SPEECH THERAPY
Looking for one-on-one speech therapy or group sessions?
Speech-language therapy is available for all ages.
Communication is often described as the key to success. Our Speech Language Pathologists (SLP’s) provide expertise with the particular challenges of Down syndrome including speaking more clearly, using longer phrases and sentences, and conversational skills.
Toddler Speech Program
These 8 weekly sessions are available for toddlers (18 months to 3 years) and their families. Parents will observe and practice strategies to encourage clearer communication through fun play activities and routines that can be used at home.
The Toddler Speech Group will be planned and facilitated collaboratively by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLP-Asst). Judy Meintzer, R.SLP, SLP(C), has practiced for many years in Edmonton. Her primary focus as an SLP has been with preschool children and their families. Michele Bennet has been an SLP Assistant for 15 years. She works with preschool children from birth to aged 5 and has also been providing coaching to childcare staff in Edmonton daycares for 8 years.
The speech group routine will include free play, songs, stories, games, snack time and centre activities led by the SLP Assistant. The SLP will provide in-person and phone consultation to answer questions and assist families in setting individual goals and keeping track of progress.
Depending on child needs, parents are asked to bring an empty cup and appropriate snack foods and/or drinks for their children. (Finger foods are preferred.)
Families will be asked to complete a short case history form including desired goal areas for intervention before sessions begin.
Children must attend with a parent or other caregiver.
Fridays, January 27th – March 17th, 2017
9:30 to 11:00 am
6-8 families can be accommodated in this class
Cost for 8 week session: $57.50/ EDSS member
$115.00/non-member
Register by contacting the EDSS office – 780-944-4224 or linda@edss.ca
6-8 families can be accommodated in this class
Cost for 8 week session: $57.50/ EDSS member
$115.00/non-member
Infants, Toddlers and Preschooler Speech Therapy Program
The EDSS is excited to be able to offer individual speech services for families with young children this fall. 30 or 60 minute in-person or phone consultation sessions can be arranged on a bi-weekly, monthly or as-needed basis with the Speech-Language Pathology team based on needs and availability. Video may be used if desired.
Judy Meintzer, R.SLP, SLP(C), will be coordinating this program. Judy has practiced for many years in Edmonton. In the past, she provided a variety of speech services to our EDSS families. Michele Bennett, SLP Assistant, who facilitated the EDSS toddler group in the spring.
Schedule:
In-person services will be arranged on Mondays or Fridays during the day.
Cost:
Dependent on type of service.
Interested parents please contact the EDSS office for details.
After School Speech Therapy Program
The EDSS is excited to be able to offer twice monthly individual speech services for school-aged students this fall. These 50 minute individual sessions will be arranged with the Speech-Language Pathology team based on needs and availability. Goal areas may include overall speech clarity; specific speech sounds; expressive language skills (vocabulary, grammar); language understanding (e.g. following instructions, concepts, reading comprehension); and use of language (e.g. social scripts and rules).
Judy Meintzer, R.SLP, SLP(C), will be coordinating this program. Judy has practiced for many years in Edmonton. In the past, she provided a variety of speech services to our EDSS families. Sidiqua Mavani has been an SLP Assistant for 15 years, currently providing services to school aged children. Saige Strangway, R.SLP has experience working with adult and school-aged clients in a variety of settings.
Schedule:
Families will be asked to complete a short case history form including desired goal areas for intervention before sessions begin.
Therapy time will be used most effectively if families:
- return completed form(s) before the first appointment
- plan for a parent (or someone else who can learn how to use fun activities to build skills at home) to come into the session without other children
Cost:
Dependent on type of service.
Interested parents please contact the EDSS office and specify which days of the week they can attend and their preferred time frame.
Register by contacting the EDSS office – 780-944-4224 or Linda@edss.ca
Hanen: “Adapted It Takes Two to Talk ®”
The EDSS is pleased to offer the intensive speech & language therapy program known as Hanen’s “Adapted It Takes Two to Talk®” to our members with children between the ages of 12-42 months. This trademarked and research-based program is used by Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP’s) world-wide. The program is a combination of group learning sessions for parents and one-on-one therapy sessions with children. We will be able to accommodate 7 families on a first come, first served basis.
Hanen:
This “Adapted It Takes Two to Talk®” is a program for parents of children 12 months - 42 months who have speech and language delays. This “Adapted” version is an approved course through the Hanen Centre, which condenses some of the materials as recommended by previous parents who have taken this course through the EDSS.
The program recognizes:
- The importance of involving parents in their child’s early language intervention
- The need to help children and families as early as possible in a child’s life
What Parents Learn:
- How to turn everyday activities into opportunities for their child to learn language
- How their child communicates and the next steps to take
- What motivates their child to communicate
- How to respond to their child in ways that improve language learning
- How to talk so that their child can understand them and learn new words and ideas
Parents learn this information in a series of 8 group learning sessions that include video clips, power point, and parent activities. These 6 group learning sessions are for adults only. The 2 one-on-one sessions with Patricia are for a child and his/her parents. These 2 one-on-one sessions are for assessment and treatment of each child’s communication skills and allow for the 6 group learning sessions to be individualized. Parents learn skills that are specific to helping their child, and then receive specific feedback from Patricia during the one-on-one sessions. Video clips are taken of each child so that you can “see” what is helping.
Group Leader:
Patricia LaBerge, R. SLP Speech-Language Pathologist
Cost:
The cost for EDSS families is $200.00. Which includes $60.00 for the “It Takes Two to Talk” book that you will keep as a valuable resource. In addition, your family will supply a cheque for $150.00 as a deposit. This deposit will be returned to you if you participate in at least 90% of the Hanen sessions from April – June 2017. The remainder of the cost is subsidised by EDSS. The non-member cost for this program would be $1500.00.
Program Dates, Time & Location:
The initial group orientation session is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 3rd, at 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Following classes to be held on April 20th, May 1st, May 18th, May 23rd, May 29th, and June 19th, 2017, 6:30 – 9:00 on. Individual consults will be scheduled by Patricia during class, April 7th or 10th, May 8th or May 15th, June 5th or 12th.
Location: All program sessions will be held at the EDSS Centre, 9139 39 Ave.
How to Reserve Your Space:
Spaces are ‘first come, first served’. To reserve one of the 7 spots in the program please email: Linda@edss.ca
From the ASAPP Website:
Many group insurance plans cover at least a portion of the cost of private services which are usually listed under “Speech Therapy”. Insurance companies may require proof that a Speech-Language Pathologist is registered with ACSLPA. Your Speech-Language Pathologist can provide your insurance company with a copy of their current practice permit. This registration indicates that an individual has met the standards required for the clinical practice of Speech-Language Pathology in the Province of Alberta.
Currently, Alberta Health Care does NOT provide coverage for private speech-language pathology services.
In some circumstances, fees have been covered for individuals receiving assistance through government funding (e.g. Program Unit Funding – PUF, Human Resources and Child Welfare, Services to Children).
Canada Revenue Agency considers fees paid to a private Speech-Language Pathologist to be a tax-deductible medical expense.