Exclusive: A Christmas Social Story for All Ages

‘Twas days before Christmas

And all thru the place,

Anticipation was brewing

Behaviors a disgrace.

 

Young and old are excited

Let’s celebrate – oh Joy!

Use your expected social skills

For every girl and boy.

 

With gifts a plenty

Don’t forget the magic word,

For friends and family,

“Thank you” must be heard.

 

All the smells and sounds

For many is bliss,

Yet other lament

“I can do without this!”

 

Have a plan in place 

Creating comfort abound,

Makes for a season

Of happiness all ‘round.

 

Happy Holidays to all

The message to you each,

Tidings of joy to everyone

From Lakeshore Speech!

santa hat icon
How to Use and Model Social Skill Filters
symbol systems
playground safety
happy to create sentences
Happy Holidays icon

How to Prepare for Gift Giving & Receiving

Getting and giving gifts can be exciting but hard for some individuals. Preparing for this time of the year helps to make everyone’s celebration special.

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How to Fund Playground Communication Boards

Communication boards are important for people with communication differences. Communication boards give people a voice to build relationships. Getting a playground or pool communication board can be more difficult because of the cost. Today’s blog will look at the different ways to get funding for communication boards.

Grants and Foundations

Some groups give money to projects that help people with disabilities. Look for grants from groups that help provide communication devices for people. Apply for these grants to get money for communication boards.

Corporate Sponsorship

Ask local businesses for help. Some companies like to support projects in their community. Make a plan that shows how playground communication boards can make a big difference. This might get businesses to give money to your project.

Crowdfunding Campaigns

Use websites like Kickstarter or GoFundMe to ask for small amounts of money from many people. Share stories about why playground/pool communication boards are important. Your friends and others might give money to help out.

Community Events and Fundraisers

Do things in your town to get people excited about helping. Maybe have a walk or a fun run to get money. Work with local schools and businesses to make events that bring in money for playground communication boards.

Government Grants and Programs

Sometimes, the government gives money for projects that help people with disabilities. Look into these grants and ask for help. Tell them how playground communication boards can make a positive change.

Partnerships with Educational Institutions

Work with schools and colleges that have programs for special education. They might help with resources and money. Partnering with them can make it easier to get playground communication boards.

Conclusion

Getting money for playground communication boards may require you to try different ways to find funding, but you can make it happen. By using these ideas, you can get the help to change the lives of many. As more people understand why playground/pool communication boards matter, it will be easier to get support and provide everyone a voice.

funding ideas for communication boards
funding ideas of communication boards

How to Celebrate Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Child Apraxia

What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is some degree of disrupted speech motor control.In other words,  a child diagnosed with CAS experiences  difficulty rapidly and accurately moving and sequencing  the tongue, lips and palate for the required movements for continuous and intelligible speech production.  While the data on incidents of CAS in children is lacking, the estimates of some sources indicate that CAS is low incidence with perhaps 1 – 10 in 1000 children affected or 3 – 5 % of speech-impaired preschoolers.

What does this look like at home, one the playground, in preschool?

A child with CAS may experience a limited number of vowel sounds, difficulty imitating mouth movements and/or words/sounds, or a variety of errors that may be unusual or idiosyncratic.  Children with CAS may or may not experience receptive language deficits.  Depending on the child, negative behaviors associated with not being understood may also be evident.

What does a parent do?  Where do you go?

An experienced Speech-Language Pathologist in the area of CAS can help navigate families and children through the CAS journey.  As a parent/caregiver, do not feel intimidated asking if your SLP has experience in the area of CAS.  The therapists at Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC. are happy to answer your questions about CAS as well as provide specific therapeutic interventions.

February is CAS awareness month.  If you would like more information, please feel free to ask your Speech-Language Pathologists as well as visit The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

How to Use Coupons to Build Communication

child in speech therapy playing with a toy with keys

Coupons can help create communication

Junk mail,  inserts in the Sunday papers….those shiny glossy teeny tiny piece of paper worth $.25, $.50, $1!!!!!  If you are savvy shopper your coupons are organized and ready to go with every shopping trip.  If you are not the organized savvy shopper, your coupons are a crumpled at the bottom of your purse or better yet in a pile on the kitchen counter, never to see the inside of a store.

Coupons are not just for saving a few pennies!  Coupons open the door for communication!  There are a number of easy – and fast – ways to not only create a mode of communication for your child, but to help she/he practice specific sounds, increase story telling, turn taking, and the list goes on!

How to Use Coupons to Create a Communication Board

Coupon Communication Board:  use coupons or the adds surrounding the coupons to make a simple communication board for your child.  Cut the object on coupon object out and tape or glue it in a grid form on a piece of paper.  The next time you are playing 20 questions trying to figure out what your child would like for a snack, a drink, breakfast, lunch or dinner simply pull out your “Coupon Communication Board” and have she/he point to the choice.

Expanding Communication

Coupons expand communication: not only can coupons create a wonder communication board, but those glossy adds make for wonderful ‘stories’ to talk about.  What do you see?  What is that?  Who is that? What are they doing?  Should a doggie be allowed to play with toilet paper?  Does candy really talk?  Touch something blue. Do you see anything that flies?  The number of questions to elicit and expand communication is endless!

No need to go crazy trying to find that ‘just right picture’, they’re right under your nose. Coupons are for communication!

 

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.