Frequently asked questions.

We work alongside adults aged 18 and over who have an intellectual disability and/or are neurodivergent — including people with autism, Down syndrome, or other developmental differences.

Our focus is on supporting people who are out of school and looking to build communication, confidence, and connection in everyday life.

We celebrate each person’s unique way of thinking, learning, and communicating — and we support them, their families, and their networks to grow together in understanding and belonging.

Social Beings Speech Pathology is based in Petersham, in Sydney’s Inner West.

We provide mobile and community-based services across the Inner West and surrounding areas, as well as the City of Sydney and parts of the Eastern Suburbs.

Our mobile service area includes suburbs such as:

Petersham, Marrickville, Leichhardt, Stanmore, Lewisham, Newtown, Camperdown, Glebe, Ultimo, Redfern, Surry Hills, Alexandria, Mascot, Kensington, Randwick, Bondi Junction, Paddington, and Centennial Park (and others).

We also support participants in nearby areas such as Ashfield, Croydon and Burwood, and occasionally — by arrangement — in parts of the Lower North Shore (for example, existing clients or special circumstances).

Our focus is on community-based supports — working in homes, cafés, workplaces, creative studios, and local neighbourhoods where communication and connection naturally happen.

Because communication doesn’t happen in clinics — it happens in life.

By meeting in real environments like cafés, parks, or community programs, we create opportunities for authentic practice and real connection.

Yes — we offer telehealth, but always as a complement to in-person supports, not a replacement.

In the kind of work we do, communication and social goals are best supported through real-world, community-based experiences.

Telehealth can be great for check-ins, planning, or follow-ups — especially when paired with face-to-face sessions and peer or group-based sessions.

We provide supports across four key areas:

• Communication Supports (speech, language, and AAC)

• Mealtime Supports (safety, independence, and enjoyment)

• Social and Peer Communities (building real-world friendships and confidence)

• Supported Chat Groups (using technology to connect and maintain friendships)

All services are mobile and delivered in community or familiar environments; telehealth services may be offered as a compliment to in-person supports.

Yes. We offer services for people who are self-managed or plan-managed under the NDIS.

Private clients can also access services using Medicare rebates (with a GP plan) or private health insurance if their policy includes speech pathology.

Most appointments are 45 minutes +15 minutes non-face-to-face for the speech pathologist to track your goals progress, but we can adapt sessions depending on your goals and the setting.

Some supports, like mealtime assessments or group sessions, may take longer and will be discussed ahead of time.

At Social Beings, we do things a little differently.

Our supports happen in the real world — in cafés, creative spaces, and communities — because that’s where communication and connection naturally grow.

We don’t just focus on building skills; we focus on building relationships, supporting people, families, and peers to connect in ways that feel authentic and meaningful.

Every session is person-led, collaborative, and grounded in neurodiversity-affirming and evidence-based practice.

Start by completing our short enquiry form (available on this website).

We’ll then contact you to arrange a phone call — a relaxed chat to see if our services are the right fit and to answer any questions before booking.

At Social Beings, we believe communication grows through creativity, connection, and play — no matter your age.

Our “block-style” illustrations are inspired by the idea of building communication and community, piece by piece.

They reflect the values that guide our work: collaboration, curiosity, and belonging.

While the style may remind you of LEGO®, the imagery on our site is our own — original and independently created to represent the spirit of connection that Social Beings is all about.

We’re not affiliated with or endorsed by The LEGO Group — just inspired by the joy and imagination that building things together can bring.

Dynamic assessment helps us understand a person’s learning potential, not just their current skills.

Instead of relying only on standardised tests, we look at how a person responds when given support, cues, or teaching during the assessment process.

This approach is especially valuable for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as it shows how communication can grow through interaction and opportunity.

At Social Beings, we focus on authentic, shared communication — not behaviour-based systems.

PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) teaches people to exchange pictures for items or activities, but it often limits communication to requests and relies on prompting and reward systems.

We take a different approach: modelling language, supporting autonomy, and helping people communicate for all the reasons we connect — to share, express, relate, and belong.

You can read more about our approach here: Why We Don’t Use PECS (and What We Do Instead)

PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) is a specific, trademarked program that teaches people to exchange pictures for items or activities using a set series of training stages and behavioural prompts.

It focuses mainly on requesting and relies on prompting and rewards.

Picture-based communication systems, on the other hand, are tools — not training programs.

They can include communication books, symbol boards, or AAC apps that use pictures, symbols, or words to represent language.

When used flexibly — alongside natural modelling, shared experiences, and real communication opportunities — they support a person to express a wide range of messages, not just requests.

At Social Beings, we use picture-based systems as communication tools, not compliance programs — always to build autonomy, self-expression, and genuine connection.

Visual communication tools are supports that use images, symbols, written words, or objects to help people understand and express information.

They make communication clearer, reduce anxiety, and support independence — especially in busy or unpredictable environments.

These tools can include things like:

• Visual schedules or planners

• Communication books and symbol boards

• Key word signs or gestures

• Written or pictorial choice boards

• AAC apps or devices with visual displays

At Social Beings, we use visual systems in ways that fit the person’s daily life — to make conversations easier, support routines, and help people share their thoughts, needs, and preferences more freely.

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

It refers to any way of communicating that adds to or replaces speech — like communication apps, picture boards, key word signing, written words, or gestures.

At Social Beings, we use AAC to support real communication — sharing stories, connecting with friends, and expressing ideas — not just requesting or answering questions.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is a framework developed by the World Health Organisation.

It helps us see the whole person — their strengths, challenges, environment, and opportunities for participation — not just their diagnosis.

We use the ICF to guide our practice, helping ensure communication supports are meaningful, person-centred, and focused on real-life participation.

The CRPD is an international agreement that protects the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.

It states that everyone has the right to communicate, participate, and be included fully in their communities.

At Social Beings, our work is grounded in the CRPD’s principles of respect, inclusion, and equal opportunity for every person.

The Communication Bill of Rights outlines the basic human right to communicate — for everyone, regardless of ability.

It affirms that all people have the right to:

• Communicate in ways that work for them

• Be heard and understood

• Access tools and supports that make communication possible

These rights are at the heart of everything we do at Social Beings Speech Pathology.