Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Image: Child in poolImage: Daughter and mother looking at each other

Programs & Services

Communication & Writing Aids Service: Augmentative Communication Service

The Augmentative Communication Service of the Communication and Writing Aids Service works with children and youth who are unable to meet their functional face-to-face communication needs through speech alone.

Working in a consultative model with community partners and teams of professionals, which include Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Communicative Disorders Assistants, and Assistive Technology Consultants, the community partners and professional teams strive to meet the communication goals of clients and their families.

Services include assessment, goal setting, consultation, intervention and training in specialized communication strategies and techniques and/or systems. Services are delivered in the community and typically include school and family environments.

New clients up to the age of 18 years or younger can access the Augmentative Communication Service.

Referrals

A referral is required if the individual is not a client of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital or has not been seen within the last 1 years.

Referrals are accepted from physicians, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Contact

Sandra Marshall
Tel: 416-425-6220, extension 3679
E-mail: smarshall (at) hollandbloorview (dot) ca

Other Important Information

This service does not provide Speech Therapy. A Community Resource Room is available that can be used by families and community partners—materials are available to lend.   The Communication and Writing Aids Service is an Expanded Level Clinic as defined by the Assistive Devices Program of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The staff can authorize funding support for the purchase and/or lease of communication displays, devices or systems for eligible clients. Families are responsible to pay for the portion that is not covered by Assistive Devices Program. One month loans of equipment and software that have been recommended by the clinical staff are available for a fee.