free screening to understand how someone communicates right now, what is getting in the way, and where support could make the biggest difference, at no cost and with no commitment.
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An assessment
A full assessment looks closely at communication across environments, not just in a clinical setting, so the picture we build is a real one.
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A therapy plan built around the individual
Every plan is built around the person's needs, their pace, and the people and places in their world. There is no single AAC system or approach that fits everyone.
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Consistent support, every environment
AAC and communication strategies only work if they are used consistently. Sessions happen at school, at home, at our Morningside premises, or online, so the same approach travels with the person who needs it. See how sessions work →
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A partnership with your family and your team
Therapy does not stop when the session ends. We work alongside families, schools, and other professionals involved in a person's care, so strategies are used consistently everywhere they are needed.
With words, with signs, with anything that works.
Book a free screening or get in touch to find out how AAC, Makaton, or PROMPT could help you or a family member communicate with confidence.
Medical aid and cash accepted.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need AAC? Will using AAC stop them from learning to speak?
This is one of the most common concerns parents raise, and the research is clear. AAC does not prevent speech development. In fact, giving a child a reliable way to communicate often reduces frustration and creates the conditions in which speech can emerge. AAC is not a last resort. It is a tool, and for many children it is the bridge between silence and connection.
What is Makaton?
Makaton is a language programme that uses signs and symbols alongside speech to support communication. It is not a replacement for speech. It is used together with spoken words to give people an additional way to express themselves and understand others. Makaton is widely used with children and adults who have communication differences, and it can be learned by the whole family so that communication is consistent across every environment.
What is AAC?
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It refers to any tool, strategy, or system that supports or replaces speech, from simple picture cards and Makaton signing to high-tech speech-generating devices. AAC is used with children and adults who have complex communication needs, and it is always tailored to the individual. The goal is always functional communication: being able to express needs, wants, thoughts, and feelings in a way that works for that person.