International Day of Person's with Disabilities

December 3rd, 2017 is the international person's with disabilities day. 

This international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. This day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.

This years theme is Transformation towards Sustainable and Resilient Society for all. Check out this website for more information.

Thanksgiving Fun Facts

In celebration of thanksgiving this week, here are 5 Thanksgiving fun facts! 

• Americans eat 46 million turkeys each thanksgiving 
• The very first Thanksgiving was held in 1621
• Thanksgiving is the reason for TV Dinners! - There was so much left over turkey someone had the idea to put it in an aluminum tray to heat up later. 
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924
• There were no forks at the first Thanksgiving! Only spoons and knifes. 

American Speech-Language Hearing Association Conference 2017

This past week our office was closed on Thursday and Friday.

The therapists took a trip to Los Angeles, California to attend the yearly ASHA conference.

The ASHA Convention is the strongest educational program for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, speech and hearing scientists, and related professionals.

Make sure to ask your therapist how the conference was!

"This was my first time at ASHA and I had an awesome experience! I am excited to apply everything I learned from the conference into therapy.  It was amazing to be surrounded by thousands of people who share the same passion as me."  

- Adina (SLPA)

World Origami Days

October 24th through November 11th is "World Origami Days." 

World Origami days began on October 24th and will last until November 11th.

October 24th is the birthday of Lillian Oppenheimer (1898 - 1992), who founded the first origami group in America. November 11th is Origami Day in Japan where the paper crane has become a symbol of peace. 

Celebrate by creating your own origami creation! 

Click here for a link to an online template for creating the paper crane!

Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia is defined as difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities. Typically, Dyslexia results from a deficit in the phonological component of language. 

Dyslexia Awareness month was first celebrated in 2002. 

You can help raise awareness by using the hashtag #DyslexiaAwarenessMonth on social media! 

Resources:

• http://nild.org/october-is-national-dyslexia-month-do-you-know-the-signs/

National Bullying Prevention Month

National Bullying Prevention Month

1 out of every 5 students report being bullied according to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. 

October is the National Bullying Prevention Month. October 25th is unity day. Where we raise awareness by wearing and sharing orange. This day was initiated by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in October of 2006. It has since grown to an entire month of raising awareness to prevent bullying. 

This year, for every #CleantheMean post on Facebook or Instagram, clarisonic will donate $1 to PACER's National Prevention Center (up to $100,000.) Get involved and help raise awareness by posting using the hashtag #CleantheMean! 

Resources:

• http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/

International Stuttering Awareness Day

International Stuttering Awareness Day

International Stuttering Awareness Day is Oct. 22nd. To help raise awareness and celebrate here are some fun facts and myths about stuttering:

• Over three million Americans stutter
• Children who stutter are at a higher risk for bullying
• Stuttering affects three to four times as many males as females
• Approximately 5% of all children go through a period of stuttering that last six months or more. 3 quarters will recover by late childhood, leaving 1% with a long term stutter.
• Studies show that people who stutter are as intelligent and well-adjusted as those who don't. 
• Nervousness does NOT cause stuttering
• Famous people who stutter include Emily Blunt, Joe Biden, and Marilyn Monroe

Your response when conversing with a person who stutters is important. It is not an appropriate response to tell them to "think about what you say first" or to "take a deep breath before talking." It is also not favorable to finish their sentences. A more appropriate response would be to listen patiently and treat them as you normally would treat someone in a conversation.  

Our very own speech language pathologist, Tiffani, has written a wonderful article regarding her journey with stuttering and her own fluency disorder. Check it out here!