Great Speech Therapy in Chicago

by Holly F. State Resources
child at Chicago Willis tower

Source: home-designing.com

Chicago, best known as the Windy City boasts great speech therapy resources alongside it’s wonderful cityscape. Just outside the magnificent mile, Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park Zoo and Willis Tower you’ll find a wealth of family-friendly professionals in speech therapy in Chicago offering that and other specialties.  You may have already heard about Kaitlin’s Hideout, a special place for children with autism, but here are the ones you should pay attention to in your search for a clinic:

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2013 North Carolina Speech Hearing and Language Association Conference

by Holly F. State Resources
North Carolina state stats

Source: ncheadlines.com

Historical hotspots, good food and great temperatures typically draw crowds to Raleigh, N.C., but next week those attractions take a backseat for local speech language professionals who will come to town for the annual North Carolina Speech Hearing and Language Association conference. If you haven’t already registered, its not too late to join the event on April 24-26, 2013. Speech and Language Pathologists from across the state of North Carolina and speakers from across the country will gather to share and learn new clinical skills while networking with professionals across all areas of the field. While online registration is closed, attendees can still register onsite at the North Raleigh Hilton Midtown. On the fence about attending? Here are the reasons you should go:

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Social Thinking Conference Coming to Kansas City April 18-19

by Holly F. Speech Therapy Techniques State Resources
Michelle Garcia Winner speaks

Source: socialthinking.com

If you haven’t heard the term, “thinking with your eyes” you haven’t yet spent the day (or two) with Michelle Garcia Winner.  Michelle is a speech pathologist and creator of the “Social Thinking” curriculum for students with Social Thinking challenges including those with ADHD, high functioning autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADHD, PDD and nonverbal learning disorder (NLD).  Speech therapists and parents in the midwest will get a chance to experience and learn Michelle’s curriculum during a two-day core conference covering her two most popular workshops on April 18-19, 2013 at the Ritz-Charles in Kansas City.

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Great Speech Therapy in Texas

by Holly F. State Resources

 

cascade effects of a strong start for Texas children

Source: txchildren.org

If yesterday’s post on the Council for Exceptional Children Conference made you want pack your bags and to head towards San Antonio, you might consider staying a bit longer to check out some great speech therapy options across the state of Texas.    Texas is the second most populous and the second-largest of the 50 states, so it only follows that Texas is filled with a plethora of therapy services – and children who could benefit from them. It is also home to the #10 graduate program for speech-language pathology in the country, the University of Texas at Austin. Because the state serves such diverse populations, students at this university can obtain a unique education with a certificate in bilingual speech-language pathology. With a great need for speech therapists and educators across the state, students in Texas shouldn’t have to stress or worry about difficulty paying student-loan debt. The opportunities in careers in rehabilitation services are limitless in early education, schools and private practice. Check out the great speech therapy in Texas and professional resources.

 

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Council for Exceptional Children Conference on Education Comes to San Antonio

by Holly F. State Resources

 

education infographic

Source: infographicshowcase.com

Children with communication challenges, be it articulation, hearing loss, expression or understanding rely on a community of support when it comes to their education. A speech pathologist or a classroom teacher cannot do it alone. That’s why the Council for Exceptional Children is bringing parents, educators and professionals together. On April 3-6 you can join the largest professional development event dedicated to special and gifted education in San Antonio, Texas. At the Council for Exceptional Children Convention and Expo, attendees can network, learn and engage in workshops and dialogues surrounding hot-topics in education, get involved in pre-conference workshops, browse the expo hall and find great job opportunities.

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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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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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