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THE COVINGTON SCOTTISH RITE SPEECH & LANGUAGE PROGRAM OVERVIEW OF COVINGTON SCOTTISH RITE PROGRAM
The Covington Scottish Rite Program, which started in January 1991, provides speech and language therapy for children, ages two to five years old.
These children have no other alternative for speech and language services. They are not qualified in the public school system, do not have a medical card, do not have insurance or, if they heave insurance, it does not cover speech and language therapy. Children in this program typically come from families with two working parents whose combined income is $28,000 or less. Parents have jobs in factories, restaurants, construction, hospitals or other health care agencies, or offices as clerks or typists.
Parents of these children either cannot afford health insurance or their policies do not cover speech and language therapy.
There are typically two to four children per household in these families.
The Covington Scottish Rite Program provides therapy for children from the Northern Kentucky community, including, Kenton, Campbell, Boone, and Grant Counties.
COMMUNITY NEED
A recent survey conducted in the public schools indicated there are over 9,000 children under seven years of age with speech and language disorders.
Speech and language delay is the number one handicap in the Northern Kentucky community.
Speech and language disorders can be the result of many causes including hearing impairment, ear infection, birth defect, such as, cleft palate, and neuromuscular conditions--Cerebral Palsy or down's Syndrome.
COSTS
The Covington Scottish Rite Program cost $36,000 for the first year. During that year 31 children received therapy.
It costs about $2,500 for a child to receive one year of speech and language therapy. We are presently spending $12,000 annually.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY EASTER SEAL SERVICES AND STAFF
Speech and language therapy is provided at the Northern Kentucky Easter Seal Center, 212 Levassor Ave., Covington, KY, 41011. The phone number is (606) 491-1171.
Northern Kentucky Easter Seal Center sets the standard for speech and language therapy in this community. The Northern Kentucky Easter Seal Center is the only facility in Northern Kentucky accredited by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).
The speech and language pathologists at Northern Kentucky Easter Seal Center have master's degrees in addition to certification of clinical competence form ASHA.
The pathologists provide an extensive evaluation of each child prior to therapy.
the therapists will provide group therapy and/or individual therapy for each child based on his/her evaluation.
IN CONCLUSION
The Covington Scottish Rite Speech and Language Program has an important impact on our community. Through the top-quality speech and language therapy provided by the staff at the Northern Kentucky Easter Seal Center, many children receive services they need in order to succeed in school, socially, and personally.
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Covington
Scottish Rite of Free Masonry