Speech Therapy in Senegal

What does speech-language therapy look like in Senegal, and what happens when families struggle to access services?

In February 2023, I had the pleasure of interviewing Amy Niang, a parent, educator, and disability advocate in Senegal. Her passion for inclusive education began with her own daughter, who has cerebral palsy.

We discussed access to therapy, professional training, challenges families face, and Amy’s efforts to create more opportunities for children with disabilities.

Watch my full interview with Amy Niang on Instagram.

Interview conducted February 21, 2023. Professional resources updated October 2026.

A Parent’s Mission for Inclusive Education

Amy’s advocacy began with her daughter. While living in the United States, she learned about speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and educational services available to children with disabilities.

When she returned to Senegal, she discovered that many families faced very different circumstances. Some parents had limited information about developmental disabilities, while others struggled to find schools or appropriate therapy services.

Amy shared how cultural beliefs, disability-related stigma, and limited resources sometimes prevented children from receiving the support they needed. Determined to make a difference, she became involved in advocacy efforts, including a 2015 inclusive education campaign with Senegal’s Ministry of Education.

She also opened a school named after her daughter, drawing on her experience working in Montessori education. Her daughter has been involved in the school’s work, too! What stood out to me was Amy’s determination to use her experiences as a parent to help other children and families.

Access to Speech-Language Therapy Services

One of the biggest challenges Amy described was access to speech-language therapy. During our 2023 interview, she explained that there were very few speech-language therapists (orthophonistes) in Senegal, particularly outside Dakar, the capital city.

Families faced several barriers, including the cost of private therapy, transportation expenses, limited public awareness, and a shortage of trained professionals.

Amy also discussed challenges within the educational system. Large classrooms, limited teacher training, and a lack of specialized services made inclusive education difficult for some children. Despite these challenges, she has worked to create more opportunities for families.

In January 2020, Amy helped organize a free speech-language screening event that she reported attracted 379 people from across Senegal! She had hoped to continue offering screenings regularly, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans.

It’s an example of how community education, professional collaboration, and accessible services can make a difference.

These observations reflect Amy’s experiences in 2023 rather than current nationwide workforce or service-access statistics.

Becoming a Speech-Language Therapist in Senegal

In Senegal, speech-language therapists are commonly called orthophonistes, reflecting the country’s French-speaking educational and professional system.

When we spoke in 2023, Amy explained that opportunities for professional training were limited. Although a private institution offered speech-language therapy education, she described challenges with staffing, access to instructors, and student recruitment.

Fortunately, there have been some encouraging developments!

The École Dentaire Internationale (EDI) in Dakar offers training in orthophonie. Its undergraduate program received national accreditation in September 2025.

The Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD) also announced applications for an undergraduate orthophonie program for the 2026–2027 academic year.

These developments are promising steps toward expanding local training opportunities and strengthening the profession.

Language and Cultural Considerations

Senegal is a multilingual country. French is the official language, while Wolof is widely spoken alongside Pulaar, Serer, Jola, Mandinka, and other languages.

For SLPs, this creates important considerations when assessing and treating communication disorders. A child may speak Wolof at home, learn French at school, and use additional languages in the community. Understanding that linguistic background is essential when distinguishing a language difference from a communication disorder.

Assessment materials developed for English- or French-speaking populations may not accurately represent a child’s abilities in their home language. These considerations are important wherever we practice. As SLPs, we need to understand our clients’ linguistic backgrounds, cultural experiences, and everyday communication environments.

Opportunities for International Collaboration

Amy has long been interested in connecting with international SLPs, educators, and graduate students to support children and families in Senegal.

During our interview, she shared several ideas, including professional training for local educators, remote learning opportunities, free screening events, and collaborative student experiences.

French-speaking professionals could be especially helpful with training and educational materials, although Amy was also open to collaborating with English-speaking volunteers and translators.

I love the idea of creating opportunities for professional learning across countries. However, it’s important that international partnerships reflect local priorities, professional qualifications, and sustainable collaboration rather than short-term volunteer experiences alone.

These were Amy’s goals in 2023, so interested professionals should confirm which opportunities are currently available.

For more on responsible international experiences, read my article on Ethical SLP Study Abroad.

Najee Global Foundation: Continuing the Mission

Since our interview, Amy has launched the Najee Global Foundation, an initiative dedicated to education, inclusion, health awareness, and family empowerment.

Its mission is to educate, empower, heal, and give hope, with advocacy efforts that include inclusive education, early intervention, autism and cerebral palsy awareness, mental health, women’s health, and family support.

It’s encouraging to see Amy continuing to expand the work that began with her own family’s experiences.

You can learn more about the foundation through Amy’s launch announcement.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed my conversation with Amy. Her story is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with someone recognizing a need and deciding to do something about it.

From advocating for inclusive education to organizing free screenings and creating opportunities for families, Amy has worked to improve access and inclusion for children with disabilities.

It’s also encouraging to see speech-language therapy training opportunities developing in Senegal.

If you’re interested in learning more about speech-language pathology around the world, check out my interview about speech-language pathology in Ghana.

Are you an SLP practicing outside the United States? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Share a comment below or connect with me on Instagram @GlobalSpeechie.