Check out a glimpse of Kaelyn's Music-Directed Speech Therapy session with a Stage 1 GLP and new AAC user!

Music is highly motivating for many gestalt language processors due to musical features like intonation and pitch. You'll notice how this child actually requested help when he gestured for Kaelyn to touch his device, which demonstrates how quickly he has learned the purpose of an AAC device for communication. Furthermore, watch how Kaelyn honours every mode of communication, whether it be speech, gestures, or AAC.

This child also receives GLP-focused intervention with an SLP to expand his repertoire of Stage 1 gestalts.

Lastly, we have the school to thank for letting us work in the sensory room, where this child can receive external sensory input to aid in regulation. We love a full team approach!

We are thrilled to have been selected as 1 of 13 recipients (out of 274 amazing applicants) of the 2023 Dow Indigenous Economy Fund. With this grant, we received $5000 and membership as a Certified Canadian Aboriginal Business. 

We have used these funds to purchase 5 new iPads for our growing staff (of course they are pink!), which will be used in therapy sessions with our AAC users. We are so honoured to be able to service our AAC users in Northwestern Ontario better because of this grant.

The process of Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) that gestalt language processors (GLPs) go through can sometimes be complicated to envision... so let's sweeten the deal with The Chocolate Analogy!

Introducing our new-and-Marge-approved Chocolate Analogy -- updated to include real child gestalts and demonstrating the progression through all 6 Stages of Natural Language Acquisition (from Stage 1 gestalts/"scripts" to Stage 6 fully-developed self-generated grammar). This sweet analogy provides a visualization of how our GLPs move through each of the NLA stages.

The chocolate bars themselves each represent a full, unmitigated gestalt. If we break off a row (or part of the gestalt), we can combine with other rows in a process known as mitigation. After this, we can break down even further to the individual squares of chocolate, which is finally when we hear those freed words, and can start combining referentially. Lastly, the individual squares can be combined in beginning grammar to form novel, self-generated language.

If you liked our original Chocolate Analogy, check this one out for a more accurate representation through ALL 6 stages.

Big thanks to Marge Blanc, author of Natural Language Acquisition (2012) for helping us get this to you!

P.S., You can download the PDF handout version of our chocolate analogy (below) on our resources page, or by clicking here!

Tag along with Kaelyn to a Music-Directed Speech Therapy session with a gestalt language processor in stage 2 (mitigations!) of the Natural Language Acquisition framework. Kaelyn is working on naturally modelling mitigations (or changing some parts of a script/song within a familiar "frame") in her music directed sessions, and I love how she pauses to allow this child to fill in the blank with a new mitigation (or, she can model something new in that spot!).

Notice how her client is moving, exploring, and staying regulated with movement while still participating in the session! She also used one of his special interests (bees!) to guide her activity. Well done Kaelyn, we love seeing how your clients are responding to your sessions!

Does your child have an OAP number but is not yet receiving services? Do they present with a high-risk behaviour and would they benefit from a collaborative, interdisciplinary team approach?

HAEPI SLP has partnered with FIREFLY (the lead Agency of OAP Urgent Response Services in Northwestern Ontario) to provide the SLP portion for these referrals, serving all communities in the Kenora, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay districts. Currently, Halle Demchuk (owner/operator of HAEPI) is taking on these referrals.

Check out the info sheets below to learn more about what OAP URS services look like, who is eligible, and how to access these services.

To self-refer, call 1 (833) 696-5437 or email [email protected]