Practitioner directory
Find a practitioner
Connect with practitioners supporting nonspeaking and unreliably speaking people across Ireland.
This directory is designed to help spellers and families identify practitioners working in their area or online. You can filter by county and by whether support is offered in person, online or both, then contact practitioners directly to find out more.
Practitioner directory
No practitioner listings are published yet.
The directory is being built
We are currently gathering listings from practitioners who meet the directory eligibility requirements set out below. In the meantime, get in touch and we will help you find out what support is available.
What does a spelling practitioner do?
Practitioners work alongside nonspeaking and unreliably speaking people to support communication through spelling and other appropriate communication approaches. The speller leads; the practitioner supports.
Depending on the person, a practitioner may support:
- Development of reliable communication skills
- Motor and sensory support during communication
- Progression through communication skills over time
- Support for families and communication partners
- Creating opportunities for meaningful, age-appropriate communication
Choosing the right practitioner
Finding the right practitioner usually involves more than choosing whoever is closest. It is worth taking time to find someone whose experience and approach suit the speller.
Contacting practitioners directly and asking questions before deciding whether to work together is completely reasonable — most practitioners expect it and welcome it.
Things you might consider:
- Their training and experience
- Experience with people of a similar age or communication profile
- Their approach to presuming competence
- How they support autonomy and the speller's own voice
- How they communicate with families and other supporters
- Availability and location
- Whether online or in-person support is appropriate
- Whether the speller feels comfortable and respected
Directory eligibility
Practitioner listing requirements
To be included in the Spelling Alliance of Ireland practitioner directory, practitioners must provide evidence that they meet SAI’s current directory eligibility requirements. These include:
- Current Garda vetting
- Appropriate child safeguarding training
- Appropriate vulnerable adult safeguarding training
These requirements are intended to support safe practice and to give families and spellers greater confidence when using the directory. They are a minimum standard for listing rather than a form of accreditation, and they do not guarantee the quality of an individual practitioner’s services.
Eligibility requirements may be extended over time as the directory develops.
About this directory
The Spelling Alliance of Ireland provides this directory to help spellers and families connect with practitioners.
SAI verifies that practitioners meet its current directory eligibility requirements, including Garda vetting and safeguarding training, before they are listed.
Inclusion in the directory does not mean that SAI provides clinical regulation, professional registration or accreditation, and it is not a guarantee of an individual practitioner’s services.
Spellers and families are encouraged to make their own informed decisions when choosing a practitioner, and to ask about training, experience, approach and any relevant qualifications.
Can’t find a practitioner near you?
Access varies considerably across Ireland, and some practitioners work online or across county boundaries. If nobody appears close to you, there may still be options.
- Check practitioners offering online support
- Contact practitioners directly about the areas they serve
- Contact SAI if you are struggling to identify available support
Improving geographic and financial access to communication support is one of the Alliance’s wider priorities. Where someone lives, and what their family can afford, should not determine whether they can communicate.
Explore our workAre you a practitioner?
If you work with nonspeaking and unreliably speaking people in Ireland, we would like to hear from you. Connect with the Alliance to learn more about practitioner collaboration and about eligibility for future participation in the directory. Directory inclusion is subject to SAI’s eligibility requirements.