Mrs Cara Antonelli1
1South Western Sydney Local Health District – Primary and Community Health, Australia, 2University of Western Sydney, , Australia
Biography:
Cara Antonelli is the team leader of the Disability Resource Team at South Western Sydney LHD, where she leads a team focused on providing high-quality healthcare through consultation on disability, NDIS, system navigation, and more. She facilitates stakeholder meetings, develops resources, advocates for patients, and leads strategic projects to improve support for individuals with disabilities. With 14 years of experience as an occupational therapist, Cara has worked across public hospitals, NGOs, and government organisations, working in paediatrics, disability, early intervention, acute settings, and stroke rehabilitation. She is passionate about improving healthcare accessibility for people with complex disability needs.
Abstract:
Communication is a cornerstone of effective healthcare, yet barriers persist for patients with disabilities, particularly in high-pressure hospital environments. The Speak Easy project emerged from the Reasonable Adjustments initiative (another project completed by our team) to address these challenges with a practical, low-tech solution.
Developed in consultation with staff and patients, the Speak Easy tool is a visual, two-way communication resource designed to support interactions between healthcare providers and patients. This tool addresses the needs of individuals with diverse communication challenges, including those with intellectual disabilities, limited English proficiency, or sensory impairments.
The resource is freely available on the SWS intranet, enabling staff to access and use it instantly. Early adoption has demonstrated its potential to reduce misunderstandings, ease patient anxiety, and enhance care outcomes. Feedback from users has driven ongoing refinements, with plans for broader implementation and evaluation.
The presentation will highlight the project’s development process, user-centred design principles, and practical applications in healthcare. By providing an accessible, adaptable communication tool, the Speak Easy project reinforces the importance of inclusive practices and demonstrates how small-scale innovation can have a significant impact on patient-centred care.
Disclosure of Interest Statement
This project was conducted in collaboration with Occupational Therapy students Jedd Kosman and Tania Laibi from the University of Western Sydney. No pharmaceutical grants or financial support were received in the development of this study. The authors declare no further conflicts of interest.