The Scottish Rite Centers for Childhood Language Development
To Hear
To Speak
To Understand
Material Furnished by:
Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida,
U.S.A., Inc.
Pages:
Parent Page
>1<
>2< >3<
>4<
Communication disorders
in children
These are the
basic steps of language development in the young mind.
Yet, there are
otherwise normal, healthy children, rich and poor alike, who are shut off from
communication, even with their own parents! These children's hearing, speech,
language, or learning problems could arise from a variety of reasons.
Research continues
on the causes of poor speech and language development, as well as associated
learning disabilities in children.
There is a wide
age range for children to begin talking, therefore, parents may not at first
recognize any communication disorders. Parents may gradually become aware and
concerned that something may be amiss as they wait expectantly for the first
intelligible word uttered by their child.
Speech language disorders affect approximately six million children in the
United States. However many of these childhood
problems do not mean mental deficiency or emotional disturbance. Often these children
have from average to even
superior
intelligence. What they lack is the ability to
exercise this intelligence through normal speech and
language channels.
Today, at our Scottish Rite Clinics in the State of Florida, Many children with
communication disorders are being helped to hear, to speak, to understand.
The Miracle of the Scottish Rite
Clinics, Centers, and Programs for
Childhood Language Disorders
In the early 1950's in Colorado, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States initiated a program to help children with speech and language disorders. The results obtained from this program led to the establishment of Scottish Rite clinics to provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders, as well as learning disabilities.
Today, there are
eleven clinics in Florida and many more throughout the United States. In these
clinics there are special programs for children. Each facility is staffed by
speech-language pathologists who must hold a Masters Degree in speech pathology.
Through the support of Scottish Rite Masons and friends of the Foundation,
these clinics and programs continue to increase.
The value of this
philanthropy has long been apparent. Hundreds of youngster have received
significant help in our Florida clinics, while thousands more across the United
States have been helped.. With the good work of dedicated clinicians and
parents, the Scottish Rite has achieved successes that could only be imagined a
few years back. Children who might have remained educationally handicapped
for a lifetime can now talk, read, and lead useful lives.
Results That Touch the Heart
A child so frustrated that he was hyperactive became a productive learner.
A child who was alienated and depressed because of a language impairment and who was devastating his household became friendly and responded in a happy manner to gentle, sustained treatment.
A little girl who was thought retarded reached out and spoke the names of her parents.
A boy who had a seemingly hopeless speech problem is today a successful lawyer.
How to Identify Speech and Language
Disorders and Associated
Learning Disabilities
Children who have
these problems are sometimes hard to detect. As noted before, there is a wide
age range for children to begin talking. Parents may become concerned later than
desirable, may not recognize, or may misinterpret the symptoms.
These
children are often slow in developing a vocabulary or are difficult to
understand, using incomplete or incorrect sentences or gibberish. They may have
difficulties with attention, memory, or word retrieval. They may be slow in
processing auditory information.
There are
many technical diagnostic terms for these problems, and some of them can sound
terrifying to parents. However, parents must remember that many of these
dysfunctions do not mean mental deficiency or emotional disturbance.
The Importance of Early
Evaluation and Treatment
In the past few years, there has been increased recognition of the importance of evaluation
and treatment of childhood language problems at the earliest possible
opportunity. The chances of a child with a communication disorder attaining his or her peer group level are much greater, if the child receives help at an early age.
What to Do if a Parent Suspects
a Child Needs Help
A parent with concerns about a child's language or learning ability should call a Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders for guidance or contact
a Scottish Rite Foundation Trustee at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in the
area where the help is needed. (See listing within the Contact Us Page.)
If this fails, you may contact the Foundation Secretary in Tampa at (813)
886-0578 for further instructions.
The first step is a complete evaluation of the child's condition by professionals. In most instances, a child identified as having a communication disorder can be helped by the Scottish Rite. However, a child who demonstrates overall developmental delays or severe handicapping conditions may require other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy or a full-time special
education program.
Any of the trained speech-language pathologists at the Scottish Rite clinics and centers can recommend programs specializing in advanced treatment.
In Florida, these
clinics are generally associated with major hospitals in the area. All are
clearly identified in this web site or in the telephone book in the area where
they are located.
The main thing parents should remember is to seek help as soon as possible if there s any indication that the child has a
problem.
Program Eligibility
As a rule, the Scottish Rite Clinics for Childhood Language Disorders accept pre-school
children who have difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken word or
school-age children who have difficulty learning to read. Inquiries on age group
program offerings in specific areas should be addressed to the Trustee at the
local Scottish Rite facility listed in our Contact Us page.
Equally
important, all services are available regardless of race, creed, or the family's
inability to pay.
Personal Involvement
The cooperation of each child's parents is essential. The whole family, as well as the child, is trained by skilled clinicians so that, in addition to treatment, parents are able to continue at home the clinic's recommended therapy.
Membership Involvement of the
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
There is a
contribution in human terms in solving these problems for the well-being and
happiness of children and their parents. There is also a very significant
contribution to the economic health of our country by providing the means for
these children to become productive adults, able to contribute to their own
lives and to the betterment of society. Education and concern for children have
always been among the fundamental tenets of the Masonic Fraternity. The
Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida provides educational grants, or scholarships
to qualified, needy high school students seeking higher education through the
Bachelor's Degree. We continue to advocate and support the educational
program.
Helping
children with speech and language disorders and learning disabilities is a
particular mission of the Scottish Rite. Together with our Childhood Language
Disorders Program, our support of education - scholarship is a continuing
effort, and each and every member will want to help fulfill this total effort
and mission.
How You Can Help Eliminate
Language and Learning Problems
in Children
Thanks to the
generosity of Scottish Rite members through their national and local
foundations, which provide financial support for our Childhood Language
Disorders Clinics, Centers, and Programs, thousands of children have been
evaluated and successfully treated in a nurturing environment.
Miracles can
happen, and with skillful evaluation and treatment, miracles are happening in
Scottish Rite facilities in Florida and throughout the United States.
However,
more clinics, centers, and programs are needed to help all of the children with
these problems.
Also,
Scottish Rite clinics already in existence continue to need donations for
additional therapists, instructional materials, special equipment, and improved
facilities.
In addition to our membership support, the Scottish Rite encourages all concerned citizens to assist in this worthy humanitarian effort. One way to assist is through estate planning. A bequest to either the local Scottish Rite
Foundation of Florida, U.S.A., Inc., can be designated for support of our children's charity. Gifts, of course, are tax deductible as
provided by law.
Children are tomorrow's citizens and the hope for our world. To help America's children overcome their challenges is a major contribution to our future.
The Scottish Rite
Foundation of Florida, U.S.A., Inc., is a "tax exempt, 501(c)(3)" Corporation.
The Scottish Rite Foundation of
Florida, U.S.A. Inc.
THE SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA, U.S.A., INC. was first chartered as the
Scottish Rite Foundation of Tampa, on July 3, 1961. However, the name was
changed to that Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida, U.S.A., Inc. on November
2nd of that year, and we continue to operate as such.
Due to the foresight of our founders, the Foundation was enlarged to include the
entire state and through financial support of our members, we have grown
since those early days from one clinic located in the All Children's Hospital in
St. Petersburg to eleven clinics and we are still growing. Treatment in our
clinics since 1975 is reaching into the thousands and with the training received
in these clinics, these children will take their proper place in society and
become productive citizens.
Statement of Purpose
The Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida, U.S.A., Inc., has as its STATE
WIDE mission the support of two extremely important programs - CHILDHOOD
LANGUAGE DISORDERS AND EDUCATION.
The emphasis of the EDUCATIONAL program is on SCHOLARSHIPS for deserving HIGH
SCHOOL graduates who need financial assistance to attend college or a technical
school.
The programs are clear evidence of Florida Scottish Rite Masons CARING and
SHARING in helping to build America's future by investing in the youth of today.
Pages:
Parent Page
>1<
>2< >3<
>4<
|
