April Speech Participant Spotlight!

“Zach’s speech and communication has come so far since attending the GiGi’s Playhouse Amina Grace Speech and Language Program. I really love that the therapists go above and beyond to coordinate with Zach’s speech therapists at school to be able to focus on the same skills. Zach has been taught so many skills at GiGi’s that he uses everyday. For example, Zach’s little brother’s name is Noah. Zach had always called him “Boah” since “N” was hard for him. Taylor has taught him cues to point to his nose when saying words with the letter N, which he uses, and he is now able to say his brother’s name MUCH clearer. We are so grateful for this program. Thank you GiGi’s Playhouse!”

–Dawn, Zach’s mom

Please meet our April Participant Spotlight for the GiGi’s Playhouse 1-on-1 Amina Grace Speech and Language Program… Zach! You can find Zach in the Playhouse pretty regularly between his active sports schedule. Zach is not only a SUPERSTAR athlete, but also an awesome dancer (his flossing skills are NO joke), and by far one of the sweetest, most hard working kids I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  Zach has been a participant in the GiGi’s Playhouse 1-on-1 Amina Grace Speech and Language Program since Fall 2017. Zach always comes to the speech room ready to work—he takes every challenge head on and without complaint!

Therapy has been targeting Zach’s following of multi-step directions including prepositions and size/quantity/quality concepts within, answering wh- and yes/no questions following a short story, listing a category and attributes of an item to expand vocabulary, production of the /f/ and /s/ sounds within words, and increasing his oral motor skills—specifically jaw stability. Recently, Zach is ONE block away from completing the entire jaw stability program set for him, which is HUGE! He practices daily at home and there is a noticeable difference in his jaw stability and speech clarity.

Zach has been working hard towards his goals and readily generalizes the strategies taught in therapy, especially with regards to speech sounds, into his everyday environments! Zach’s mom is wonderful at encouraging Zach to use his skills as well as keep up with the daily (if not more!) practice of the oral motor work. It has been paying off! Here at GiGi’s Playhouse, we’re focused on continuing to enhance Zach’s speech and language skills so he can continue achieving his Best of All!

For more information about the 1-on-1 Amina Grace Speech and Language Program, visit us at https://gigisplayhouse.org/hoffmanestates/amina-grace-speech-and-language-program

-Taylor Kent-Kowalski

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