We Communicate

The We Communicate team wraps up our final client visits of 2020 today. 2020 was full of challenges and losses for many of us but what stands out more to me is the incredibly strength that it uncovered in places, people and processes that I never saw before. I have so much to be grateful for that you'd be here until Christmas if I started listing them all so I'll keep it to one: this year I am grateful for the fact that running this organization allows me to adapt, dream up and carry out ways of supporting stronger childhood communication. Share what you're grateful for in the comments and spread some holiday cheer! Happy Holidays! - Becky

Have a little one at home and want to connect with other new parents? Check out Spectrum Gymnastics' Baby & Me!

End 2020 feeling empowered with answers to your questions about your child's speech, language and literacy skills. Start 2021 with a clear plan of how to best support your child's communication! Our team has just ONE assessment spot left for 2020. Even better, it's after school so need to take time off work/school to check it off your list. If you've been waiting to take the plunge, connect with our team to get started today! #WeCommunicate

Our services go so far beyond helping a child make the 's' sound, read a word or say their first word. We help families: Feel empowered with information about how their child communicates Understand why and how to continue practice between sessions Understand other services that may help benefit their child... If you want to grow your child's team to support their communication, we'd love to connect with you: www.wecommunicateslp.com/get-in-touch

Looking for a new activity for your child? Check out kids yoga!

Can’t wait for these incredible services to come to #NorfolkCounty come 2021! There is something for everyone and every ability!

We Communicate is thrilled to be able to support Teagan and her team! Spectrum Gymnastics will be providing gymnastics and movement classes for children of ALL abilities beginning January 2021!

Today I am wearing orange to support #OrangeShirtDay - an initiative to bring awareness to and commemorate those who survived the residential school experience. The day is named after Phyllis (Jack) Webstad whose new orange shirt was taken from her as a 6-year-old on her first day at a residential school. This is a reminder to put on your orange shirt, spread awareness, and go learn more at orangeshirtday.org. Post your own selfie in the comments in your #orangeshirt! Side note: I love that my only orange shirt is also my Apraxia Kids shirt from this year’s virtual Guelph walk!

With the 2020 Guelph Virtual Walk for Apraxia right around the corner, know that your donations can make a HUGE difference for children with apraxia and their families! Donations can be made here: https://secure.apraxia-kids.org/site//Walk/WalkForChildren

People often commend me for my continuous energy. But real talk - August was ROUGH at times for me. I could blame it on COVID, missing my friends & family or running a business. But I don’t; it was because I was saying YES to way too much. Whether those were external commitments or internal expectations, they were taking the joy out of my days. Last week, I took an entire week off work. I got my hands dirty gardening, read an entire novel and spent time off of social media. ...In the quiet, I realized that I my brain has been way too overcrowded which led to: Avoiding work tasks, especially those with no deadline Fatigue throughout the day Feeling less excited about seeing clients (a hard one to admit) Doing less of what brings me joy (being active, reading novels) My plan for September is to SIMPLIFY and here’s how I plan on doing it: Focus on my clients’ therapy. I became an SLP to help clients gain stronger communication skills and that’s what we’re going to do this fall, together! I’ve make strategic choices with my schedule to do this: 15 minute breaks between almost all therapy sessions to ensure I can write their documentation note, send any necessary information for homework, stretch my legs and rest my eyes. Posting less on social media. An ironic note in a social media post but social media for a business is seriously a full-time job on top of working in that business. I’m going to work hard to make my content meaningful so when it does show up, it’s helpful, engaging and helps continue to grow this community! Letting go of commitments that don’t light an absolute fire under me. I’m often excited by opportunities that I say yes before I really think about what I’ll have to say no in order to participate. The no’s typically become moving my body, eating well and my family. This objective set of goals makes it simplifying look easy but let me tell you, for my goal- and dream-driven brain, I know that won’t be the case. I am putting this out there to keep myself accountable and hopefully inspire others to do the same! Share 1 (or a few!) ways you are simplifying this fall to bring more JOY to your life

Screener Series: Rhyming If you have children at home, get curious about their literacy skills by checking out this week’s FREE screener on rhyming. Support your child towards stronger literacy by: ... 1Downloading and completing the screener [click this link: https://www.wecommunicateslp.com/freebies] 2 While you’re there check out my other free, quick and easy screeners. 3 If you think your child may be behind, reach out to see how we can support them! If you’re a professional, feel free to access the screener on my website and print it out for your clients!

If you've received the #OAP interim one-time funding and are needing clarity on what you can use it for, register for this #free virtual event put on by Autism Ontario. Norfolk/Haldimand: https://www.autismontario.com/civicrm/event/info Hint hint: eligible expenses include services from a speech-language pathologist! Our team has limited spots available for September so get in touch with us by filling out our referral form today: https://www.wecommunicateslp.com/get-in-touc...h #ontarioautismprogram #asd #speechtherapy #socialcommunication

I have the JOY of working with children with apraxia and watching them grow! If you just read that and wondered 'what is apraxia?', you hit the nail on the head! That's why I am participating the 2020 Guelph Virtual Walk for Apraxia - to raise awareness and funds for education related to apraxia of speech. Donations help families and professionals to support the community impacted by apraxia!... $50 provides 3 folders to families new to an apraxia diagnosis $100 covers the cost of a webinar membership $500 helps produce a new webinar to educate parents and speech therapists Donate here: https://secure.apraxia-kids.org/site//Walk/WalkForChildren

Segmenting sounds is a phonological awareness skill that is KEY to building strong spellers. Learn about how to support this in your child or the children you work with in this short video!

Screener Series: Blending Sounds into Words If you wonder why your child is struggling to read new words even when they know all of the individual sounds, then this is for YOU! Here's how you can start taking ACTION: Complete the full FREE screener with your child (you can find it here with all of our other screeners: https://www.wecommunicateslp.com/freebies)... Support early blending with your child in the FREE video from August 24 Reach out to chat about how we may be able to support your child to become a stronger and more confident reader

I recently did my first EVER spin class and I'm gonna be honest, it was ROUGH. And guess what else? It felt AMAZING. I didn't have the perfect form and I sure as heck didn't keep up with the target speed the whole class BUT I did something I had never done and I cycled longer than I thought I could. The only way to get to where you want to be is to get OUT THERE and get progressing. I CHALLENGE YOU to choose the smallest thing you can do to start moving towards your goal. Ea...ch morning, I've been getting dressed and putting on my cycling shoes at 6:15am. Just that has been enough to get me on that bike every day. With the kids that I work with, I often remind them about: The goal(s) they are working towards That I am supporting them making steps towards that goal What they have accomplished already with hard work What is the small step you're going to take towards your goal NOW? Share it so we can cheer each other on! #TherapyTipThursday: PROGRESS over PERFECTION

So many children I meet know the sounds of letters but struggle to read words. In this video, you will find out about a hidden piece of the puzzle which can help unlock your child's ability to read words! If your child is struggling with reading or spelling, our team has the tools to help them become a stronger reader. Fill out our referral form on our website today: www.wecommunicateslp.com/get-in-touch [email protected] | 647-962-4552 | www.wecommunicateslp.com

In this month's blog post, we're answering lots of questions about VIRTUAL SERVICES (aka #telepractice). Virtual services is allowing us to continue to support families to take action towards stronger speech, language and literacy skills in the comfort of their own homes without waiting months on a wait list. Learn more about how we're doing this and how you might benefit in the full blog here: https://www.wecommunicateslp.com/post/virtual-services What do you dream of when y...ou picture your child's future communication skills (talking, reading, writing, playing)? #NorfolkCounty #HaldimandCounty #speechtherapy