Languages across the world have unique phonemic systems. For individuals learning English as a second language, it is common for the phonemic system of their first language to influence the production of sounds in English. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has excellent resources for working with speech language clients for whom English is not their first language. ASHA …
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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 …
Orange Effect Foundation Grants Thirty Thousand Dollars for Speech Therapy
CLEVELAND - Sept. 23, 2020 - PRLog -- The Orange Effect Foundation is proud to announce that in September, the board of directors awarded $30,000 to needy children to fund speech therapy and speech devices. In the United States, one in nine children needs speech therapy. Unfortunately, many go without because their families simply cannot afford to pay. As board member …
Silence For Speech
Can You Go 24 Hours Without Talking? Here at the Orange Effect Foundation we know that some people go their whole lives without being able to verbally communicate. Our mission is to provide early intervention for children who have speech issues and help them communicate. One in nine children need some form or speech therapy. Often families cannot afford it, and insurance coverage is …
Navigating Our New Normal
I had (socially distanced) coffee with a mom last month who reached out because she couldn’t decide if in person or remote learning would be best for her autistic daughter. As we got to talking she mentioned that they had to stop speech therapy because of the pandemic. I was surprised her SLP (Speech Language Pathologist) hadn’t offered online sessions. The mom admitted that she didn’t really …
The Story of Adam (A “Typical” Kid)
It makes sense why I talk about Joshua all the time here on the Orange Effect Foundation blog. After all, he is the reason the foundation even exists. If you need some quick background, check out this post. Rarely however do I talk about Adam. That’s a shame because he played such an integral role in Joshua’s success. Additionally, he’s a really cool kid. Joshua is older than Adam by …
What to Know About Stuttering
After 13-year-old Brayden Harrington's brave speech during the 2020 Democratic National Convention, The New York Times printed this helpful article about stuttering. Learn more about this challenging disorder and ways to overcome it. Read the article here: What to Know About Stuttering …
It’s Never Too Late
Tips to Engage Teens in Speech Therapy This article, by Kim Swon-Lewis, MEd, CCC-SLP, first appeared in Medbridge Education. When I pull up to pick up my teen from school, I’m a little shocked by the scene. The vast majority of peers stand solitary, their faces buried in their phones. It’s not just the students either. Recently, at a conference, while waiting for the speaker to begin, most …
Opening Doors
I was shopping for doors the other day with my husband (I want a back door that lets more sun come into my kitchen!!) and I started thinking about how “open doors” do let us connect to the outside and to so many other things… In a time of such unrest both with COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter protests, it has made me, and I am sure many of us, reflect on what we can do to make a …
The Kids Are Not All Right
Richard Engel writes, "Kids with special needs are not OK right now. Neither are parents. Let's drop the act that this pandemic affects us all equally." I second that. Checking in my my friends who have special needs kids, it's clear that they're operating in a different stratosphere. It's one thing to keep your preschooler occupied 24-7, but it's another thing entirely to keep your special …
6 Ways to Support Kids’ Mental Health Right Now
I am a big fan of Common Sense Media. I have always found it to be an incredibly useful tool when deciding which family movie to choose. Truth be told, I also use it to read the synopsis of a film I'm too much of a wimp to actually watch. (One word: It.) Commonsense Media is wonderful at providing realistic reviews of movies and other media. Though my kids my groan when they see me researching …
We Made It Through the Rain
14th Annual Golf for Autism Four months ago, I didn’t think our annual Orange Effect Foundation Golf for Autism was going to happen. At that time, at least in Ohio, golf courses were closed and we were all on lockdown. As we made it through May, we believed we could hold a modified event. One that would be safe for everyone. What did that mean? Instead of our normal morning and …
