A Letter to WELCOME my future readers!

Thank you for this blog!

I have an idea for subject matter - working with bilingual families. I am particularly looking for some printed resources in Spanish that give strategies to facilitate language development. I am certified in It Takes Two To Talk and have used that parent guide in Spanish, but I am looking for some other Spanish handouts to give to parents that talk about parallel talk, self talk, expanding words to phrases, vocabulary building, using daily routines, etc... Anybody have any resources that they use?

Thanks.

hi stephanie. i have been in search of online schools for SLP.could you please recommend any?many thanks and best regards.

Hi Stephanie!

Great idea! It was interesting to see some of the info you have posted... I was also pleased to see some names of familiar people!

I would love to know if anyone is aware of an intensive program for Childhood Apraxia in the Southeast PA region.  I have a kiddo I am currently seeing through EI who really needs an intensive, structured program.

Happy Holidays!

How exciting that you have started this blog. I have often thought of doing the same but just never got around to it. I have 15 years experience in EI and I am happy to help however I can.  What a great idea to support other professionals and all of us can grow  our knowledge base. Let's get busy and help as many families and children that we can. God bless you on this journey.

I'd love to hear about various approaches SLPs are using for apraxia and also SLPs views on/specific programs used for oral-motor activities.

I have been working with EI for about 2 months trying to complete my CF year. I just stumbled across this blog as I was checking out the humor in therapy column. I need to hear what others are experiencing and get therapy tips. Thanks for doing this project.

I am looking forward to learning a multitude of tricks and ideas for EI. I've been in the schools for 8 years and have just accepted a job in EI. The creation of this blog has helped to confirm that my decision to leave the schools was a good one! I'm looking for some support from seasoned SLPs and even parents who have had experience with EI in their homes. This is a timely idea!

I am the mother of a 3 year old boy named Christopher who was blessed to have Stephanie Bruno as his speech therapist.  He was a sick little boy for the first 2 years of his life with various viruses, high fevers, and has had 2 sets of tubes in his ears.  As a result he did not attend daycare much which I think resulted in a delay in his speech and other areas of his development.  Christopher is still in therapy (unfortunately not with Steph) and continues to build his vocabulary.  

This blog is a wonderful idea from a wonderful person who all can trust! My hope is to hear other parents with similar issues as mine as well as hearing Stephanie and other professionals advice and information.

Thanks, Cassandra.

I am thrilled to see this blog. I have been providing speech language services via early intervention for approximately 10 years. It is so rewarding to help children and their families in natural settings. I feel so blessed to be able to do this. As EI SLP's we should support one another!  I just love your blog idea!

This is a fabulous idea.  My son is almost 2 1/2 years old.

He has suffered through numerous ear infections, illnesses and 2 surgeries (all ENT related) and will be having a third procedure soon.  He didn't speak until he turned 2.  He was tested for everything and anything, we self diagnosed him and second guessed his future.  Within a month of seeing a speech therapist he began to formulate real words and proper responses.  I will suggest to any parent with a child like mine to listen to your gut, not to the pediatrician.  Take your child to a specialist.  Push for the proper early intervention services, without the early intervention and the proper ENT (as well as my Aunt - the speech pathologist), my son wouldn't be where he is today.

This is great! I look forward to learning lots as I enter my third year serving infants and toddlers.

Stephanie,%0d%0a  I join the chorus of accolades for your idea of starting an EI Blog..  I am a Speech Pathologist in Morris County, New Jersey, who has worked in Early Intervention for over 20 years (I still remember the days of center based EIP).  I have already taken a piece of advice from the blog (Discovery Toy CD...see above) and hopefully, will continue to do so.  I am also willing to share my expertise.  Besides for being an EI Speech Pathologist, I have been blogging since Sept. 2004.

Thank you to everyone who has written these past few days! I love reading your comments and receiving such wonderful feedback!

Also to "k" the woman who wrote on 10/7 and was the 1st blog post below - ask your pediatrician and/or therapy coordinator for a developmental pediatrican referral... AND, if your speech therapist is not showing up, you may want to bring the issue to her attention. If this doesn't help, you can always request a new therapist. Make sure you document all the missed appointments. Check back this Friday 10/10 for a complete list of "Empowering Parents" techniques that you can use in the home to stimulate speech with your child.

Stephanie,

What a great idea!  Although I am presently working in the schools, I hope to eventually work in EI as well.  I am fortunate to be working for a company that provides all pediatric services, and meets frequently to discuss various topics.  I would definitely like to be involved and will pass along any pertinent information. Thanks!

Hi Stephanie

I am brand new to EI - after working in various school settings.  I look forward to sharing information and support with other SLPs, as well as learning more about this exciting population and their families.

The blog is a great idea.  I look forward to sharing ideas. I work with birth to three children in homes and daycares.

As a student and paraprofessional, I am interested to know more strategies for  EI.  

I think it is great to share ideas and be part of virtual forums. We all learn so much from one another.  I look forward to hearing from all and hope to be of help as well.  

I am new to EI so I appreciate all that I can learn from those of you who have done this for a while.  

Count me in, too.

Stephanie, What a great idea.  This is a first for me - blogging that is.....  But I see great potential for this forum.  So count me in.  

Stephanie, great idea!  As a speech/language early interventionist, I would love to share ideas with others.  

Count me in!!!!

Count me in!

I welcome anything that will help share knowledge with others and try to meet the needs of our 'special' children out there.  I am not sure how I get to this site the most convenient way.  I have had different experiences in many areas but so far the early intervention is my favorite.  So many challenges with so many questions and so much to learn.  It has been the most rewarding.

If you can find a DIscovery Toy distributor there is a CD called

Sounds Like Fun the #4 song Alphabet sounds is a very low key amazing song that gets a lot of children starting to imitate.sounds and words  I have used it hundreds of times. Have the parents play  it  OFTEN! You can use it in the car or at home. Soon it will be in everyone's head and she may start singing along.  apple apple ah, ah, ah Good Luck!!

I've been working in Birth-Three for some time now in a very rural and remote setting.  This is a great idea and I look forward to putting our heads together as I gather knowledge and resources to help out families and improve my visits.  Thank you, Cheryl

I am the mother of a child with Aspergers and the grandmother of a child who is three years old with no speech but can hum every song she hears, in tune!  

First, I need a developemental pediatrician for my child, cannot find one in my area (Atlanta) and help for my grandchild, their speech therapist keeps cancelling appointments.  Her hearing has been tested, all is well and she has developed normally in other areas.