WORKSHOPS and RESOURCES:

Please contact Judy Meintzer at judy.meintzer@gmail.com if you have suggested topics for workshops or resources. Consultation sessions can be arranged on request with service partners and other agencies on request.

Working Bee: Building on visual strengths - TBD

GROUP SERVICES:

Speech, language and literacy skills are often learned best during fun, engaging functional activities with peers. Family members understand and use new strategies to support these skills throughout the day when they have the opportunity to observe and practice them together.

NOTE:  No refunds are offered for missed group sessions. If a group program is cancelled due to low registration, participants will be notified immediately after the registration deadline and their monies refunded.  If unforeseen circumstances (therapist illness; weather warnings) result in your therapist cancelling a group class, participants will be offered a make-up class. 

Monday morning drop-in playgroups

A member of the SLP team will attend one playgroup session most months to:

• Meet new families
• Complete speech intakes
• Model strategies that support speech, language and communication development
• Facilitate circle time songs and stories
• Address parent questions or concerns

Dates:  January 14, February 25 and April 8 from 10-11 am (no charge)

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 - 60 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 6 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 - 60 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 6 group learning sessions (including orientation) that include video clips, power point, and parent activities.  These 6 group learning sessions are for adults only.  The 3 one-on-one sessions with Patricia are for a child and his/her parents.  These 3 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 $230.00 (non-member price $950), which includes $60.00 for the “It Takes Two to Talk” book that you will keep as a valuable resource.

Register for Hanen: "Adapted It Takes Two to Talk"

NEW: Fun with Music and Language for 0 – 24 month olds

Most babies and toddlers with Down syndrome love music. They enjoy the rhythm, actions, sounds and words of speech in songs and fingerplays – watching, listening, cuddling, rocking, moving and making sounds. Parents will learn new songs to share at home to build early speech, language and literacy skills.

This program is intended for babies and will be facilitated by Sharla Quantz, MYCC, SLPA and Marnie Paul, R.SLP

Children must attend with a parent or caregiver. 4-6 families can be accommodated in this group.

Dates: Friday, Jan 18, 25; Feb 1, 8, 15, 23 from 9:30 – 10:30

Cost: $65/ member ($230 non-subsidized)

Register for Fun with Music and Language

Early preschool speech playgroup for 2 to 3 ½ year olds

This popular 6-week program is available for toddlers (2 to 3 1/2 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. For families who have attended a Hanen session, this is a great opportunity to practice some of the strategies learned. Sessions include free play, songs, stories, games, snack time and centre activities. 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.)

This program will be planned and facilitated collaboratively by Michele Bennett, SLP Assistant and Marnie Paul, SLP. Participants will complete checklists before and after the group. In-person or phone SLP consultation sessions will be arranged to determine and support individual goals for all families.

Children must attend with a parent or other caregiver. Other family members are also welcome. 4-6 families can be accommodated in this class.  

Dates: Friday, Jan 18, 25, Feb 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 9:30 to 11 am

Cost: $90/ EDSS member ($340 non-subsidized), including one consultation session.

The SLP team may need to arrange a full speech assessment prior to this group at an additional cost of $30).

Register for Early preschool speech playgroup

Fun with Music and Language for 0 to 3 year olds

Babies and toddlers with Down syndrome enjoy the rhythm, sounds and words of speech in songs – paying attention, taking turns, playing with sounds and copying actions, sounds and words. Parents will learn new songs to share at home to build early speech, language and literacy skills.

This program will be facilitated by Sharla Quantz, MYCC, SLPA and Judy Meintzer, R.SLP

Children must attend with a parent or caregiver. 4-6 families can be accommodated in this group.

Dates: Saturday, January 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, 9 and 23 (no session on the Family Day weekend) from 3 to 3:50 pm

Cost: $65.00/ member ($260 non-subsidized)

Register for Fun with Music and Language

Sunrise Preschool Music (and Language) Part 1 for 3 – 6 year olds

Children with Down syndrome learn important speech, language and literacy skills through music. This adapted Music for Young Children (MYC®) Sunrise program is an excellent introduction to the language of music. Important music concepts are taught through songs, games, crafts and puppets. Your child will learn the difference between loud and soft sounds, fast and slow rhythms. You will come away with songs to sing in the car, at home and on the playground!  Class registration includes a CD, finger puppet, rhythm sticks and workbook.

This program will be facilitated by Sharla Quantz, MYCC, SLPA and Judy Meintzer, R.SLP. Children must attend with a parent or caregiver. 4-6 families can be accommodated in this group.

Dates: Saturday, January 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, 9 and 23 (no session on the Family Day weekend) from 4 to 4:50 pm

Cost: $65.00/ member ($260 non-subsidized) plus materials. ($50 will be collected at first session for all families attending the Sunrise Program for the first time.)

Register for Sunrise Preschool Music (and Language)

We are in the process of evaluating our groups for older children and adults and hope to begin additional programs later in the year. Stay tuned for details.

INDIVIDUAL SERVICES (all ages)

The EDSS offers a limited number of subsidized sessions per month for members (unless reimbursed for these services through FSCD funding):

• Maximum of 1 individual therapy session (assessment or intervention) per month if attending another subsidized therapy group program during the month
• Maximum of 2 therapy sessions (assessment or intervention) for one discipline (e.g., SLP, OT, PT)
• Maximum of 3 therapy sessions total from all disciplines (e.g., 2 SLP and 1 OT).
• twice monthly 50-minute individual speech services at a subsidized rate for members. Daytime, early evening and weekend 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); literacy; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); and use of language (e.g. social scripts and rules).

Contact FSL Julie for speech services

NOTE: Late cancellation charges for individual services are assessed at 50% of the non-subsidized rate; No call/ no show charges are 100% of the non-subsidized rate.  These charges are not billable to FSCD nor to any insurance company.  Refer to EDSS cancelation policy for full details.

Judy Meintzer, R.SLP, SLP(C), will be coordinating this program. The speech team is listed in the attached document.  All SLPs are registered in the province of Alberta. Some services are provided by qualified SLP Assistants with direct and indirect SLP supervision.

• Intake, assessment and consultation services are provided by one of the team SLPs
• Intervention is provided by one of the team SLPs and/or SLP-Assistants at the EDSS site. Some services can be provided via phone or video (e.g., Facetime, Skype)

For optimal intervention results the family is expected to:

• Complete a short case history form including desired goal areas for intervention
• Complete speech/ language skills checklists
• Arrange an intake or assessment (if no recent services from EDSS)
• Attend sessions regularly
• Ensure that home practice is completed with a family member or friend who attends the sessions.
• Ensure that goals and practice suggestions have been clarified and agreed upon with the speech team.
• Encourage collaboration with other service providers (e.g. school) to ensure that goals are aligned.

Cost: Dependent on type of service:

New referral /Intake – phone contact by SLP $80.00/ non-member; No charge/member

Consultation – face to face or telephone 1/2 hr $65/non-member; $15/member

Initial SLP assessment (1 1/2hr) - $195 non-member fee; $30/member

Individual therapy by SLP - $130/hr non-member; $25/hr member

   *All SLP Assistant services are provided with indirect and direct supervision of a team SLP.

 Video feedback sessions

Individual video feedback consultation sessions are available to provide parents of infants and preschoolers with feedback on their use of identified interaction/ communication strategies with their child.

Parents must electronically submit a video of the interaction to the SLP 1-2 weeks prior to the consultation session.

Cost: $25/ EDSS member; $130/ non-member

Contact FSL Julie for speech services

Feeding and Swallowing Services

EDSS provides SLP services to support feeding skills for infants and children of all ages. 

Jo Anne Mahood, R.SLP, SLP(C) will be coordinating this program. She will contact families to complete an intake by phone or in-person. During this intake she will determine needs, provide resources and strategies and/or recommend appropriate referrals to other agencies.

Interested parents please contact the Family Support Liaison, Julie at the EDSS office and specify which days of the week you can attend and preferred time frame.