First, tell us about you and your family.
We are a family of three. I’m Jill, an elementary school teacher. My husband, Jamey, is a groundskeeper for the city Parks and Recreation department. Lincoln is our son, and he’s your typical 2 1/2 year old toddler.
Were you nervous about going to the screening?
I was nervous about going to the screening, because of the unknown – like not knowing how it all worked. However, I was not nervous about what they were going to tell me about my son. I specifically went to the screening because I thought his speech was delayed and I was concerned.
What was the screening like?
Upon arrival, we were directed to a room to sign up. We filled out the necessary paperwork, and we were told about the process of how the screening worked. We had a specific reason for going to the screening (speech), so we chose to head straight to that room. (We liked that we did not have to go to all of the screening areas, because we had a specific concern regarding our son’s speech.)
After our evaluation in the speech room, we were advised to have our son’s hearing screened too. So we went to that room next. After the hearing screen, we headed to the room for our closing. There, we sat down and discussed what happened during the screening process and the possibilities for the future of Lincoln.
Overall, the screening was well-organized and well-run. All of the staff were friendly. There were plenty of people to help direct us to where we needed to go and answer any of the questions we had, since this was our first time.
What was the outcome of the screening?
We were referred for speech services, through the Early Intervention team at ACBDD.
How has this outcome impacted or helped Lincoln and your family?
Since beginning our Early Intervention speech services, Lincoln’s communication has shown improvements. His vocabulary has increased, and he shows improvement in using multiple word phrases. Not only have the speech sessions helped Lincoln directly, they’ve helped us as parents. During the sessions, we also learn what we can do at home with Lincoln to increase his verbal communication skills. His speech therapist (Primary Service Provider) not only works with him, but educates us too.
What would you say to a parent who is thinking about going to a screening?
If you have any concerns about the development of your child, these community screenings are a great first step. By attending these screenings, you can meet with professionals that can help answer any questions or concerns you have about your child – for free. If there is some delay or concern found at the screening, your family will be directed to the appropriate resources to help your child.