In May, SPEECH PATHways proudly kicked off our new parent group called “Pathways to Parent Support & Training” or PPST .

Parents have enjoyed guest speakers on topics such as “Advocacy & The IEP Proc-ess,” “Ways to Make Therapy Practice Fun in the Summer” and “How to Get Your Child Talking.” Most recently, par-ents enjoyed “Financial Plan-ning for Families of Children with Special Needs” with

Jason Abosch from Franklin-Morris. Jason has been kind enough to allow us to include an article on this topic on page 3. In October, Jamie

Levine, OTR/L of OT Ven-tures discussed the role of the Occupational Therapist in the treatment of Sensory Integration Disorders.

PPST is open to the commu-nity. Attendees do not need to be clients of SPEECH PATHways. Attendance is

also “Free.” However, a reser-vation is required!

PPST meets monthly on the 3rd Friday of each month from 7-9 pm with the exception of De-cember.

PPST is meeting at the SPEECH PATHways office located at 532 Baltimore Blvd., Ste. 403., Westminster.

Topic suggestions or guest speaker requests can be made to Kim at SPEECH PATH-ways.

We encourage you to try to take advantage of these won-derful opportunities to learn from our monthly speakers, as well as socialize with other par-ents. Our speakers have all been gracious enough to donate their time to PPST at no charge.

RSVP: 410-374-0555 or speechpathways@direcway.com to reserve your seat.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

When: Nov. 18, 2005, 7-9pm

Where: SPEECH PATHways

Guest Speaker: Nika Hamblin of Discovery Toys

Topic: Playing with Purpose.”Nika Hamblin of Discovery Toys will present on how to select develop-mentally appropriate toys to facili-tate speech, language, cognition, fine and gross motor skills and how to make simple modifications to toys for your special needs child. Nika is the parent of two special needs chil-dren. She will also have a display of Discovery Toys Products & accept holiday toy orders.

FUTURE DATES & TOPICS:December 2005 PPST will not meet in December.

January 20, 2006: “The Stigma of Difference.” Greg Rubin, local psycho-therapist will provide coping strategies for familes.

February 17, 2006: “Effective Parenting 101 in the Early Years.”Colleen Newman, local parent educa-tor with My Baby & More.

SPEECH PATHways is proud to announce that our North Car-roll Soccer Club Girl’s team we sponsored went undefeated this season! The team called them-selves the “Kim Possibles.”

Our team enjoyed the season and we are very proud of their great teamwork and sports-manship!

A team photo plaque has been displayed in the children’s lobby at SPEECH PATHways.

SPEECH PATHways Soccer Team “Undefeated”

PATHWAYS TO PARENT SUPPORT & TRAINING “PPST”

November/December 2005

Volume 1, issue 6

SPEECH PATHways CONNECTIONS

Inside this issue:

Pathways to Parent Support & Training & “Kim Possibles” Soccer

1

PROMPT & REI 2

Usborne Books 2

Policies/Staff & Announcements

3

Financial Planning for Special Need Families

3

Jen’s HANEN Corner 4

SPEECH PATHways “STARS” Program

4

SPEECH PATHways

Special points of inter-est: www.speechpathways.net

www.asha.org

www.hanen.org

www.reiinstitute.com

www.promptinstitute.com

www.mybabyandmore.com

www.nikastoys.com

In October, Kim and Jen both attended an intensive three day training course on the Introduction to PROMPT Tech-niques. PROMPT is an acronym for “Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscu-lature Phonetic Targets.” The PROMPT technique was developed by Deborah Hayden, speech-language pathologist and refined over the past 30 years.

The PROMPT model comes from a dy-namic systems theoretical position util-izing tactual sensory information (in addition to auditory and visual), to sup-port and develop speech-motor func-tioning leading to improved communica-tion functioning across all domains. The PROMPT model provides for assess-ment across all domains and in depth analysis of the motor speech sub sys-

tems. It also helps trained therapists how to choose the best focus for intervention, how to plan and organize treatment and how to select and use the most appropriate level or levels of prompts.

PROMPT is a philosophy of assessment & treatment, an approach to therapy & treat-ment, a system in that it helps therapists plan & organize treatment and also a tech-nique.

The PROMPT Technique utilizes neuromo-tor principles, kinesthetic (tactile), pro-prioceptive, auditory and visual information to provide feedback to the speech system. PROMPT clinicians give input to all areas by using touch, pressure, specific placements, auditory awareness and visual awareness with a specific emphasis on “timing.”

Kim and Jen will each be working on a PROMPT project over the next 3 months to attain completion of our PROMPT training. Please be patient with us as we practice these new tech-niques and begin to integrate them into therapy at SPEECH PATHways. We are excited to be offering PROMPT therapy and hope that it will benefit your chil-dren and facilitate further improve-ments! For more information on PROMPT, you can visit the PROMPT Institute web site at:

www.promptinstitute.com

Purchase online at www.ubah.com/V1608

Click on the “enter site” button

Click on the “SPEECH PATHways E-show” link

Follow prompts to add to your shopping cart and check out

Browse the in-house display of books Monday, November 14 – Monday, November 21

Browse a catalog or flyer (available all month at SPEECH PATHways)

SPEECH PATHways and AMN Books are Joining together to offer Usborne Books during the month of November. Usborne Books are award winning books that are affordably priced. They also have many educational products that make learning fun for children. SPEECH PATHways therapists use many UsboreProducts during therapy. Book orders may be placed Tuesday, November 1 –Wednesday, November 23, 2005.

Loretta Spangler, Usborne Independent Educa-tional Consultant, will be in the office on

Wednesday, November 16, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. to answer questions and take orders personally.

For more information contact her at:

410-857-5580 or AMNBooks@juno.com

Online Catalog: www.ubah.com/V1608

Page 2

SPEECH PATHways Hosts Usborne Books For Holiday Shopping

SPEECH PATHways CONNECTIONS

SPEECH PATHways Now Offers “PROMPT” Therapy

Research has shown improvements in many areas including the following: Language & Communication Skills

Hyperactivity & Impulsivity (AD/HD)

Self-Stimulatory Behaviors (Autsim Spectrum)

Sensory Processing (SI Disorders)

Leaning Abilities (Learning Disabilities)

Attention/Focus

Social Skills

Aggression

Anxiety

Sleep

REI Programs must be purchased through an author-ized REI Provider. In October, SPEECH PATHways completed the training to become an authorized provider of this unique auditory intervention.

We feel that REI is at the top of the auditory inter-ventions because of the “customized” approach & evaluation process.

This is the first auditory intervention program that we have felt comfortable offering to our clients because it has been researched and is backed by strong scientific research.

If you are interested in getting your child started on the REI Program, we will waive any additional fees other than the cost of the CD’s through the month of December for our current SPEECH PATHways customers. REI also offers a money back guaran-tee!

For more information contact Kim at the office 410-374-0555 or visit the REI web site at:

www.reiinstitute.com

Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention (REI) is a

MusicMedicine therapy program utilizing auditory rhythmic stimulation (usually in the form of percussion rhythms) to stimulate the central nervous system and improve brain function.

REI facilitates long-term behavioral and cognitive improvement in individuals with neurological disorders.

REI is a home-based auditory treatment that requires just 20 minutes per day for 10 weeks. No headphones are required & the child/adult can complete normal activities while the REI CD’s are playing.

Each program consists of 2 custom made CD’s (made specifically for your child based on an evaluation proc-ess).

Improvements are generally seen in just 3-4 weeks of daily intervention (20 minutes/day).

SPEECH PATHways Now Offers Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention

It’s a Boy!

SPEECH PATHways would like to congratulate Karie Gardner & her husband Sam on the arri-val of their new son, Grayson on September 30, 2005. Mom, dad, big sister Ani and Gray-son are all doing well.

If you are canceling an appointment or try-ing to reach your therapist please use Westminster Office/Cancellation Phone Number. If you leave a message on the main office number your therapist often does not get the messages the same day. Please keep this number handy:

Westminster Office: 410-386-0199All other business related questions or concerns should be directed to Kim at the main office number: 410-374-0555.

CANCELLATION POLICYWe would like to remind you of the 24-hour cancel-lation policy for SPEECH PATHways. Please keep in mind that careful planning and preparation goes into each and every one of your child’s therapy sessions. The $40 fee for missed appoint-ments must be collected prior to (or at) your next sched-uled appointment. if less than 24-hour cancellation notice is given to your therapist.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICYSPEECH PATHways does not automatically follow the Carroll County School Inclement Weather Policy for closings and delays. Please check with your therapist to see if we are open on a particular day. We have found that many times the roads have been cleared by the time we begin services in

the evening. Every attempt will be made to see your child when deemed safe and appropriate in relation to the weather conditions.

SPEECH PATHways Staff:Kimberly A. Bell, M.S.,CCC-SLP (owner)Jennifer Kaley, M.S.,CCC-SLPAlisa Berzon, M.A.,CCC-SLPKarie Gardner, M.S.,CCC-SLPCherise Kelly, M.A.,CCC-SLPMelissa Baccala, M.S.,CCC-SLPHeather Sunderland, M.S.,CCC-SLP

Melissa & Heather are the two newest additions to the SPEECH PATHways staff. Melissa was kind enough to cover Karie’s maternity leave. Heather will be working one afternoon/evening each week.

Source: National Institutesage of Health, US Department of Health & Human Services, August 2003three diag-nosed 1

Down’s syndrome: 4,000 children with Down’s syn-drome are born in the U.S. each year, or approximately 1 in every 800 to 1,000 live births

Source: National Down’s Syndrome Society, August, 2003

Spinal Cord Injuries: 11,000 new injuries are reported every year in the United States, with a new injury occur-ring every 49 minutes

Source: The University of Alabama National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center; The National Spinal Cord Injury Association, August 2003

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): 1.5 million people sus-tain a TBI each year. This is eight, which are 8 times the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer and 34 times the number of new cases of HIV/AIDS

Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention & Control: Special Report – Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Steps Towards Prevention of a Serious Public Health Problem – A Report to Congress, in press, August 2003

Census 2000 counted 49.7 million people with some type of long lasting condition or disability.

The statistics are staggering and so are the costs for care. Caring for those with disabilities and special needs is a challenge not only for their caregivers but for the financial professionals and attorneys who seek to help to make sure that the resources are there to help pay for current and ongoing care. This subset of financial planning in-cludes coordinating and structuring current and future assets so that valuable social assistance programs and government benefit eligibility are not affected. Often it

involves the establishment and funding of a Special Needs Trust (SNT).

Our firm has taken a strong interest in working with families of children with special needs for several important rea-sons:

Our knowledge of financial planning and particular training in special needs issues.

Our experience with and access to high quality com-panies whose financial products, such as annuities and life insurance, can be used to fund Special Needs Trusts as well as other insurance products that help protect family incomes and assets.

Our ability to develop a structured settlement for individuals awarded compensation resulting from an accident or injury.

Our ability to develop education planning studies, asset allocation programs, coordination of philan-thropic wishes, family gifting strategies, investment advice for trust services and estate analysis for both individuals who have structured settlements and those who do not..

Our ability to bring together resources and advisors to help families to care and plan for their children’s current and future care.

At FranklinMorris, we take a holistic approach to planning for individuals with special needs, recognizing that they are at the center of a complex universe. Our approach ad-dresses not only the financial aspects of planning but the family education component as well.

For more information contact Jason Abosch at

410-539-2320 or jason.abosch@franklinmorris.com

The following article was graciously submitted by Jason S. Abosch, CPA, PFS, CFP®

We’ve all walked down the aisle of the grocery store and seen an elderly parent accompanied by a middle-aged child with Down’s syndrome. It’s most likely the picture of a loving parent who has given a lifetime of emotional and financial care to that child. No doubt, during that time they have felt uneasy about who will take care of their child’s emotional and financial needs when they pass on.

Financial planning for individuals with special needs is a detailed subset of general financial planning. Planning must be coordinated and include a series of advisors including an attorney, accountant, social worker, caregiver, physician or other medical professional, and a financial advisor.

It is not only parents of children with Down’s syndrome who share this concern but includes an increasing number of parents and other family members who share in the care and responsibility for people with special needs. These special needs arise from a variety of causes, both congenital and acquired, and create a tremendous need for emotional and financial support and planning. Lack of planning can lead to a loss of government benefits and a misstep in the planning process can be equally painful. The financial aspects of planning for an individual with special needs often take a bace seat to the emotional issues, both of the individual and the family. It is even more difficult to focus on the financial aspects of planning when the triggering event is not congeni-tal. Consider these statistics:

Autism: Based on recent studies, “the best conservative estimate of the prevalence of ASDs (Autism Spectrum Disor-ders) in the United States is that one child in 1,000 children has as ASD.” Immunization Safety Review Comm., Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences. (2004) Immuni-zation Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism. National Acad-emy Press:Washington, DC

Cerebral Palsy: 500,000 2 to 3 children and adults in 1,000 over the U.S. have cerebral palsy

Volume 1, issue 6

SPEECH PATHways Policies, Staff & Announcements

Financial Planning for Families of Children with Special Needs

Page 3

Main office:4127 Falls RoadManchester, MD 21102

SPEECH PATHways

gram for our clients. Each SPEECH PATHways client will continue to have an opportunity to earn a “STAR” on a punch-card at each visit. Every 4 “STARS” will earn your child a “free” ice cream at Legend’s Café so it will be possible to earn an ice cream each month! We would like to congratulate all of our “STARS” who have continued

The last few months of our SPEECH PATHways “Stars” Program has been very successful. We are fortunate to have the great, family friendly restau-rant “Legends Café” located downstairs in our building. The owners of Legends, Jim and Amy Fields, have graciously agreed to continue to partner with SPEECH PATHways in an incentive pro-

to earn an ice cream each month! If your child is unable to eat ice cream or you do not wish for them to participate in this program , please let your thera-pist know and an alternative “prize” will be given.

Phone: 410-374-0555Fax: 410-374-8620Westminster Line: 410-386-0199E-mail: seechpathways@direcway.comwww.speechpathways.net

SPEECH PATHways “STARS” Program

SPEECH PATHways “Pathways to Communication Enhancement”

DIRECTIONS TO NEW SPEECH PATHWAYS

WESTMINSTER THERAPY CLINIC:

532 Baltimore Blvd., Suite 403, WestminsterThe Westminster Professional Center is on Route 140 between Gorsuch Road and Malcolm Drive/97 S.

There is an entrance directly off of Route 140 or you can turn onto Gorsuch (towards McDonald’s/Olive Garden). Make the 1st right onto the street that runs behind McDonald’s which will lead to the parking lot for the Westminster Professional Center.

The main entrance is along the side of the building with the large green awning.

SPEECH PATHways is on the 4th floor, Suite 403.Do you have something you would like to submit to our SPEECH PATHways newsletter? Would you like to share a story about your child’s therapy experience with SPEECH PATHways? Submit information to Kim at: www.speechpathways@direcway.com

Jen’s HANEN CornerIn May 2005 Jen Kaley, M.S.,CCC-SLP at-tended an intense 3 day workshop to become HANEN Certified.

The “It Takes Two to Talk” (Hanen Program) is a program for Parents of Children with Language Delays. The Hanen Program is a family focused approach to early language intervention with young children. The basis of this program is that parents can be their child’s language facilitator. The Hanen approach teaches parents to elicit

language in everyday activities. There are several strategies Hanen stresses to parents to facilitate lan-guage everyday. They are the following:

let your child lead an interaction follow your child’s lead take turns provide rewarding routines add language to the interaction.

Prior to a parent using the Hanen approach, it is impor-tant to know what type of communicator their child is and identify how their child communicates.

The following are types of child communicators:Discoverers- react to how they feel and to what is happening around them, but don’t communicate with a specific purpose in mind, Communicators- send spe-cific messages without using words, First Word Users – use single words (or signs or pictures, Combiners –combine two or three word utterances.

For more information, please contact Jen or refer to upcoming newsletter issues which will focus on the individual principles of the Hanen Program or visit www.hanen.org.