Talking Mats Foundation Training - 2 day in person course

HSCP office funded course run by IASLT

Talking Mats - Foundation Training

 15th September and 20th October 2025

• Event Venue : Portlaoise Parish Centre
• Cost: €15
• This training is supported by funding from the National HSCP Office and priority is for those employed in publicly funded health care settings.
• This course will be delivered in person to a group of 12 participants over two half-day sessions. Attendance on both days is required.
• There are 5 spots for OTs on this course 
• Booking is via the IASLT website: https://www.iaslt.ie/learning-centre/talking-mats-foundation-training-15th-september-and-20th-october-2025/

What is Talking Mats?

Talking Mats is a visual communication framework which supports people with communication difficulties to express their feelings and views. Talking Mats can be carried out physically or in a digital space, for example a tablet, laptop or computer.

Why do Talking Mats work?

Clinical, research and training experience provides evidence that Talking Mats helps people think about and express their views on a particular topic. There are a number of reasons why Talking Mats is effective.

Talking Mats support comprehension by:

• Helping people process concepts by breaking information down into small, manageable chunks
• Allowing the client time to process information and respond in their own time
• Reducing memory demands

Talking Mats improve quality of information by:

• Handing over control to the thinker
• Providing a structured framework for open questions
• Reducing anxiety
• Supporting people to express how they really feel.

Talking Mats is a person-centred communication framework that helps children and adults:

• Think about and express their views;
• Have more choice and control in their lives;
• Be more involved in decisions that affect them.

It is based on extensive research and designed by Speech and Language Therapists. It uses specially designed symbols and is widely used within Health, Social Work, Residential and Education settings.

Learning Objectives:

The training allows you to:

• Understand and use the Talking Mats framework;
• Think creatively about how to use Talking Mats in your setting;
• Reflect on your own communication.

Facilitators:

Niamh Heraughty and Laura Douglas