As we continue to raise money for Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center I wanted to share some information about how important this ministry truly is.
A speech disorder impacts literacy development in many ways. A child must have a strong foundation with words in order to be able to properly apply them to form sentences. When this foundation has not been laid correctly, sentences usually cannot be formed correctly. This impacts literacy development because a child cannot skillfully alter words in order to create sentences. Not being able to interpret sentences correctly will impact a child’s independence, self-help skills, relationships, confidence, and learning capacities. Speech therapists contribute the tools needed to build the strong literary foundation for the children. The children can then use this strong foundation to contribute to their education and ultimately their world.
However, speech therapy is not solely about teaching someone to speak. It is also about building confidence and relationships. When family, friends, and teachers have difficulty understanding a child, it can compromise the relationship. Children need to be encouraged to explore, grow, play, participate, and develop. Communication difficulties can cause a child to feel as though he is not free to participate and develop like other children. Also, these difficulties can alter the child’s self-concept and social development. Speech therapy gives a child the confidence she needs to build relationships and to feel as though she has something to contribute to society. All children deserve an equal opportunity and this is what speech therapy provides.
I’d like to mention one more important aspect of speech therapy, programs specifically for children with autism. An autism program is one of the five programs currently at Star Mountain. About one-third of children with autism have language disabilities, which range from not speaking at all, to grunting, or echolalia (coping what another person says.) The specific needs of autistic children mean that not only do they need to be taught how to speak, but they also need to be taught how to communicate using the language they have learned. This is a task that is difficult for someone who is untrained to accomplish. A trained speech therapist will use tools such as exercising facial muscles, picture boards, electronic devices and more. Children with autism can also suffer from self-concept issues. Speech therapy is vitally important to allow them the freedom to grow and become the best person they can be.
In conclusion, We are so blessed to have Shafeeka Farsakh as a speech therapist at Star Mountain! We pray for her, the children, and Star Mountain as the speech therapy program begins to blossom. Please prayerfully consider giving to this important cause.
“We want to hear the children speak.”
-Ghada, Director at Star Mountain in the March 2012 edition of The Moravian Magazine.
Love,
Ashley
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/benefits-speech-therapy-autism
A speech disorder impacts literacy development in many ways. A child must have a strong foundation with words in order to be able to properly apply them to form sentences. When this foundation has not been laid correctly, sentences usually cannot be formed correctly. This impacts literacy development because a child cannot skillfully alter words in order to create sentences. Not being able to interpret sentences correctly will impact a child’s independence, self-help skills, relationships, confidence, and learning capacities. Speech therapists contribute the tools needed to build the strong literary foundation for the children. The children can then use this strong foundation to contribute to their education and ultimately their world.
However, speech therapy is not solely about teaching someone to speak. It is also about building confidence and relationships. When family, friends, and teachers have difficulty understanding a child, it can compromise the relationship. Children need to be encouraged to explore, grow, play, participate, and develop. Communication difficulties can cause a child to feel as though he is not free to participate and develop like other children. Also, these difficulties can alter the child’s self-concept and social development. Speech therapy gives a child the confidence she needs to build relationships and to feel as though she has something to contribute to society. All children deserve an equal opportunity and this is what speech therapy provides.
I’d like to mention one more important aspect of speech therapy, programs specifically for children with autism. An autism program is one of the five programs currently at Star Mountain. About one-third of children with autism have language disabilities, which range from not speaking at all, to grunting, or echolalia (coping what another person says.) The specific needs of autistic children mean that not only do they need to be taught how to speak, but they also need to be taught how to communicate using the language they have learned. This is a task that is difficult for someone who is untrained to accomplish. A trained speech therapist will use tools such as exercising facial muscles, picture boards, electronic devices and more. Children with autism can also suffer from self-concept issues. Speech therapy is vitally important to allow them the freedom to grow and become the best person they can be.
In conclusion, We are so blessed to have Shafeeka Farsakh as a speech therapist at Star Mountain! We pray for her, the children, and Star Mountain as the speech therapy program begins to blossom. Please prayerfully consider giving to this important cause.
“We want to hear the children speak.”
-Ghada, Director at Star Mountain in the March 2012 edition of The Moravian Magazine.
Love,
Ashley
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/benefits-speech-therapy-autism
