At the heart of Resources at Lakeshore Speech, LLC are two dedicated AAC communication advocates and ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologists: VernaAnn Kotansky and Ellen Spear. With a combined six plus decades of clinical practice, our founders didn’t just start a business; they launched a movement to ensure that every public space—from the local playground to the community pool—speaks the language of inclusion.
Explore three common concerns related to the use of emotional balance communication boards: frustration with limited understanding from individuals working with the child, the desire for easier, more intuitive boards, and the worry that your child won’t use the board effectively.
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The after-school hours are a crucial time for reinforcing what your child has learned in school, but they’re also an opportunity for growth in other areas. We’ll share some practical tips to help you and your child navigate these busy hours.
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Communication boards are essential tools in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) used to support individuals with speech and language differences. For those unfamiliar with AAC, creating sentences using core words on a communication board might seem daunting.
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July marks Parks and Recreation Month, a time to celebrate the vibrant public spaces. We turn our focus on Lowell, Massachusetts, where an innovative approach to inclusivity has made a significant positive impact on the community.
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Playground communication boards have emerged as a powerful solution to bridge the gap and facilitate meaningful relationships, especially for individuals with communication challenges.
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In the realm of ADA compliance for playgrounds, it’s crucial to prioritize communication boards alongside physical accessibility. While physical access is essential, integrating communication boards significantly enhances playground inclusivity for individuals with disabilities.
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Giving everyone a voice to express their love on Valentine’s Day does not have to be hard.
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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!
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.
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.
“What’s your resolution this year?” The most frequently asked question from January 1st – 10th of any year. After about 10 days of asking we are all pretty certain that either a. all resolutions have been broken or b. there were none to begin with. For 2018 we might consider to resolve ourselves versus struggle to meet unrealistic resolutions. Resolve ourselves to find the good in all actions and words. Resolve ourselves to be present…present to our children, our partner, our friends, our corner of the world. Resolve ourselves to laugh more, to smile more, to find the joy, to communicate!
So how does this remotely relate to speech-language therapy? Good question! Communication is not just made up of one mode of expression – talking. Rather communication is any way we get our message understood – talking, facial gestures, hand gestures, sign-language, AAC devices, etc. ; being understood is what communication is all about. Speech-language therapy is a means by which we learn how to communicate in a mode that is most effective and efficient. Speech-language therapy does not happen in a bubble and a Speech-Language Therapist (SLP) cannot make effective change in communication without the support and team-work of a child’s entire TEAM . Speech-language therapy is most effective when the entire TEAM is on the same page working towards the same end. The resolve of the entire TEAM has to be finding, practicing and expecting a child to communicate in the most effective and efficient mode. As the main members of the TEAM, parents/caregivers need to communicate with the SLP. Your SLP wants to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly….what worked, what didn’t work. Your SLP should be able to clearly explain how to best manage and create an environment for successful communication in a manner that works for the ENTIRE TEAM. The time spent communicating with your SLP is equally as important as the time she/he spends working with your child. By resolving ourselves to communicate more effectively, our children not only learn by our example but those around us will as well.
Hats off to the start of amazing things in 2018!
Yours in Speech,
Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC
