We have had such a great response to our baby/toddler check-in sessions, and are thrilled to share that we will have 3 SLPs (Halle, Megan, Linsey) able to provide these services over the summer months of July & August.

Here are the answers to a few FAQ:

Where do sessions take place?
We come to you! We can work with you at your home, daycare, or community setting (park, playground, etc.) within Thunder Bay. Most parents LOVE that we can see you at home, since that's one less transition for you and your little one (plus not having to find childcare for siblings is a bonus!), and we can provide strategies to try using the things you already have in your home!

What is the frequency of sessions?
This is flexible, and we will work with you and your child to determine the best frequency. It may be one time, biweekly, monthly, or every couple of months. Services can be paused or discontinued at any time.

Is this service eligible for reimbursement through private insurance/benefits?
Absolutely! Many insurance plans cover speech language pathology services. We recommend checking with your benefits provider first to clarify what coverage is available by your plan .

Have any other questions? Drop them below!

Our gestalt language processors' first step in their language development is acquiring verbatim scripts or phrases that are meaningful to them, and using them spontaneously later in other contexts (this is referred to as "delayed echolalia" or using "gestalts").

The great thing is that our GLPs will acquire phrases when they are modelled naturally, but there are a few considerations we should keep in mind, such as:

1. modelling phrases that will be easier to mitigate (mix and match) later in Stage 2, and can be used easily across contexts. Instead of modeling "I want apple," I would more likely model "give me that!," as that can be modelled in SO MANY MORE contexts.
2. using varied intonation and giving your phrases a musical quality is often more appealing to GLPs as they more often attach meaning to the way a script sounds than the actual words
3. narrating from the child's perspective (such as "pick me up!" instead of "you want to be picked up") helps attach meaning to common phrases the child may hear and want to say. By narrating, we are filling the child's environment with new potential language to pick up, and by using declarative language, we are taking any pressure off to respond in a certain way.
   
4. following the child's lead and interests will allow for the child to be intrinsically motivated, which transfers over to communication as well

The shift from modelling "survival language" (sentence strips, single words, labelling) can feel like a big one, but your GLP will develop more flexible language if we meet them where they are at as gestalt language processors. 

Today we "commuted" 850 km by plane to our most Northern community, which we are traveling to both this week and next.

The views were amazing as always, though it did get cold near the end, and there is still a little bit of snow left here (even though it's the end of May)!

My favourite part was finding some shells from the Arctic Ocean!

We were so honoured to each receive a custom-made Ribbon Skirt last week when visiting a fly-in Indigenous community.

I think the highlight of the trip was when the kokums (grandmas) made us spin around while the Kindergarteners told us how beautiful the skirts were. 

We love this description from www.theribbonskirtproject.ca:

"For Indigenous peoples, the Ribbon Skirt represents our own personal reclamation. It represents reclaiming identity, and wearing that identity proudly. It has become armour. It is a cultural protection against assimilation and degradation. It is a reminder of our roles in our community as women and as members. It reminds us of our sacredness as women and the power in that. It tells our story of adaptation and survival."

And how fitting is the pink?

After 3 years of traveling to northern remote communities that are only accessible by plane, I've learned a few tips & tricks so that the trips go as smoothly as possible...

1. Batch meal-prepping. I am not kidding when I say I'll make 6 chicken pot pies at once, or two full crockpots of chilli. Soups, bagels, banana bread, casseroles, etc. are great for bringing up North and reheating, and have the added benefit of acting like an ice pack (since space can be scarce!).

2. Bring up as much water as we can. There are still 26 First Nations communities (and no, that's not a typo) without access to clean drinking water. We are visiting one this week. Even if a community is not under a water advisory, things can happen that result in not having drinking water.

3. Pack an extra set of clothes (and food) in a carry-on. This is good practice wherever you travel, but since we have to take 2 flights to get to each community, that is double the chance of lost or stuck luggage. Learned this one the hard way!

Have questions about being an SLP/service provider with Northern travel? Drop them below! 

Join me on a full travel day to a remote Indigenous fly-in community! Today was a full day including 2 flights, meeting with an audiologist, and some unexpected turbulence...

Questions about Northern travel or fly-in services? Drop them below!

I think this clip demonstrates a few things we really strive for at HAEPI SLP: following the child's lead, embracing all play, and modelling without expectation both on AAC and verbal phrases for gestalt language processors.

The @gestaltgoodness cards shown were also a great addition - my kiddo loved listening to the child model via the QR code. Usually I stay completely away from flash cards with GLPs, but these ones are designed for the communication partners (not necessarily the child), so WE can remember to model naturally in play, and use easily mitigable phrases across contexts.

I also loved introducing the cards to school staff to further explain how we can model (!!!), because it takes a while to become natural for anyone new to GLP!

*I received these First Phrases cards as a gift, with no expectation to review. Just love them that much!*

HAEPI 1st Birthday!

Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed that a year after opening my practice (intended for just me), I would have 8 staff (missing Zac!) and counting (!!!) putting their trust in me and committing to neurodiversity-affirming SLP/OT/music-based therapies in Thunder Bay.

I feel incredibly blessed and am so thankful for our community! I am beyond excited to see what next year brings.

We are looking for an Indigenous digital illustrator (located in Canada) for an exciting project!

Please share this within your circles to help us find the perfect fit.

Interested applicants are encouraged to email [email protected] with a short biography of themselves and a portfolio of their work.

Chi-miigwech!