The title of this project is Childhood Speech and Language Delays: Breaking the Stigma with Information. The goal of this project is to present this concept through the representation of data relating to speech and language delays to help convey the who, what and how to its viewers through design and illustration with the use of a poster series.

My process included researching relevant data and literature. Some of the activities I performed to achieve this goal were a compilation of thumbnail sketches, mood boards, wireframing, and digital design creations to the final production of synthesizing the final poster design series. With this design, I hope to first inform those personally impacted by someone with a childhood delay. I intend to provide a sense of relief to any parent who may worry about having a child with a delay or to those that already have a child with an active diagnosis through information. Disability stigmas can take many forms, but it is important to acknowledge that some of the stigmas can be felt harder on parents than the child, such as blaming and internalization (Healthy Aging…,2016). It is important for those parents to have reassuring information and to visually see that they are not the only ones going through this journey with their child, but to also provide information, such as milestone charts, red flags areas, and improvement percentages, that may give them the confidence to be proactive in their child’s screening and diagnosis. Unfortunately, concealment is a common response that can prevent parents from seeking help for their child whether it be for a prolonged period of time or if only for a brief moment due to the fear of disability stigmas placed on their children, such as social distancing, stereotyping, and condescension (Healthy Aging…,2016).

It was also important to address some of the common misconceptions about speech and language delays that may also lead to delayed outreach for diagnosis. Some of these misconceptions involve gender, bilingualism, and maybe most importantly developmental variation (Healthwise Staff, 2018). Although this poster series is directly aimed at parents and those expecting, it is also important to reach anyone willing to learn and understand this topic. Any positive response to viewing this poster series, whether it be a conversation or a learned fact that reshapes one’s thinking, can help reduce the stigma felt by some parents and children. I hope that the acknowledgment of disability stigma presented in this project can lead to an overall realization and more open conversations on the topic. It is my hope, as a parent with a child diagnosed with a severe language and speech delay, that this project help shift the negative cloud of disability stigma to one of positivity that offers support and reassurance from everyone.

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References

Healthy Aging & Physical Disability Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC). “Disability Stigma and Your Patients.” Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging With Physical Disabilities, University of Washington, 2016, agerrtc.washington.edu/info/factsheets/stigma.

Healthwise Staff. “Speech and Language Delays: Common Misconceptions.” HealthLink BC, Healthwise, 12 Dec. 2018, www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/ue5605.