3 Great Places for Speech Therapy in Seattle

by Holly F. State Resources
child at the space needle

Source: familyholiday.fourseasons.com

As the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle boasts a host of resources for families looking for family activities, the outdoors, history and good food. It’s a great place to visit with kids, from Pike Place Market and Seattle Center to the Woodland Park Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium. But for families living there looking for great speech-therapy, Seattle offers even more options than you might think.  Three great clinics for speech therapy in Seattle can provide your child with services to address articulation, language, social pragmatics and more.  Continue reading →

GiGi’s Playhouse for Down Syndrome Support Opens in the Twin Cities

by Holly F. State Resources
Families at GiGis Playhouse Twin Cities

Source: Facebook.com/gigisplayhousetc

While some dreaded the cold days of February, many cheered with celebration as GiGi’s Playhouse Twin Cities officially opened its doors on February 9. For families affected by Down syndrome in the Twin Cities, GiGi’s Playhouse is a welcome network of support, play groups and educational opportunities for children, siblings, adults and the community. They provide therapeutic activities to encourage speech- language development, fine motor skills, gross motor, math and literacy.

 

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5 Great Spring Break Activities for Children with Special Needs

by Holly F. Other Resources
Kids running outdoors

Source: sheisdallas.com

Spring break can be a great opportunity to engage your child in new activities, even you aren’t traveling to a luxurious locale. It is also a great time to work on generalizing speech and language skills. In speech-therapy, it’s important to remember that getting away from the environment in which we were taught a skill is the best way to generalize and reinforce the lesson. Take advantage of spring break and consider the following activities for your child:

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California Camp Invites Kids With Special Needs to Zoo Fest

by Holly F. State Resources
Children and nature

Source: eco-smartparent.blogspot.com

Kids (and adults) with special needs in Cupertino California can get up close and personal with nature this weekend, March 5-8 with a three-day Zoo Fest from Via Services. For children in speech-therapy, a chance to get out into the community is the best way to generalize and learn new skills. With Via Services, trips like this one to the zoo provide stimulation for both the mind and body in the great outdoors, away from the distractions of Playstation, Youtube and iPads.

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Boston Airport Takes Fear out of Flying for Children with Autism

by Holly F. State Resources
Girl on an airplane

Source: sheknows.com

There aren’t many times in life when you get a dress rehearsal, especially for families of children with special needs. For children with Autism, in particular, practice and preparation for novel situations (places, people, environments, schedule changes) is a necessary part of life. Both in and outside of speech therapy, children with Autism regularly struggle with transitions, change in routine or surprising events; without proper preparation these children often have behavioral and communication breakdowns resulting in challenges for the whole family.  Recognizing the specific difficulty of flying, Boston’s Logan Airport in collaboration with the Charles River Center and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have taken a huge step towards helping children with Autism conquer the airport through their program, Wings for Autism.

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Maryland Makes Children with Special Needs a Priority at the Port Discovery Children’s Museum

by Holly F. State Resources
Children play at Port Discovery Museum

Source: idfnationalconference.org

For children with special needs, it can be important to take a break from scheduled speech therapy and constant structure. Children need opportunities to explore and shake their sillies out while engaging in new activities to simulate their mind, senses and physical movement. They also need opportunities to practice speech skills in new environments (and a highly motivating context can’t hurt). Fortunately for Baltimore Maryland families of special needs children, the Port Discovery Children’s Museum has it all. Across three different floors of educational, interactive and constantly changing programs for children birth – 10, this place makes it a point to engage children with special physical, fine motor or cognitive needs.

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A Special Place for Children with Autism in Chicago: Kaitlin’s Hideout

by Holly F. State Resources
Autism Statistics

Source: rachelchinapen.com

Outside the hustle and bustle of the Windy City you’ll find a special place for children with Autism. Here, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, they can take a quiet break, enjoy a computer game or engage their sensory system with lights and sounds. While it’s not a speech therapy center, Kaitlin’s Hideout provides what are sometimes the most essential elements for a child with special needs: high interest materials, comfortable space and sensory stimulation.

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New Hampshire Horsetalk Combines Speech Therapy with Horseback Riding

by Holly F. Speech Therapy Techniques State Resources
Amazing facts about horses

Source: Thefarrierguide.com

 

“Giddy up horsey” just got a whole new meaning for children with special needs in the Northeast (and no, its not riding on daddy’s back). At one special New Hampshire barn, speech therapy techniques are being combined with therapeutic horseback riding to create a new kind of therapy experience. At Horsetalk Therapeutic Services in Raymond New Hampshire, director Ms. Toby Freeman, a certified speech and language pathologist, has designed a program that provides Hippotherapy to children and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disorders. She began the treatment after having studied speech and language pathology and having a lifelong love of horses.

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Brooklyn Brings Families Together with Center for Special Needs Children

by Holly F. State Resources
Family at Extreme Kids and Crew

Source: Extreme Kids and Crew

A jump in the ball pit, enjoying the bubble tube and relaxing in the lava lounge? Yes, please! For busy families in Brooklyn looking for great spaces for special needs children, this is the place for you. Born out of parent’s needs to find great sensory-friendly spaces for their children, Extreme Kids and Crew invites you to be a part of their play space, community, workshops, and creative programming. While it is not directly a source for individual speech therapy, a variety of therapists consult and get involved with Extreme Kids and Crew regularly. This center is open and accessible to all families of children with disabilities regardless of income, background, nationality, disability, etc. Children with autism, down syndrome, physical handicaps or any other special needs are welcome!

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Calling Colorado Parents: Inclusive Education Conference Coming Your Way!

by Holly F. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Legal Issues News Other Resources School State Resources
Child learning in classroom

Source: schoolbook.org

Colorado parents and professionals, this one is for you! The PEAK Parent Center out of Colorado Springs is holding their annual conference on inclusive education February  7-8, 2013. The conference tagline, “Same fish, Different Sea” says it all about the mission: reforming classrooms and schools for children with speech therapy needs, behavioral needs, disabilities such as Autism, dyslexia, LD, ADHD and incorporating technology for ALL students.