Resources for Families

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​Michelle Dawson was excited to participate, alongside numerous colleagues from SCSHA, CASHA, and MSHA, in an ASHA Grant that rolled out a series of videos advocating for Interprofessional Practice.  Have you had questions about best practice for IPP and Early Intervention as it pertains to your role on the IFSP team?  How are we really supposed to dynamically collaborate with colleagues?  Well, then sit back and enjoy this brief, yet impassioned video, as it will hopefully inspire you to dive right in!

​Resources for Patients, their Families, and their Caregivers:
 
Disclaimer: HeartWood Speech Therapy, LLC and Michelle Dawson, MS CCC-SLP, CLC are not endorsing these products, agencies, or companies over others available, nor are we receiving financial or non-financial incomes, from any of these alphabetically listed resources.  HeartWood Speech Therapy, LLC and Michelle Dawson, MS CCC-SLP, CLC simply wanted to share some tools from our professional toolboxes as they each positively shaped our evidenced-based practice and prior/current patient’s quality of life.  Happy Learning and Advocating Folks!!

Augmentative and Alternative (AAC) Basics
Just getting your feet wet into the world of AAC?  Or are you a seasoned Clinician, but still feel that you are struggling and have questions?  Then check out this amazing PDF that was put together by the one and only Carol Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP, CBIS, Director of the SC Assistive Technology Office.  This document even includes the patient’s “Communication Bill of Rights” , which was designed by numerous well respected entities, including our very own ASHA!  Let this be a fabulous starting point or a compass if you find yourself lost in the wide world of AAC.  Enjoy folks!
AAC_Basics.pdf
File Size: 117 kb
File Type: pdf
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Able South Carolina: Our little ones won’t stay little forever.  Before we know they are grown and hopefully independently living on their own.  Sometimes they need more assistance than their typically developing peers to reach that goal, which is where Able SC can offer education, consultation, and support.  Be sure to check them out on Advocacy Day in April!
The Ausome Gym: Sometimes it rains and we need to get the kids out of the house…especially when they have that extra burst of rainy day energy! Sometimes we just want to have a fun family afternoon…but this can be hard to do when you have a little one that has special needs.  Thank goodness “The Ausome Gym” has emerged in Columbia, SC!  This fantastic little gym sits just off of 1-26 on the Irmo side of the city and it is everything a momma could ask for!  Nooks and crannies filled with sensory friendly toys and lights, swings that are rotated through on a regular basis (so that little ones don’t become bored), as well as a interactive floor video games!  Did I mention how CLEAN it was? You may have planned to take your loved ones for a few hours of joy, but trust this Momma, it will make you grin too! Bonus Points: They are all onboard for having therapists come along for natural environment based ST/OT/PT sessions!
BabyNet: Sometimes, a family member is the first person to have concerns for their little one’s feeding, swallowing, or speech development.  When this occurs, parents and guardians of legal residents of SC are able to make a referral to Babynet to see if they qualify for services.  Babynet is SC’s birth to 3 special education service, and they offer bilingual assistance if necessary for referral process.
Caring Man in a Van: A sweet friend just reached out and was in need of securing transportation for a loved one who just recently required a wheelchair.  Life changes, sometimes suddenly…cars break, rides fall through, appointments pop up.  Some of our special friends have access to LogistiCare SC to assist with transportation, others may not and they can still be in need of getting to-and-fro. Caring Man In A Van recently helped that sweet friend and might be able to assist your loved ones too.
​Family Connections is a SC organization that works to provide education and resources to individuals with special needs, their families, and their caregivers across The Palmetto State. Family Connections can help individuals navigate through the murky waters of waivers, insurance applications, as well as providing education and emotional support through their annual conferences of the Down Syndrome Convention in the fall and the Hopes and Dreams Conference in the early spring.  
Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation: Where this foundation does an excellent job educating clinicians, it does a heartfelt job of educating patients, their families, and caregivers on types of tubes our patients and loved ones use, common side effects, and provides resources and contacts in the feeding tube community to support them on their respective journeys.
Certified Lactation Counselor Training Course: The Center for Breastfeeding’s Lactation Counselor Training Course is a college-level course designed to provide up-to-date, research-based information and clinical competency validation for the provision of professional lactation care. This five-day course is offered at a variety of locations throughout the United States and around the world, training over 4,500 participants annually.
My Belly Has Two Buttons: Siblings, cousins, and friends at school can all have questions about why a little one is fed through a “tube”, these questions can be hard to respond to and hard on a heart at times.  But, then, sometimes a book comes along that can help put it in perspective while also putting a smile on the reader’s face.  What a cheerful and practical book!
South Carolina Assistive Technology Program: No secret…I am such a fan of SCATP!  Need a free consultation on what AAC device might be right for you child? In need of some gently used AT/AAC equipment? Need your spirits lifted and enlightened at an annual conference in March geared towards AAC users, their family, and their rehab team?  Then SCATP might be the solution for you!
The South Carolina Equipment Distribution Program (SCEDP) is a fantastic resource for clinicians and families!  If you are serving a child, or have a loved one that is in need, as long as they are 5 years or older, and have a diagnosis of a hearing and/or speech language impairment, then the SCEDP will provide them with an iPad with an AAC app, as well as other telephone equipment and alerting devices at NO COST!!”   
Tube Covers: This might not be the right fit for all little ones or individuals that have a tube, however for some individuals these provide comfort from the tube rubbing against skin and creating “boo-boos”, (abrasions, granulomas, infections, etc).  From a stylish perspective, some of these come as action figures, princesses, and favorite animals now!
Wonder Moms
“It truly takes a village to raise a child and often parents with little ones who have special needs need a village or warriors with them! This phenomenal website is designed by “Wonder Moms” for other “Wonder Moms” and goes above and beyond offering support and inspiration through a dynamic blog, as well links to other websites that offer information for numerous disabilities and special education resources that can be found across the nation.”