Mark your calendars for London Speech and Language Centre’s open house celebrations! See our new offices, and share in some fun and entertainment!

It’s been a hectic three months since our relocation. For those of you who haven’t seen our big blue sign, we are at 1589 Fanshawe Park Road (just east of Highbury). Extensive interior renovations are complete, and we are in the midst of painting and landscaping. Also putting finishing touches to our Grand Re-Opening plans. You will receive a formal invitation in the mail soon.

The after-hours event will include a ribbon cutting, short presentations from well wishers (local politicians and business associates), food and refreshments, and musical entertainment from The Barbershop Singers of Ontario. Hope to see you on June 26^th!

This newsletter outlines special events planned for May (Speech and Hearing Month) and the summer. I have also answered some of your questions (Ask the Expert). Hope this publication keeps us connected and provides you with some useful information.

Our ability to communicate represents the most crucial of all human survival skills. Most of us take our speech and language skills for granted, because they develop without effort or even consciousness.

It is important to realize, that communication disorders are the largest handicapping condition in society, affecting about ten percent of the population. That’s over 30,000 Londoners! Communicating is a daily struggle for these individuals. Their difficulties can impede academic achievement, personal and social adjustment, and eventually, their ability to get or keep a job.

Speech and Hearing Awareness Month is a time to acknowledge the impact of speech and language impairments, and the critical importance of early identification and treatment.

London Speech is pleased to offer FREE Speech and Language Screening Clinics for children this month. These short (10-15 minute) screening assessments are designed to determine the need for a more thorough speech and language assessment. We will assess whether or not your child is at risk for a communication problem. If he or she is, we will help you to determine follow-up. If in doubt, check it out! The screening clinics are free and it could help you to open doors for your child! To book an appointment, please call the office

Summer break is only a couple of months away, and a great time to boost your child’s academic skills and sense of accomplishment. London Speech can help you turn lazy summer days into important opportunities for academic enrichment.

Our certified teachers specialize in working with children with special learning needs. They work alongside our speech and language therapists, and have access to the latest in research and clinical practice to draw upon. All of our programs are individually designed.

For more information, contact Cindy Finlan, Educational Consultant, at the office.

A warm welcome to our two new teachers, Bonilyn Hill and Jessica Van de Vreede.

Want to learn more about speech, language and literacy development in children? Are you aware of red flags for delayed development? What is your role in helping a child with slow communication development?

Let’s Talk Communication, The importance of Speech, Language and Literacy skills in Today’s Information Age, is a workshop designed to promote early identification and treatment of communication delays in children. Designed for parents, educators and care-givers, participants will come away with many practical tips on how to help kids who struggle with communication to become more capable and confident. The program is interactive and jam- packed with ready to use strategies for home and school.

Come and learn more about how kids develop all- important communication skills, and how you can facilitate this important process. Please call the office to pre-register.

When: Wednesday May 30/01

Where: Masonville Library, 30 North Centre Road, London

Time: 6:30-9:00 pm

Presenters: Melissa McDonald, CDA, London Speech and Language Centre

Jodi Adams, CDA, London Speech and Language Centre

Cost: $20.00 (includes handout)

Some of our best childhood memories involve summer camp. Games, songs and hanging out with friends are what summer is all about! Camp is also a great place to develop new skills.

While rock climbing and log rolling are fun to learn, what could be more important than learning how to communicate more effectively? Talk About Fun Speech Camp gives kids an opportunity to do that each summer too!

London Speech is now accepting registrations for our fifth annual Talk about Fun Speech Camp. This day camp, located at Weldon Park Academy in London, is offered to children aged 3 through 10 years of age with communication difficulties of all kinds.

Campers receive a speech and language evaluation prior to camp. An individualized therapy program forms the basis for camp activities. Each child receives daily therapy and progress reports at camp. All camp activities are cleverly disguised as fun, but actually have a communication development purpose (psst: don’t tell the kids!). There are half day and full day programs to choose from.

To get flyers or register a child, please call Bonnie at the office.

This workshop is being re-offered due to popular demand. Subtitled "Understanding the Puzzle of Learning Disabilities and how to help the Exceptional Student Succeed", Cindy Finlan, Educational Consultant with London Speech and Language Centre, provides an overview of the special education services, and how parents and teachers can become more effective advocates.

Learning disabilities can be as diverse as children themselves. Parents may not understand their child’s learning needs, support options, or the role of teachers and schools in helping their child. With educational reform, it is more important than ever, that parents become informed and effective advocates.

The "Square Pegs" workshop helps provide parents, educators and caregivers with the essentials on navigating the educational high seas for a child with a learning disability. Talk to other parents and educators, and share your concerns and questions at this interactive session. Pre-register by calling the office.

When: Wednesday May 16/ 01

Where: Masonville Library, 30 North Centre Road, London

Time: 6:30-9:00 PM

Presenter: Cindy Finlan, Educational Consultant,

Cost: $20.00 (includes handout)

A Speech-Language Pathologist must have a postgraduate degree in the field from a recognized university, and maintain registration with a regulatory college in order to practice in Ontario (i.e. CASLPO). Clinicians are well trained in all aspects of human communication development and disorders. They are responsible for the prevention, identification and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders, and often work collaboratively with other rehabilitation and education professionals.

Early identification of communication problems is key to improving treatment results. An adult or a child should be referred to a speech-language pathologist if there are concerns in any of the following areas:

Services are available in public institutions (i.e. hospitals, schools, treatment centres) and in private practice. For more information, please feel free to contact the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (416-920-3676).