Students find their voice with support

"You don't have to be perfect. Everyone is here to help you."

These words, from Year 1 student Inaya, capture the importance of understanding and supporting children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), as communities mark DLD Day, 16 October.

DLD affects how people understand and use language, and can create challenges with learning, communication and everyday activities. This neurodevelopmental condition impacts an estimated one in 14 children.

At the South East Language Development Centre, students receive specialised support from teachers, education assistants and speech pathologists in a learning environment designed to meet their needs.

Teacher Ally Valentine said early intervention plays a vital role in helping students develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed.

“Children with DLD need a lot of scaffolding of concepts,” Ms Valentine said.

“We’re able to move at a slower pace and teach more explicitly, helping students build strategies and skills they can take with them into mainstream schooling.”

The centre’s small class sizes and collaborative approach allow staff to provide targeted support and individualised learning experiences.

Speech pathologists work closely alongside teachers, while specialised programs help students strengthen key language skills, including storytelling, sequencing ideas and communicating clearly.

Ms Valentine said the growth she sees in students during their time at the centre is remarkable.

“We have children enter the Language Development Centre in kindy who are barely talking, and by Year 2 they’re speaking in full sentences, socialising confidently and showing leadership skills,” she said.

“It’s amazing to see how far they come.”

Inaya is one of those success stories.

According to Ms Valentine, Inaya has made significant progress during her time at the centre this year, developing her confidence and communication skills while embracing new learning opportunities.

For Inaya, one of her greatest achievements has been learning to construct strong sentences and gaining confidence in the classroom.

“I’m always proud of myself when I do something good,” she said.

“And if I make a mistake, I’m still proud of myself.”

As communities around the world mark DLD Day, Inaya’s message serves as a reminder that the right support can help children find their voice, build confidence and thrive.

“You don’t have to be perfect. Just try your best,” she said.

Western Australia is home to five Language Development Centres, a specialist early intervention model unique to the state. The centres bring together teachers, education assistants and speech pathologists to support children with DLD, helping them build the language skills and confidence needed for future learning.

Learn about DLD on the DLD Project website.

And find more resources and awareness tips on the RADLD website.