Lucy’s Best of All Moment: The Power of Communication

Lucy completed her first session of Speech this past spring. Her Wayne State graduate clinician, Clara, was so excited to share Lucy’s Best of All Moment during one of their sessions, and we love sharing it with all of you!

Clara and Lucy had been working hard on the goal of signing “more” to request something to continue during play. One of their many games was playing with a toy car—Clara would zoom it across the floor, then pause and wait for Lucy to make her request. They practiced this again and again, patiently building up the skill. Then came the bubbles. Clara blew a few, then stopped and waited. With determination and joy, Lucy signed “more” all on her own. Everyone in the room cheered loudly—it was a huge step in her communication journey! Way to go Lucy on your Best of All moment!

This moment wasn’t just about bubbles or playtime—it was about giving Lucy a voice.

Why Speech Therapy Matters

For individuals with Down syndrome, speech and language development can present unique challenges. Delays in expressive language, difficulty with articulation, and low oral muscle tone can all make it harder to communicate. That’s why early and consistent speech therapy is so important. It helps build the foundation for communication—through sounds, signs, gestures, or augmentative tools—so each person can express their wants, needs, and ideas. However, even though it’s such a vital resource our participants need, they often are faced with long waitlists and financial burdens to get Speech & Language therapy.

Speech therapy is about more than talking. It’s about connection, confidence, and independence. For Lucy, learning to sign “more” opened a door. It gave her a way to be heard, and that’s something worth celebrating!

If you would like to learn more about our Amina Grace Speech & Language program, please reach out to Kathleen Tynes, our programs coordinator, at ktynes@gigisplayhouse.org.