Maryville University’s Walker Scottish Rite Clinic Offers Free Speech Therapy Services to Families
ST. LOUIS – Speech and language are challenging cognitive achievements for many children. The month of May is annually recognized as National Speech-Language-Hearing Month by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), to educate the public about the importance of early intervention to achieve the best outcomes.
Speech and language disorders are among the most common conditions that young children experience. Parents may notice their child is struggling with speech sounds, language usage, or social communication. For some, stuttering is the prime observation by parents. The National Stuttering Association also recognizes the need to build a strong foundation and confidence in the thousands of young people who stutter.
At Maryville University’s Walker Scottish Rite Clinic, in-person and virtual services are provided to children ages two to six, and at no charge regardless of a family’s financial circumstances. The key is to arrange for early professional help to achieve the best possible outcomes for the child.
“Parents and caregivers are essential partners when it comes to communication,” explains Jacob Gutshall, director of the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic at Maryville University. “We teach long-term therapeutic techniques to help children succeed in everyday situations. Our resources can help children succeed in peer relationships, in school, and throughout life.”
Jacob Gutshall and the Walker Clinic team became national thought leaders during the pandemic, through virtual sessions with speech-language and literacy professionals around the country. Together, this group helped identify new virtual tools for professionals and families to implement in the home. With increased internet access in urban and rural areas, families can connect with the Walker Clinic for telepractice services and resources.
About the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic
TheWalker Scottish Rite Clinicprovides speech-language therapy for children ages 2 through 6 throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, at no charge to families. Founded in 1988, the Walker Clinic became a program of Maryville University in 2015, and serves children year-round through its main location on the Maryville campus, at partner satellite locations in community centers and Head Start preschools, and remotely via telepractice. It is one of the Scottish Rite supported “RiteCare” programs nationwide for children with communication disorders. Ongoing support through individual donations, grants and special events are vital to ensuring that the Walker Clinic can continue providing free services for children, regardless of their families’ financial circumstances.
SRClinic.org