Augmentative Communication

WHO WE ARE

The John McGivney Children's Centre's (JMCC) Augmentative Communication Clinic is an Expanded Level Clinic with the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. We are staffed by a multidisciplinary team made up of speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, communicative disorder assistants and technologists.

We assist children and youth with severe speech or language problems and/or difficulty holding a pen or pencil and help them find alternative ways to communicate.

WHAT WE DO

Our team works with clients and families to assess individuals' communication needs and provides recommendations and/or equipment tailored to meet their unique communication challenges. Any equipment recommendations must meet ADP’s funding criteria, but we provide consultative services for those who do not meet these criteria.

Core therapy services and recommendations for speech/language therapies or occupational therapies are offered through JMCC’s Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy departments.

ELIGIBILITY & REFERRALS

Our Augmentative Communication Clinic accepts referrals for children and youth under the age of 19 and young people between the ages of 19 and 21 who remain in secondary school and reside in Windsor and Essex County who meet one or more of the following guidelines:

• Person is non-verbal and intentionally communicating (e.g. grabbing parent’s hand and leading them to an item)
• Person is intentionally communicating for three or more of the following: they want something, they need help, they don’t want something, they want attention, they are directing an activity, they want more of something, they don’t want to do something and/or they are making choices
• Person is using more than ten pictures, signs or words
• Person is speaking but is very difficult to understand
• Person does not have these skills and has difficulty pointing to or reaching for symbols
• Person has a writing need but is unable to use a pen/pencil or standard keyboard

To participate in this program, please visit our Intake & Referrals page.

If the child or youth is not yet displaying these behaviours, consider a referral to an ADP Authorizer or contact the Centre for a consultation session.

To find out more, please call 519-252-7281.