Development of a 'communication disability model' and its implication on service delivery in low-income countries

This paper argues that higher priority should be given to the development of services which support people with communication disabilities in low income countries and that these services should be different from those in other countries. Present services for this population group have poor coverage levels, tend to be centrally located and are orientated to specialist services. WHO (Health Programme Evaluation, Geneva, WHO, 1981) argue that health services should be based on meeting people's needs. This paper describes an analysis of ‘needs related’ qualitative data concerning people with communication disabilities and their families in two low income countries and examines the results in relation to service development. The data was collected as part of five different studies concerning people with communication disabilities carried out in Uganda and Nigeria. Using the principles of established theory, these data helped develop, a theoretical model. This model is compared with WHO's classification of Impairment Disability and Handicap ICIDH-2 WHO (International Classification of Impairments Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH-2), A manual of classification relating to the consequences of diseases, Geneva, WHO, 1997a; 1999). Suggestions are made as to how this model might inform planning and practice from the perspective of the five major stakeholder groups; government and non-government organizations, people with communication disabilities, their families and professionals. Consideration is also given as to how this theory can be used to strengthen existing services, or encourage a complete paradigm shift, with the creation of different services in new and innovative ways.