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.

Transitioning from Tube Feeding

Parents and caregivers of children who currently have, or have had, a feeding tube know that it can be very challenging and sometimes overwhelming to rehabilitate a child to oral feeding. At times, parents can be at a loss as to where to begin when transitioning a child from a feeding tube. There can be many concerns such as oral sensitivity, aspiration, ensuring adequate nutritional intake, and more. Clear Speech Inc. can partner their many years of experience and expertise with you to help you and your child be successful in this type of transition.



'Brent' is a client at Clear Speech, Inc. After several months of taking all nutrition through a feeding tube, Brent had a long way to go and many obstacles to overcome in order to be free of his tube.

"We had no experience to draw on and more questions than answers," Brent's mom, Susan, said about facing the prospect of rehabilitating her son to oral feeding.



"Thanks to therapy and a lot of hard work, Brent's feeding tube is a thing of the past," Susan adds. "Many parents take it for granted when their baby or toddler picks up finger food and can eat it. Not us," says Susan, "We are very thankful that Brent now eats regular food and can feed himself."

Please call Clear Speech, Inc. for a consultation if you and your child could benefit from our feeding services. Our contact information is listed on the blog sidebar.