Making Legal Communication Easier
At Allied Therapy, we offer communication intermediary services for disabilities across Nova Scotia. We help people who have trouble understanding or expressing themselves, especially in legal or formal settings, so their voice is heard clearly and respectfully. We provide impartial support, like a sign language interpreter, for those who benefit from communication support.
Our trained communication intermediaries provide support during court, police interviews, and other official situations. We’re here to make sure everyone has equal access to communication.
What is a Communication Intermediary?
A communication intermediary is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who:
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Offer impartial support, like a sign language interpreter, for those who benefit from communication support.
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Supports a person with disabilities in understanding legal language
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Helps them respond in a way that others can understand
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Uses plain language, visuals, and assistive tools when needed
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Makes sure communication is clear, calm, and fair
Who Needs Communication Support for Legal Settings?
We work with:
McNamara (2012) estimated that up to 80% of adult prisoners present with communication impairments. We help these adults and teens.
Children in the foster care system that need more information provided to those advocating for them.
People who need help understanding complex questions
Those who struggle to express their answers clearly in high-stress environments
We provide court communication assistance and support in:
Legal interviews and hearings
Police or RCMP interactions
Medical or social service assessments
Other official situations
Our Process
1. Assessment
We assess how a person understands and communicates to decide how we can help. We build a communication profile for others to understand how to best communicate with this individual
2. Preparation
​Before the interview or hearing, we meet with the person and their legal team to plan what supports are needed.
3. Court Communication Assistance
During the legal process, we stay by their side. We support them in understanding what's said and help them share their thoughts clearly.
4. Reporting
We provide clear reports for lawyers, judges, and other professionals explaining the person’s communication needs and the best ways to support them.