Cerebral palsy affects speech patterns and how people speak. Not everyone has a speech impediment, but it’s safe to say that speech impediments are common for those with cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, I believe having a speech impediment is why I had difficulty keeping friends and being taken seriously by some adults when growing up. Even though I had speech therapy, I might have benefited from a little extra help.
The Teachers College of Columbia University is trying to help children with cerebral palsy who have speech impediments. The staff is currently seeking applications for this summer three-week free camp to help children with cerebral palsy and speech impediments. Instead of telling children that they need to quiet down quiet, This camp encourages children to speak up loudly to find their own unique voice. To be able to express themselves more clearly is the goal for the campers.
The free CP Speech Camp goes towards children with cerebral palsy who are difficult to understand. From my personal experience, not being clearly understood is frustrating and can impact educational, behavioral and social aspects throughout the lifespan. I would, and sometimes still do, say things in the easiest shortest ways possible to convey myself. I’m not lazy, but I want to have my main idea understood. So having a camp directed for children with these same difficult speech issues is remarkable.
Campers need to be between the ages of four to seventeen years old. This is the fifth year the camp will be in session. The dates are July 9 through July 27 from 9am to 3:30pm. Camp is held Monday through Friday. The location is Teachers College Campus, 525 West 120th Street, Manhattan.
Erika S. Levy is the director of the CP Speech Camp and the Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Levy and several speech-language pathologists at the Teachers College will lead graduate students to interact with the campers with songs, games, fun projects and activities that will encourage the campers to speak clear. The hope is that campers will have improved speech quality and increased self-confidence. Campers are assessed the first day of camp and then their progress is tracked throughout the camp session.
Children who have cerebral palsy and need to attend speech therapy might consider it to be work and not enjoyable. I, for example, didn’t enjoy going to speech therapy because I felt it didn’t really help me even though it probably did. CP Speech Camp is fun, interactive and full of opportunities to make new friends. According to their web site, children do not view camp as therapy, and they are eager to return the next day. The staff has a way to implement speech techniques into fun engaging activities for the children to do.
Teachers College also holds a camp for children with cerebral palsy who need improvement on muscle strength and coordination. This camp will run from June 24 to July 13. Camps such as this and the Speech Camp are remarkable because they offer fun and help. Also, many camps for children with disabilities are expensive. The fact that this is for free, fun and beneficial should inspire anyone that qualifies to attend.
