Many of the families I am working with right now are preparing for one of the most significant milestones in the life of the adolescent?going away to college. There are several stages of logistical, emotional and psychological preparation inherent in this transitional time, which begins with the college application process.
AAC is used when speech is not an adequate means of functional communication. The ?augmentative? refers to any devices, methods, or systems that are used in addition to speech. This can be necessary when someone?s speech is not clear due to low volume, low tone, or articulation errors, or when someone requires vocal rest. The ?alternative? refers to any device, method, or system used for communication when speech has not developed or has been lost.
“Late talkers” make up 15% of the toddler population. The language characteristics of the late talkers are not reflective of typical language development in the areas of word learning, phonology, morphology/syntax, and social skills. Dr. Michelle MacRoy-Higgins discusses why early intervention is important to provide speech and language services to late talkers.
In recent years, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have gained a great deal of attention for the rising prevalence of the diagnosis. This has created a greater level of awareness in our community, but also has lead to some misunderstandings about what ASD is. ASD is a developmental disability that affects three areas of functioning; these are language/communication, social functioning, and behavior.
Is your child experiencing difficulty with self-regulation that is impacting daily life and your child?s ability to participate in age-related activities to their fullest potential? Self-regulation is a person?s ability to maintain their arousal level and a level of alertness that is appropriate for the demands of the environment, and is critical to a child?s learning and development. Children and adults use various sensory-based strategies and techniques in order to participate in social activities, daily living activities, and other age appropriate activities.