Putting “Fun” into Functional Speech and Language Therapy

The amazing thing about the Amina Grace Speech and Language Program at GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester is that communication goals are addressed through fun and meaningful experiences. The program allows for and encourages speech and language pathologists to not only address goals that are individualized education plan specific, but functional life skills that can be utilized in and outside of the classroom. I have had the pleasure of working with these three young men for several years in various therapeutic settings. Most recently we agreed that a small social skills group was the most appropriate context to work on real life communication skills such as asking questions, waiting for responses, addressing peers in a social situation, volume and clarity of speech to name just a few of the goals we work on in.

Disney movies and characters are a HUGE motivator for this group, and together we came up with the idea of creating a Disney Jeopardy Game to be played with peers at our very popular Teentastic program. Jack, Landon and Sam worked together each week to create appropriate, topic-related questions for the game. Together, we researched online platforms for creating our own Jeopardy-style game. The guys took turns typing out their questions, they role-played and practiced the presentation and run-through of the game and finally were able to show off their hard work to a group of peers at our November Teentastic program.  

Everyone in the room was smiling and cheering each other on as the teams went head-to-head in a fierce competition of Disney Jeopardy. The three hosts were beaming with pride and accomplishment as they carried out yet another task from start to finish and were able to see their peers take part and enjoy something as much as they do. Jack, Landon and Sam, you continue to inspire me with your friendship, your commitment to do good things for others and to always make everyone around you smile and laugh through the process. You have all demonstrated what it means to be part of #GenerationG!

-Kristin