Ethiopia

Around 25 to 30 percent of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are minimally verbal or do not speak at all. But does this mean they are not communicating? Meghan O’Neill, MD, Neurodevelopmental Disability Physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, explained "When a person with autism is nonspeaking, they do not communicate using spoken language, including vocalizations or sounds which have symbolic meaning. This does not mean that the individu

“Will speaking two languages hurt my child’s language development?” Many parents worry that using two languages will confuse their child or make language learning harder, but the good news is you do NOT have to pick just one language. Children with autism or developmental delays can learn two languages the same way other children do: through exposure, daily routines, and meaningful interaction with the people who love them. Speaking two languages does not delay language devel

As a speech-language therapist with nearly 30 years of experience, I find joy in every step of the journey. With my first global adventure to Ethiopia, I had the privilege of connecting with parents and professionals passionately advocating for change and striving to improve the lives of the children they care for. My trip to Ethiopia deeply impacted my professional life and direction. In September, 2023, I was invited to travel to Ethiopia to provide training for parents and