In today's blog post, we're excited to share an insightful article from Pacific Medical Training on the critical topic of communication disorders and their impact on individuals' lives. From developmental delays to acquired conditions, communication disorders encompass a wide spectrum of challenges that can significantly affect one's ability to interact, learn, and thrive. Join us as we explore …
communication disorders
Kassidy’s Story
October is Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month. For so many people, physical speech may be difficult or impossible. Kassidy's story is a perfect example of how an AAC device can change a life! The Orange Effect Foundation has awarded speech device grants to kids like Kassidy. If you know someone in need of a grant, please encourage them to apply. This article is …
I Stutter. But This Is What You’re Not Hearing.
We believe that speech is empowering. To this end, the Orange Effect Foundation has awarded technology grants that help children with a stutter increase their ability to communicate confidently and effectively. However, in an amazing opinion article by James Robinson featured recently in The New York Times, stuttering is viewed from an entirely new perspective. Please take a moment to watch …
Orange Effect Board Member Spotlight: Monica Gordon Pershey, Ed.D., CCC-SLP
Today's spotlight is on Orange Effect Foundation Board Member Monica Gordon Pershey, Ed.D., CCC-SLP. What do you do for your day job? I’m a professor at Cleveland State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I teach courses that prepare future speech-language pathologists, and I conduct research and write professional articles and books, mostly about children’s language and …
How Digital Platforms Have Made Speech Therapy More Accessible
Many American children suffer from a range of speech disorders, such as stuttering, dysarthria, and apraxia. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, by the first grade, around 5% of children exhibit speech disorders. They can stem from multiple causes, like hearing disorders, developmental disabilities, or voice problems. Fortunately, speech …
The Story of The Orange Effect Foundation
This post originally published on The Orange Effect Foundation blog on January 26, 2016. Due to its popularity, we are reposting it here for you. The Orange Effect Foundation (OEF) officially launched last spring, but its story began more than a decade ago, when Joe and Pam’s first-born son, Joshua, was diagnosed with autism. In those days, Pam was a stay-at-home mom with a healthy baby …
It’s Not a Coin Flip
Earlier in 2020, I assisted in planning, as well as participated in the 1st Annual Orange Effect Foundation one-day 100-Holes of Golf marathon fundraiser. In the build-up to the marathon, OEF Co-Chairman Joe Pulizzi and I were interviewed by Northeast Ohio Sportscaster Tony Zarrella about the event, the foundation, and what we were hoping to accomplish. One question sort of stumped me, and it …
Orange Effect Foundation’s Things We Are Thankful For in 2020
There are many people to thank for the success we have here at OEF. I think it is best to just show you by the numbers. 10 Board Members - Each bringing a valuable set of strengths to the whole. They are the champions of the cause. 1 Program Director - There’s always the person behind the scenes who doesn’t get near enough credit. Sometimes they don’t even give themself enough …
The Challenges of Remote Learning for Children Who Stutter
Virtual learning presents a host of problems for educators and students alike. However, these challenges are compounded for children with communication disorders such as a stutter. The New York Times recently addressed this topic and offered some useful suggestions for everyone in the online classroom. For example, experts suggest waiting seven seconds after asking a question to give children time …
My Top 5 Speech and Development Toys for Toddlers
The holiday season is quickly approaching and if you’re like me you may be doing your shopping online this year. That could be due to the pandemic, or time restraints that come with working and parenting, or simply because it is easier. That said, I am also a huge proponent of shopping local. So while the links below are to Amazon, please consider seeing if your local community toy store has …
How to Write Excellent Speech Therapy Goals
The goals of speech therapy are what drives the child's progress and determine the course of therapy. With this being said, it is quite clear that writing great speech therapy goals matters more than people think. The goals are important for each participant in the therapy as you all get a chance to measure the success and exude motivation when the set objectives are achieved. But what if …
Freeing Joey Summers
Joey Summers, the recent winner of a prestigious award for exemplary Ohio special education students, enjoys using his augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to tell jokes and charm his teacher and therapy team. But communication hasn’t always come easy for this bright young man. It took a caring professional team, parental support, and the right AAC device to open up his …