Caring Communication Services, LLC

09/08/2025

👶🗣️ A Speech & Play Development Tip from an Early Intervention SLP

✨Take the Batteries Out of Toys as your child develops or donate them✨

🔋 Less noise, more talking!
When a toy makes all the sounds for a child, there’s less reason for them to make their own. By removing batteries, children are encouraged to use their voices by making sounds, words, and even silly noises to bring the toy “to life.”

🎭 More space for pretend play.
Without the distraction of the lights and music, kids have the chance to imagine. A simple toy car can “zoom,” “crash,” or “fly” depending on the child’s creativity. Pretend play is a huge part of language and cognitive development.

👶 Push button toys do have a place.
Cause and effect toys are fantastic for infants and very young toddlers. They teach little ones that their actions have power in the world. But as kids grow, we want toys that spark imagination and communication, not just button pressing.

💡 The goal is more interaction, more words, more creativity. By taking out the batteries, the toy becomes a tool and the child gets to be the one who drives the play.

09/05/2025

✨ Exciting News! ✨ Please help us welcome Callie, our newest member of Toman Therapeutic Services! Callie has a strong background in working with children and is passionate about helping kids grow and thrive. We’re so excited for the families in our practice to get to know her!

Hi, my name is Callie Norman, and I’m an Occupational Therapy Assistant here at Toman Therapeutic Services. I earned my Associates of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistance from the Community College of Allegheny County in 2020. I bring over 5 years of experience working in a school-based setting, where I supported students in developing the skills they needed to succeed in learning, play, and daily routines. That experience has helped shape my passion for empowering children to reach their fullest potential through meaningful and engaging therapy while helping children grow with confidence and independence.
In addition to my clinical work, I serve as the COTA Representative for District II of the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA) and am the new Second Co-Chair for the Children & Youth Special Interest Section (SIS). These roles allow me to advocate for the occupational therapy profession, stay connected with current best practices, and bring fresh, evidence-based strategies and resources into my work with children and families.
Here at Toman Therapeutic Services, I plan to collaborate closely with Megan, families, and caregivers to create individualized sessions that are both fun and goal driven. My goal is to make therapy a positive, encouraging experience where every child feels supported, successful, and celebrated.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and can usually be found with a good cup of coffee in hand. I love being outdoors and often visit local parks with my energetic 5-year-old German Shepherd mix, Roo!

09/03/2025

🌮🐉 Miss Megan’s clients had the best time today reading Dragons Love Tacos! They practiced their speech and language skills by talking about all the yummy taco toppings (and maybe some silly ones too 😉).🌮✨

09/02/2025

👅✨Can a tongue tie really affect speech?

A tongue tie can change the way the tongue rests in the mouth. Instead of sitting up behind the teeth on the alveolar ridge (where it should be), it feels more comfortable down on the floor of the mouth. Mouth breathing is also seen frequently when the tongue wants to rest on the floor of the mouth

Here’s why that matters ⬇️

👅 The tongue is a natural palate expander.
➡️ When it doesn’t rest up on the palate, the palate can become high and narrow.

👃 The palate is also the floor of the nose!
➡️ A high, narrow palate can affect nasal space and even contribute to a deviated septum.

🗣️ And because speech sounds depend on lip and tonge range of motion, altered structure can make certain sounds harder to produce because the tongue has to move further to reach the correct spot.

So yes….tongue ties are about way more than just breastfeeding. They can influence breathing, feeding, speech, and facial growth too! 🌟

📞 If your child is not speaking clearly or having trouble with certain sounds and you want to get to the root cause, call 724-787-6049 to schedule a speech sound assessment today.

08/26/2025

‼Our Fall 2025 dates for Birds of a Feather Preschool Readiness Playgroup are now OPEN for registration!
🐦Join us at one of our 3 library locations: Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, Whitehall Public Library, or newly added Citizens Library & District Center !
🐦Together at Birds, we play, learn, socialize, and grow all while preparing our little learners for the transition to preschool and beyond.
🐦Birds is free, early intervention friendly (bring your therapist!), and inclusive. We welcome learners of all abilities!
🐦Register today to secure your spot: achieva.info/events/birdsofafeather

08/26/2025

08/21/2025

🚨 Now Available in Westmoreland County – Project Lifesaver! 🚨

Project Lifesaver is a program that helps quickly locate loved ones with cognitive conditions who may wander, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Down syndrome, or autism.

👩‍👩‍👦 How it works:
✔️ Participants wear a small wristwatch-style transmitter that emits a unique signal.
✔️ If a participant goes missing, search teams use their signal receiving equipment to track and locate the missing person.

➡️ Caregivers can now enroll online here:
🔗 https://www.westmorelandcountypa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=8375

Help us spread the word by sharing this post so more families know about this lifesaving program! 💙

08/20/2025

Fun day today collaborating with our new friends at and ! 💗💛💙

We had the opportunity to discuss tongue ties, airway expansion, and how our offices can collaborate for amazing results. Thank you so much for having us! 🎉

08/19/2025

✨📚 Back to School Season ✨

As our younger students head back into classrooms and our college students return to campus, we want to take a moment to celebrate all of them! 🌟

We’re especially thankful for the college students who chose to spend their breaks with us, shadowing in our clinic and working toward their mandatory observation hours. Your dedication, curiosity, and passion for learning make such a difference. Not, only for your own growth, but also for the field of speech-language pathology. 💬💡

We hosted Emily Lehman from the University of Pittsburgh, Rachel Leo from Penn State University and Delaney Porterfield from Ohio University. All three young women are perfect for this field.

To all of our students, from preschool to college: we’re cheering you on as you start a new year full of learning, friendships, and new opportunities. 🍎✏️🎓

08/16/2025

💌 Help me choose this week’s book (perfect for preschool + early elementary!)

📚✨ As much as the kids just want to play Pop the Pig 🐽 every week, I love planning my speech therapy themes around literacy because…

🌟 Books build vocabulary

🗣️ They support speech & language goals

💭 Stories spark imagination

🤝 They encourage connection and communication

👉 Which book brings back the fondest childhood memories of you and your child? 💕📖✨

08/12/2025

Yesterday was a difficult day for the USS steel workers, but also for a family in McKeesport whose little boy unfortunately eloped and the outcome ended in every parents worst nightmare.

I bring light to this to raise awareness. Individuals on the autism spectrum can have the tendency to wander or elope from their homes or wherever they might be. Parents can keep as close an eye on them as possible, but it still happens.

Our first event in 2022 was a safety event. This exact instance came up. At the event we supplied door/window alarms, social stories, emergency information pages and knowledge from Corporal Aaron Allen.

I’m sharing the Big Red Safety Box information from the National Autism Association. Please check it out and I encourage you to get a kit.

We will share more information for safety will be shared at Greensburg’s Touch a Truck Event, Sept 20.

~~Ali, Founder of Inclusive Connections

02/23/2025

Thanks to the generosity of the Jamie Cordial Hall Foundation, scholarships are available for our littlest learners. Spaces are still available for the 2025-2026 school year, but are limited and filling fast. If tuition is holding you back from enrolling, it shouldn't be - submit your registration and scholarship applications today!