CALM Speech and Language Therapy

03/21/2024

Today is National Down Syndrome Day. It is a global celebration and awareness of a remarkable group of people 🥰

The mums in this video and the dad who created it met online and got together to show the world just how ordinary and fun life with the condition is and how ...

11/14/2022

My little buddy is turning 3 and is making all kinds of sounds!!! 😃🥰

09/27/2022

06/29/2022

Sleep is dramatically under addressed for people with autism. Nearly every child who I have worked with that is on the spectrum has had at least some sleeping issues. Imagine how you would function if night after night, you did not sleep. We can’t expect our children to function at their highest potential if they don’t get the sleep that their body and mind need.

Many autism parents can relate to the exhaustion and frustration of trying to get a full night’s sleep for themselves and their child on the spectrum. If you’re wondering why your child can’t sleep, you’re not alone. Nearly 80% of autistic preschoolers have trouble sleeping through the night...

08/31/2021

When you live in a beautiful city like San Diego, you do therapy at the lake. We sat on the dock to watch the ducks and learn new verbs-swim, fly, dive, eat and splash

08/26/2021

Using personally motivating and functional vocabulary are important during articulation practice. Today we did a chip taste test to practice /s/, /z/ and /ch/. Target words were “chip,” “cheese,” “nacho,” “spicy,” “ranch,” and “best.” This weekend, my kiddo is going to do the test with the entire family to get more practice with these sounds. For more ideas on how to target speech and language goals contact CALM today.

05/27/2021

One of the first things I always do in a new home, is reduce the amount of toys available. Too many toys can be overwhelming and makes it difficult for a child to engage and truly play with them.

04/07/2021

Never underestimate the power of play. Start early and remember to have fun!

03/10/2021

Beautifully written and a simple reminder...be kind, open, and accepting of everyone-you might just be the one to change someone’s day

When we are out in public, I don’t worry about how my son will act.

I don’t worry about his struggles or mannerisms. Or his uniqueness.

Because I know exactly who he is and how he is going to behave. And that he is learning and growing.

I know he will flap his arms in pure joy.

I know he will run. And sit. And maybe feel the cool of the cement with his cheek.

I know he will squeal. And hum. And laugh.

I know he will wave to strangers who rarely wave back.

I know if there is music playing he will dance.

I know if he has to wait for too long he will get frustrated. He may even stomp his feet and hit his own head.

I know he will do all of these things because he is Cooper. He is 10 and he is autistic. And he is learning to navigate this world. A world that he doesn’t understand quite yet.

And it is my job as his mom, to give him the space to do so. I don’t worry about him so much anymore.

What I do worry about though is everyone else.

I think it’s important for the world to know that.

That there is a mom, with three little boys, who is 37 and pregnant, and she worries before leaving the house and at 4 am and when she puts him on the bus, that people will be mean to her oldest son.

You. A man. A woman. A grandparent. A teen.

Cruel to her son who is the most precious soul. The one who loves trains and dancing and when the wind blows through his hair.

He loves holding hands and the sound metal makes when his hand taps on it.

This mother, she worries you will laugh at him. And point. And snicker. And mock.

Or worse. Yell at him. Scold him. Belittle him.

She tries not too. She tries to remember that the world is mostly good.

She tries to be brave and invincible but most days she wants to keep that precious boy home where he is safe and loved.

But something inside her reminds her daily that her son deserves to know the world. And the world deserves to know him.

Please people. Those whom I’ve never met. And those who do not know autism.

Give us grace. Give us kindness. Give us patience and room to grow.

And know that we are doing our absolute best.

Feel free to say hi if you see us practicing being in the world. We love people. We love smiles too. And waves. And kind eyes.

02/25/2021

Many parents have questions about stuttering (also called disfluency). It is common for a child aged 2-6 to experience a period of disfluency, but how do you know when to be concerned? Below is a simple explanation of typical versus less typical patterns. Contact CALM today to learn more.

01/21/2021

Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison is a memoir about the life of a man who has Autism. It provides a unique insight into the triumphs and struggles someone on the spectrum might experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge and understanding of the beautiful minds people with Autism have.

01/04/2021

CALM Speech and Language Therapy specializes in early intervention services (ages birth-3). Contact us today to learn more about the services we can offer to help you and your child communicate better

One of the many effects of the coronavirus was to shut off parents from finding out if their child was developmentally delayed, with critical months lost.

12/23/2020

Language is everywhere! Here are a few ideas for things to do around the house that are language focused

12/14/2020

What is more motivating than cookies?!?! Baking is a great way for kids to learn new vocabulary and how to follow directions in a fun and rewarding way. Contact CALM Speech and Language Therapy for more language based activities that your child will be excited to do!

11/12/2020

After two years together, this guy is off to school! I will miss him terribly, but am so excited for his new adventure

10/30/2020

Dress up is a great way to spark new vocabulary and communication....plus it's a lot of fun!!! Happy Halloween

10/21/2020

The National Autism Association is committed to those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who may be prone to wandering off or eloping from a safe environment, and may be unable to recognize danger and/or stay safe. Wandering, elopement, “running” or fleeing behaviors among those within our community not only present unique safety risks, but also create extraordinary worry and stress among caregivers.

The Big Red Safety Box is a FREE-of-charge toolkit given to autism families in need as a means to educate, raise awareness and provide simple tools that may assist them in preventing, and responding to, wandering-related emergencies.
https://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/

10/13/2020

CALM Speech and Language contracts with the San Diego Regional Center to provide in-home and virtual speech and language therapy sessions that are play based and family centered.

Give Your Little Ones a Healthy Start!
Have questions or concerns about baby’s growth and development? Don’t delay in having those questions answered! California Early Start is a federally funded program that provides free assessments to infants and toddlers and, if needed, important therapeutic services (free to eligible families) early enough to make a huge impact in a child’s development. For information about the Early Start program, call Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC) at 619-594-7416 or San Diego Regional Center at 858-576-2996.