The Citizen, 1997-10-01, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997.
DHC does plan for speech therapy services
Speech and language disorders
affect approximately 10 per cent of
Ontario's children. Amongst the
most handicapping conditions,
they result in life-long problems
which are costly to society.
To that end, the Huron-Perth Dis
trict Health Council has developed
a draft plan to provide speech and
language services to preschool
aged children.
It has been estimated that for
every dollar spent on services for a
preschooler, approximately $6 is
saved instead of providing the ser
vices al a later age.
Left untreated, children with
speech and language disabilities
risk mental health problems, learn
ing disabilities, poor academic
achievement, increased school
drop-out rates, juvenile delinquen
cy, under employment, increased
use of social services and increased
youth and adult crime.
The Huron-Perth District Health
Council's speech and language
working group, which has been
meeting since September, 1996,
consists of representatives from
boards of education, preschool ser
vice providers, community care
access centres, Thames Valley
Treatment Centre, Child Parent
Resource Institute, speech language
pathologists, Ministry of Commu
nity and Social Services, public
health units, physicians, children's
mental health programs, family ser
vices as well as parents and care
givers.
After looking at figures which
indicate 914 children in Huron-
Perth could have speech and lan
guage disorders (10 per cent of the
population) while only 446, aged
birth to 4, have been identified, the
group planned changes for the
future delivery of services.
There will be changes in the way
referrals are made. An individual
can make a referral for speech and
language services simply by mak
ing a phone call. ‘ -
Access to services will be simpli
fied. There will be a common
intake, referral, information and
monitoring system. It will be user
friendly.
There will an increased flexibili
ty in service delivery including
education, consultation, mediated
therapy, and direct therapy.
The role of the speech language
pathologist will be broadened to
include increased consultation and
education services.
Service models will be provided
throughout the district where par
ents, caregivers and children access
services.
A speech and language services
system committee will be devel
oped involving parents, caregivers
and service providers. The main
responsibility will be the evaluation
of the system and identifying ongo
ing needs.
Anyone interested in reviewing
the plan or further information may
contact Shirley Koch al the Huron-
Perth District Health Council, 348-
4498.
Teachers aren’t
backing down
Continued from page 1
legislation that will take a further
$1 billion from education.
"Our working conditions are our
students learning conditions," said
Mary Ann Cruickshank, president
of OSSTF District 45. "Our
members are here to tell Helen
Johns we will not back down to
government initiatives which will
bankrupt our public education
system."
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