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London
Speech and Language Centre |
New Property Nestled Among the Trees :
London Speech will be moving to an eight acre lot at 1589 Fanshawe Park Road in a few months, once renovations are completed. The property is east of Highbury, across the road from North Park Chapel and five short minutes from Masonville Mall. Cedarbrook Golf Gardens and Nursery lease a portion of the lot, which is set among cedar trees, rolling hills and a pond stocked with goldfish! Just walking through the grounds inspires a feeling of wellness!
We will be doing significant renovations to convert a house into offices. A golf clubhouse will also be gutted and rebuilt to accommodate academic and group therapy programs for children. The new space will allow us to expand all of our programs. In the future, we will be able to house a multi-disciplinary team of health care professionals who can provide a complete array of integrated services for children and adults. We will keep you posted on all of these exciting new developments! Many thanks to Sarah Oliver from Oliver and Associates Realty for putting up with me for a whole year!
Reach For The Top: Helping Children With Learning Challenges. Strategies for Parents
Education is a hot political topic these days. Major reforms have created unprecedented challenges for children with special needs, creating worry and confusion for both parents and teachers. Informed, effective advocacy is more important than ever. Cindy Finlan, London Speech and Language Centre's Educational Consultant, is offering a timely workshop entitled "Reach For The Top: Helping Children With Learning Challenges. Strategies For Parents", on Tuesday, January 23/01. Parents, teachers, caregivers and professionals interested in maximizing academic support services for school aged children will be interested in this interactive session. Seating capacity is limited, so register early!
Autism Awareness Month
October is Autism Awareness Month. Autism is the third most common developmental disability affecting 15 in 10,000 live births; however it is not well understood by the general public. All individuals with autism, by nature of their diagnosis, have a communication disorder that is central to their disability. The social and communication difficulties that characterize this disorder can have a devastating impact upon almost every aspect of a person's day-to-day life. Communication therapy should be considered an integral part of any effective intervention program and begin at the earliest possible time.
London Speech is offering FREE workshops entitled "The Autism Link: Communication Issues and Strategies. Helping individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders Connect with the World Around Them". Sessions are currently being offered on January 11/01 at Chapters Bookstore in north London. Call the office for more information
International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 22 was International Stuttering Awareness Day. Some quick facts about stuttering: 1% of the population, or 300,000 Canadians stutter. Four males are affected for every female. Stuttering frequently surfaces between the ages of 2 and 4 when children are acquiring language at a rapid rate, and is rare until a child is speaking in short sentences. Most stutterers will have started to stutter by their fifth birthday. Onset past age 12 is very unusual unless resulting from an accident. A child whose mother or father had a history of stuttering, is 3-5 times more likely to stutter than a child without a family history. The cause(s) of stuttering are currently unknown, although there is a general consensus that chronic stutterers have a physiological propensity for speech coordination difficulties that can be managed effectively but not "cured" with therapy. Without help, stutterers can develop speech avoidance and fear reactions that make the disorder more intractable and hard to treat.
Ask the Expert: What are Language Disorders?
Language is a code. It allows us to understand the ideas of others and to express our own ideas. We use spoken and written words, sentences and nonverbal messages to communicate. There are rules associated with this code, that most children acquire without any explicit instruction. They learn simply by being exposed to meaningful language in their environment. This is not the case for all children. About 10% will have language based learning disabilities (LLD) that can affect any number of specific areas of oral or written language ability. LLDs constitute the largest handicapping condition in schools, and accounts for the vast majority of learning disabilities. Speech-language pathologists have an important role in assessing and treating these LLDs and thereby preventing academic frustration and failure.
Meet our Staff
Welcome to two new staff members: Jodi Adams, Communicative Disorders Assistant and Kathryn Lamb, Marketing Coordinator. Jodi interned at London Speech before graduating from Georgian College with a postgraduate diploma in the field. She now provides treatment services at our Saturday "Talk It Up" Program and in the Huron Perth Catholic Board. Her enthusiasm lights up the office. Kathryn is a co-op student on placement until at least Christmas. She was the inspiration behind our revised newsletter format. Looks great, Kathryn! Other core London Speech staff:
Our Mission
London Speech and Language Centre's mission is to maximize the social, emotional, educational and vocational advancement of individuals with communication disorders. Founded in 1987, our nationally recognized clinic is now the largest of its kind in southwestern Ontario. We offer speech-language pathology, academic testing and support, and brain injury rehabilitation services to individuals of all ages. We operate on a fee for service basis, with auto insurance, WSIB, First Nation Band Offices and employee benefits paying a portion of fees. We also offer funded programs for families that qualify.