This holiday season, Reach Child and Youth Development Society is in the middle of a campaign to help fund speech therapy sessions for children.
The GIFT of SPEECH campaign supports speech therapists’ work with children to give them the words they need to feel connected and understood. Without that help, their future independence and well-being can be limited.
“We focus on children from birth until kindergarten entry,” says speech therapist Sheena Kirkland. “At Reach, we see children who tend to have other developmental needs as well as speech deficits.”
According to the B.C. Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, one in approximately 68 children has autism and all of these children experience a speech-language difficulty. Overall in the population, one in 10 people has a speech or language disorder.
Speech therapy funding is limited and the earlier a child receives help, the more promising their future. Donations to the campaign help children get therapy when it is most critical to their development.
Reach Child and Youth Development Society provides programs and services for children with special needs, including speech therapy.
To support Reach Society’s GIFT of SPEECH appeal this year visit http://giftofspeech.causevox.com.
