Equity, diversity and belonging

Data is compelling of the impact on health equality in relation to many variables such as age, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and gender identity, disability, homelessness, immigration status, socio-economic group and the impact of intersectionality. There is evidence of continued systemic and individual discrimination, impacting experience and quality of health provision. This chapter presents information on health inequity relevant to ABI and explores how SLTs can reflect on their identities, recognise the impact of bias, and work to provide an inclusive service at system and individual treatment levels. This is especially critical in SLT practice, because culture and identity are so closely bonded with communication, eating and drinking. It includes case examples of a cis gentleman who has interests that are commonly associated with female gender stereotypes and how this affected peoples’ perception of his ability to communicate his wishes. We also discuss the role of SLT in sensitively providing advocacy for people with communication disability in the context of contradictory cultural information provided by loved ones.