Surfer's Healing

We love to inform our clients of special opportunities for children, especially for those with special needs. We recently learned about a free surf camp in San Diego for children with autism. It is called 'Surfers Healing'. Their website has some very touching pictures of children feeling the freedom of riding the waves along with a trained surfer. According their site, many autistic children have found relief from their sensory overload when riding the waves. Click here for more information.

Challenge Air for Kids and Friends

"Pilots take disabled kids into the sky at Paine Field" read one headline from the Everett Herald. Rick Amber founded Challenge Air with the belief that, "every disabled person should see the world from a different view…out of their wheelchairs and crutches and from the sky."

Any child or youth living with a physical disability or life-threatening illness may pre-register for the program to receive a free flight in a small aircraft with two guests as well as attend a fair at the hangar. Here is a list of qualifying examples: Spinal Cord Injury Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Autism, Cancer, Leukemia, Sight/Hearing Impaired, and others.

For more information, click here.

Summer Reading Program

Reading stimulates children's language development; listening to stories will enhance their vocabularies and help them use longer sentences.

The Everett Public Library's Summer Reading Program begins June 13th, 2009.

A reading program for every age from babies to high school students. Prizes free programs and activites.

For more information consult the mail library at 2702 Hoyt Ave. or the Evergreen Branch at 9512 Evergreen Wy. in Everett.

Sorticulture, Everett’s Garden Arts Festival
June 12, 13 and 14, 2009

Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Legion Memorial Park
145 Alverson Blvd. at West Marine View Dr.
Everett, Washington 98201

Children's activities and fun for the entire family. For more information, click here.

Summer Camp Opportunities

Whenever we at Clear Speech Inc. hear about great opportunities for special needs children we want to pass that exciting information on to any of our clients who might benefit.

Please click here for a wonderful Summer Camp resource.

To easily share this with a friend via email, click the envelope icon at the end of this post.

Sensory Friendly Films: Night at the Museum 2

For most typical families, taking their children to the movie theater promises all the excitement of stepping into a darkened theater clutching a tub of mouth-watering buttery hot popcorn and other tasty treats while their children stifle giggles in eager anticipation of the experience. Although for some parents, who have special needs children, the mere thought of taking their children to the theater can be enough to make them want to reach for an aspirin as they try and imagine asking their special child to fit the mold of accepted behavior of movie-goers; sitting still and being quiet for two hours. If you can identify with that at all, you may want to attend the next Sensory Friendly Film!

AMC Entertainment (AMC) and ASA have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program.

Playing: Night at the Museum 2

May 23, 2009
10 a.m. local time

In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

Tickets are $4-6 depending on location and can be purchased on the day of the event.
Find a participating theatre near you by clicking here. One of the three Washington locations is in nearby Woodinville.

Social Story for a Speech Therapy Visit

Social stories are a wonderful and fun way to rehearse an event with a child to help them feel comfortable and know what to expect, especially in new situations. The social story below will help any child to prepare for a visit to Clear Speech of Everett. It is especially beneficial for young children with speech delays, children on the autism spectrum, or any child who likes to know what to expect. Please feel free to read this story to your child as often as you both care to before your child's first visit to Clear Speech or even before every speech therapy visit. A link to this social story is provided on the blog sidebar.

When I go to speech therapy, I will learn to communicate with others.

Learning to communicate helps me get what I want.

I don't need to knock or ring the doorbell. I can go right into the therapy house.

I will take off my shoes and leave them in the front room.

I can also leave my coat in the front room if I want.

Sometimes I will wait for the therapist to come and get me

from the front room; other times, she may come to me right away

and I don't wait.

If I am waiting, I can sit, read, or play with toys.

When the therapist comes, she will talk to me.

I can say "Hi" to her, or I can wave my hand.

We will go together to the bathroom sink and wash hands.

Next, we will go to the activity room.

We will play games or do other activites.

Most children like the games or activities very much.

I will learn and have fun at the same time.

When we are finished, my therapist will tell me we are all done.

We will walk to the front room where I can put on my shoes,

and my coat if I have one that day.

My therapist will say "Goodbye" to me.

I can say "Bye" to her, or I can wave my hand.

Therapy was fun. I will come back again soon.