IN 2014, Dr Thandeka Mdlalo, a Glen Anil resident, graduated with a PhD in Speech-Language Pathology.

She became the first Black African to graduate with a doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

She is an established professional with extensive experience that can be traced back to almost three decades ago as she qualified in 1994 at Wits University.

During the course of her career, she has contributed to the profession in multiple ways which include presenting workshops and presentations at conferences and writing academic papers both nationally and globally. Her key area of interest is diversity, particularly linguistic and cultural diversity.

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She recently penned her first-ever book, Diversity, My Call to Action, which draws on her personal journey. She uses her personal experiences to illustrate and to facilitate a more in-depth understanding of the intricacies and challenges associated with diversity in the profession. However, the content of the book extends beyond the target market of the Speech-Language Therapist as it includes valuable information for allied health professionals, teachers and parents.

“A lot has been said and written on the topic of diversity. However, what I’ve found is that the information remains in academic papers and gathers dust at universities. Despite the extensive information on the topic in academic papers, the information remains inaccessible and the language difficult to understand for those who want and need it. I recently decided it was time to take the information I’ve learnt and to put it into a format that’s accessible, applying the principle I call SEE, an acronym for support, empower and educate so I can achieve my MAD (Make A Difference) life mission.”

Her book also speaks to fellow speech-language professionals, teachers and parents.

“I’ve taken my story and combined it with theoretical frameworks presented as narratives to ensure that the content retains the academic background and reflects evidence-based practice. As a multilingual speaker, one of the key aspects I focus on in the book is linguistic diversity. Within the profession of speech-language therapy, the standardised tools that we use to assess are predominantly either UK or US-based so they are not culturally and linguistically appropriate for the SA context, especially in a country like South Africa which is linguistically and culturally diverse,” she said.

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The book is available on various online platforms or you can contact her directly on 072 371 7100.

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