Best Practices Across Borders

Written by Shirit Megiddo, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL

On March 19, CHC had the pleasure of hosting Physical Therapist Su Lin Ng and Speech-Language Pathologist Christine Bosch of Therapy Focus, a non-profit organization in Western Australia. As we compared best practice models used in the Bay Area/U.S. and Australia, two of the hot topics discussed were raising children bilingually and the inclusion model of therapy.

Should I raise my child bilingually?

Parents and service providers in the U.S. and Australia continue to worry that exposing children [especially those with communication impairments] to multiple languages will either confuse them or delay their speech/language development.  On the contrary: Raising children bilingually, regardless of language proficiency, provides many cognitive, linguistic, and social advantages and no confusion whatsoever.  A child with language impairments may learn any language as long as caregivers provide frequent and adequate language models in their native language.

How Does CHC Support Bilingual Children?

Many of CHC’s clinicians and teachers are bilingual and can provide therapy and evaluation services in a variety of languages.  Translation services are also available.

What is Inclusion Therapy?

CHC and Therapy Focus clinicians also agreed on the benefits of inclusion.  Inclusion is the concept of treating children with special needs in the same environment as their typically developing peers so that they best assimilate to the real world and benefit from natural modeling. Therapy activities are most meaningful and functional when carried out in the child’s natural setting—like school, the community or home.

How Does CHC Practice Inclusion?

CHC clinicians provide therapy services for Esther B. Clark (EBC) and Sand Hill School students in their classrooms when appropriate (or on our playgrounds or in the nearby store), frequently collaborating with EBC and Sand Hill teachers to support clinical and academic goals, and consulting with our clients’ service providers and teachers outside of CHC when parent permission is provided.

• Find out more about CHC’s available clinical services, including speech/language assessments and treatment.
• Learn more about raising your child bilingually.
• Learn more about inclusion.
• Find out more about the nonprofit organization Therapy Focus.

Shirit Megiddo, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
Bilingual Speech/Language Pathologist
Board Certified Specialist in Child Language

About the author: Shirit Megiddo is a bilingual speech/language therapist who is board certified specialist in child language.  She has been practicing for over 15 years.  At CHC Shirit provides speech/language evaluations and treatment in the Clinical Services Division and at EBC School.

To schedule an evaluation or to get advice about your child’s challenges, call or email a CHC Care Coordinator at 650.688.3625 or careteam@chconline.org