2024 Impact Report
This report details some of the past year’s highlights of our work towards communication justice – effecting change for under resourced and under-represented people whose communication disorders and differences contribute […]
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May is National Speech, Language, and Hearing Month!
It's time to raise awareness about communication disorders as well as to celebrate and acknowledge the profound influence and dedication of SLPs.
Lydia’s Story
NEVER LET A TEACHING OPPORTUNITY GO TO WASTE CHAT SLP Lydia is not one to let things go to waste. Utilizing her passion for repurposing, Lydia takes wallpaper samples to […]
Showing Up. Making Connections. Building Rapport.
Sometimes all it takes is one caring adult to make a difference. The first day CHAT SLP Amber met Miles, she joined his preschool class out on the playground. It […]
Maya & Franco’s Story
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER, MAKE ME A MATCН… When we say that CHAT SLPs focus on rapport and relationship building, we mean it! Enter Maya and Franco, both longtime CHAT clients. Recently, […]
CHAT 2024 Year in Review
CHAT changed more lives than ever in 2024, thanks to your support! We can’t change lives without our dedicated, passionate team, and continuing to invest in our workplace culture while […]
Giving Season
At CHAT, we are grateful every day for the chance to support our incredible children. We see the world through their eyes and help fuel their imaginations.
CHAT can’t do this work without your support
CHAT can’t do this work without your support. Donate today and give the gift of communication to more children in need. CHAT works to reach as many underserved children as […]
CHAT Celebrates 45th Anniversary
In 2024, CHAT turned 45. It all started with the legacy of our founder, Phyllis Kupperman, who saw a gap in services and, in her words, “would give away the […]
Communication Justice Project Launched at Northwestern
New partnership with northwestern to enable inclusive research and equitable access to speech-language therapy for young children
2023 Impact Report
This report details some of the past year’s highlights of our work towards communication justice – effecting change for under resourced and under-represented people whose communication disorders and differences contribute […]
David’s Story
April is Autism Acceptance Month! CHAT fully accepts and embraces the Autistic community’s communication styles and preferences while advocating for inclusion in all spaces. Read more about CHAT’s work in this space with David’s story.
Jamal’s Story
Valentine’s Day puts the focus on romantic love and connections, but there are many kinds of connections worth highlighting! That’s why we chose this month to share the story of […]
A Special Gift!
In this giving season, we’re thrilled to convey, a tale of a gift, directed our way: ‘Twas a typical Wednesday, Helene did prepare, To see a young client with something […]
Giving Thanks
Dear CHAT Supporters, In this season of giving thanks, I write today to say that CHAT is thankful for you. Thank you for the time you take to read our […]
Give to CHAT this holiday season!
CHAT can’t do this work without your support. Give the gift of communication to more children.
Charlotte’s Web
It’s October, and you just never know what Halloween month will bring…just as CHAT staff never know what each day will bring. One of our SLPs, Charlotte, started working at […]
CHAT Hosts Fundraising Cocktail Party in Washington DC
In September, friends and colleagues came together to learn more about CHAT and how we help children overcome barriers to communication.
Maggie’s Story
Imagine being so excited to come to therapy, you are willing to skip your vollevball game…
As typically happens when you enter high school, Maggie’s social calendar filled right up
Help CHAT in our Expansion into El Service
It’s back to school time! For many children it is a time of excitement and wonder. For others. it can be a time of uncertainty and anxiety. Every year, CHAT […]
Nathaniel’s Story
“Problem child.” What a label to give a child, but that was how Nathaniel was known at school. When Nathaniel started school therapy with his CHAT SLP, she noticed that […]
Isaac’s Story
Communication is the key to conveying one’s basic needs, to the success of social interactions, to the perception of one’s cognitive abilities, and to so many more aspects of an […]
2022 Impact Report
This report details some of the past year’s highlights of our work towards communication justice – effecting change for under resourced and under-represented people whose communication disorders and differences contribute […]
Izzy’s Story
Advocacy is our middle name. We say this because it is true in several ways – advocacy is the “A” in our name, but it is also at the forefront […]
Tony’s Story
We hear it all the time from parents that CHAT is different, that CHAT SLPs really take the time to get to know their clients and tailor therapy to each […]
Jax’s Story
Jax was 17 months old when he started reading. He quickly became infatuated with the alphabet but wasn’t interacting with his parents or exploring new things and couldn’t answer yes […]
Give the gift of communication
All I want for Christmas… Such a well-known phrase. But such a hurdle for a child with limited vocabulary. One year ago, four-year-old Maya was not able to complete this […]
Jordyn’s Story
‘Tis the season… for college applications and questions of “what’s next?” For high school juniors and seniors, this is a time of many possibilities. But what happens when a student […]
Give to CHAT this holiday season!
Over the last few months, we have shared with you some of the impact that CHAT has on the children we serve: children with few – if any – other […]
Annual Appeal – Corey’s Story
Every day, CHAT works to serve children with few – if any – other options for speech and language therapy. One such child is Corey, a 16-year-old from the west […]
Devon’s Story
Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) help students develop their communication skills. But often, and core to our mission, CHAT SLPs serve another person a student’s life – to advocate for their […]
Kayla’s Story
We’ve all just lived through the annual ritual of back to school. While many students were busy picking out their first-day outfits and comparing schedules with friends, others faced the […]
CHAT Joins Salaam Community Wellness Center’s Inaugural Integrative Health and Wellness Expo
On August 27th, members of the CHAT team (including CEO Karine Fiore, SLP Shanah Slade, SLPA Nadia Ibrahim, and Associate Board member Myles Francis) took part in Salaam Community Wellness […]
CHAT – Life Changing Speech Therapy Chosen as Comcast/NBC5 Projection Innovation Grantee
LOMBARD – July 13, 2022 – CHAT – Life Changing Speech Therapy (CHAT) has been chosen as one of eight Chicago region non-profits to receive “Project Innovation” grants from the Comcast […]
CHAT Raises Money Through Giving DuPage Days 2022
For the first time ever, CHAT participated in Giving DuPage Days. This was a five-day virtual fundraiser (May 2nd to May 6th) to spur giving to over 95 local non-profits. […]
CHAT SLP Team Gathers for Indigenous Peoples’ Day
We closed our clinic on Monday, October 11, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and gathered our staff for team-building. This day is particularly relevant to our mission as a nonprofit dedicated […]
Chat’s Speech-Language Therapy Builds Confidence for Local Boy as He Serves as Honorary Guest for Clinic’s Grand Reopening
LOMBARD, ILLINOIS, MAY 28, 2021—There’s no doubt that outgoing Franco Bibbiano is a confident 14-year-old. But that was not always true for this boy with Down syndrome who struggled to […]
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Echolalia
Most hyperlexic learners (HxLs) begin to communicate using delayed echolalia based on written language they have read. These scripts, or gestalts, can be meaningful and have purposeful intent! It is our job, as providers and caregivers, to figure out what our HxL is trying to communicate, and help them use the right language. We are lucky in that we can support our HxLs by modeling the target language by writing it down!
Speech Therapy and Mental Health Advocacy: What is Our Role?
This presentation discusses the top mental health conditions in children in the US currently–ADHD, emotional-behavioral issues/disorders, and anxiety/depression–and how these disorders may affect communication and/or co-occur with various speech and […]
API Heritage Month
May marks both Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Better Speech and Hearing Month! With heightened anti-Asian violence, India’s COVID-19 crisis, and the invisibilization of Pacific Island communities, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (API) have been thrust into the spotlight. Yet many Asian Americans […]
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Templates
Templates are consistent written prompts that help organize information or create a narrative. Templates are an important tool that can support writing, summarizing, retelling, storytelling, and so much more. Hyperlexic learners (HxLs) benefit from the patterned and predictable support that templates can provide!
Comprehensive and Inclusive View of Stuttering Management and Therapy
The importance of focusing more than fluency in stuttering therapy
Voice Hygiene for the Educational Professional
An examination of current research to support teachers with vocal disorders
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Scripts
Providing written scripts is one of the best ways to promote expressive language use for hyperlexic learners (HxLs). We can model whole sentences in writing that our HxLs can read and use functionally to express their wants, needs, knowledge, opinions, and so much more!
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Labeling and Describing
Many of our HxLs have incredible memory capacity that allows for immense vocabulary knowledge! We like to label items around our clinic, important parts of the story while reading a book, language concepts during therapy activities, and so much more! How do you support your hyperlexic learner with labeling and describing?!
Music & Language: Effectiveness of using Music in Speech Therapy
Music as a tool to support communication and language
Let’s CHAT About Hyperlexia: Social Narratives – Emotions and Feelings
In addition to teaching about new scenarios or experiences, social narratives can be written to teach about emotions and feelings. Social narratives, written with first-person language, can provide scripts for an “internal monologue” to support problem solving, emotional regulation, processing and understanding.
If friendship is the heart of love, then this therapy story may melt your heart.
Best friends in so many ways, two of CHAT’s high school students came to speech together every week and worked on social and pragmatic language skills. Then one day, they […]
Uplifting African American English (AAE)
CHAT uplifts African American English (AAE), a dialect shared by many Black communities in the United States. Complex and systematic, AAE not only reflects the intricacies of human language, but also the ingenuity of the speakers themselves. AAE was first developed by enslaved Africans during the Atlantic slave trade in the 1600s. While European enslavers intentionally grouped […]
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Social Narratives
Social narratives are written stories that introduce or explain a variety of scenarios while making it personal and relevant to the reader. Social narratives help to shape and provide an “inner monologue” for our HxLs who might otherwise have difficulty finding the language to talk to themselves!
Introduction to Neurodiversity
Please note that within this blog, CHAT will use identity-first language (i.e. Autistic person, rather than person with Autism), as many activists in the Autism community believe that this language choice reflects Autism’s centrality to their identity and disrupts the negative associations harbored against their diagnosis. We […]
Holocaust Remembrance Day
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, we are sharing a personal post from our Executive Director, Karine Fiore, for whom this is a deeply personal topic. Please take a look […]
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Written Expectations
Expectations are behaviors or actions that are expected to occur. Written expectations should be constantly available and reviewed for the HxL to refer back to whenever needed.
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Written Schedules
Schedules are a staple of all therapy sessions, but are especially useful for hyperlexic learners (HxLs). Not only are they an effective tool during therapy, but they can be used to inspire positive transitions, increase the […]
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Written Supports
As the saying goes, “Write, write, write because [people] with hyperlexia will read, read, read” (Miller, 1993). There are many different ways we can structure our writing to connect with hyperlexic learners and support language growth!
The World has Lost a Ground-Breaking Pioneer: In Memory of Dr. Darold Treffert
Dr. Darold Treffert died unexpectedly on Monday, December 14th, 2020 at the age of 87. Dr. Treffert’s compassion for children and their families continues to inspire all that knew him. He helped to re-shape how people viewed savants, autistic individuals, and hyperlexic learners […]
Matthew Rushin
As our country continues to amplify the injustice within our criminal legal system, CHAT uplifts youth with communication diagnoses who are funneled into this system—misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and wrongfully convicted. We stand in solidarity with […]
Choose CHAT on Giving Tuesday
What’s the saying? “Out of the mouth of babes?” Seven-year-old Jimmy took it to a whole new level with the help of a little technology. Please don’t try this at […]
Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month! Please note that within this blog we are using the words Native and Indigenous, as is preferred by many Nations. However, individual Nations or people may have […]
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Gestalt Processing
Many Hyperlexic Learners are gestalt processors meaning they "learn in chunks." See how we can use gestalt processing and memory skills to shape echolalia into functional communication!
Dyslexia Awareness Month
October marks Dyslexia Awareness Month; yet for our CHAT team, empowering diverse learners is an ongoing commitment. While this month was only recently recognized by Congress in 2015, dyslexia affects […]
Let’s CHAT about Hyperlexia: Introduction
Introducing our new Hyperlexia-focused blog series and its writer, Ciara Nally! We will discuss all things hyperlexia, provide tailored therapy activities, and discuss how to support and advocate for your hyperlexic learner!
CHAT Collaborates with Enlace to Provide Literacy Programs to Little Village Families
Enlace colabora con CHAT para proveer programas de lectura a las familias de La Villita
Testimonial from Jackson Charter School
At first I was skeptical and didn’t know what to think about transitioning our building to teletherapy for speech services, but I was pretty reluctant about it. Up until that […]
Summer Programs
If you’re interested in learning more about our summer programs, be sure to check out our recent summer programs webinar. This informational video will fill you in on everything you […]
Hyperlexia Webinar on Social Skills
On May 26th, 2020 we hosted a webinar on social skills and strategies for hyperlexic children. Our Founder, Phyllis Kupperman, and Assistant Director, Ciara Nally, shared so many helpful tips […]
Reading Comprehension Strategies for Hyperlexic Children
On May 12th, 2020 we hosted a webinar on reading comprehension strategies for hyperlexic children. Our Founder, Phyllis Kupperman, and Assistant Director, Ciara Nally, shared so many helpful tips for […]
Fun Videos for Minimally Verbal Kids
Helpful videos to review target communication skills for minimally verbal students.
Wordless Picture Books and Videos
Wordless picture books, or wordless videos (we see you, Pixar), can be GREAT ways to work on language and literacy! Your child can expand their imagination and create their own […]
Hyperlexia Webinar Video and Resources
On April 21, 2019, CHAT hosted a webinar, Supporting Hyperlexic Children under COVID-19: Tips from the Experts. Our Founder, Phyllis Kupperman, and Assistant Director, Ciara Nally, shared so many helpful tips for […]
CHAT Uses Teletherapy Services to Continue Providing Therapy During COVID-19 Pandemic
Despite the limitations of social distancing, at CHAT we’re happy to continue providing speech-language therapy services through the use of teletherapy! In fact, with all of this newfound time at […]
CHAT recognizes three SLPs for their embodiment of core CHAT values in 2019
This week, CHAT recognized three SLPs for their embodiment of core CHAT values in 2019: Celia Kaufer, for positivity; Hannah Koronkiewicz, for passion; and Courtney Ramczyk, for flexibility. Congratulations to […]
CHAT Celebrates MLK Day
Today on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we remember and honor a man who spoke out in opposition to racial discrimination, inequity, and hatred. Our commitment to equity and inclusion […]
Utilizing the Communication Matrix
This presentation demonstrated and provided a tutorial of The Communication Matrix. It examined the website and the resources available to clinicians and parents and discussed how individuals can utilize the […]
Quest Academy to Host CHAT’s Katie Trainor as guest speaker of Parent Ed Series on Executive Functioning
Executive Functioning is often called the command center of the brain. It’s the set of skills that allow us to manage our thoughts, actions, and emotions to get things done. […]
Transition Plans and Functional Therapy Activities
This presentation reviews what transition plans are, what should be included in a transition plan, and why transition plans are an important part of the IEP process once a student […]
SB100
This presentation looked at SB100, which is an IL law intended to transform school discipline practices in Illinois and weaken the school-to-prison pipeline. The bill provides guidelines about the severity […]
Incorporation of Fine Motor Skills into Speech-Language Sessions
This presentation discusses the importance of using fine motor activities to increase engagement and participation, and reduce behaviors during speech-language sessions. Research about the relation between fine motor skills, speech-language […]
Best Practices in Teletherapy
This presentation includes general information on speech and language teletherapy including a definition, pros and cons, materials needed to engage in teletherapy, and environmental considerations. It also covers reimbursement and […]
Lynfred Winery Selects CHAT as June 2020 Charity of the Month!
On #GivingTuesday 2019, Lynfred Winery Roselle and Wheeling announced their 2020 charity of the month recipients, and we are so honored to learn that CHAT has been selected for June of 2020! […]
“Are you going to cry?”
Our Annual Appeal Changed Felix’s Life Felix is a Chicago 4th grader. We began supporting him with speech and language therapy in school last year. Because of generous donations from our 2018 […]
Echolalia
This presentation explores echolalia, which is the repetition of verbalizations or speech. It describes current research on definitions of echolalia, important background information, and therapeutic approaches for clinicians. Echolalia can […]
40th Anniversary Celebration
On September 25, we honored the legacy of our founder, Phyllis Kupperman, with a special celebration to mark our 40th anniversary. The event raised funds for a scholarship in Phyllis’ name. […]
Language Sample Analysis: A Tool for Assessment and Clinical Practice
Often a component of a comprehensive speech-language assessment, a language sample provides a non-biased, valid, and reliable look into an individual’s receptive and expressive language abilities to determine if that […]
Treatment Strategies for Accent Modification
This presentation is designed to provide treatment areas, resources, and ideas for speech language pathologists working with or interested in working with clients on accent modification in American English. As […]
Mindfulness-based techniques for school-age children
Mindfulness-based interventions and techniques can increase attentional and emotional self-regulation skills, as well as promote cognitive flexibility. This presentation defines mindfulness and highlights key research on mindfulness-based practices for children […]
CHAT Celebrates 40 Years
On September 25, we will honor the legacy of our founder, Phyllis Kupperman, with a special celebration to mark our 40th anniversary. At this event, we will formally launch our new […]
CHAT Serves 58 Children with Summer Programs
In the summer of 2018, we launched an initiative in partnership with Distinctive Schools to bring our life changing summer literacy and social communication programs to their students. For many of these […]
Meet Kamryn, <br/>Our Chicago Bears Kid
Thanks to a generous gift from Koren and Mike Furrey, Wide Receivers Coach of our hometown team the Chicago Bears, Kamryn was able to attend CHAT’s five-week intensive summer literacy […]
The Importance of Teaching Syntax
This presentation provides information on the importance of teaching syntax in language therapy. It summarizes great information provided by from The Ultimate Guide to Sentence Structure by Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan, […]
Accent Modification Evaluation
Accent modification evaluations incude detailed case history, determination of client motivation and goals, segmental, suprasegmental, intelligibility, pragmatics and language assessments. Click here to download the presentation.
Behavior Management
An overview of the ABCs of behavior, FBAs and BIPs, and tips and strategies on how to maintain a supportive environment to promote positive behaviors! Click here to download the […]
Executive Function
Executive functions are cognitive skills that help a person organize behavior and accomplish a goal. These skills are essential for success in our everyday life. Click here to download the […]
Summary of Chicago Public Schools Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services Procedural Manual for SLPs
The Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services (ODLSS) within Chicago Public Schools provides a manual that outlines the systems and procedures involved in delivering special education services to students in need. This […]
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder with atypical and inconsistent errors. The prevalence of the disorder is difficult to measure due to the debate over the […]
Language Disorders in Juvenile Offenders
This presentation examines evidence of an elevated prevalence of language disorders among juvenile offenders and the effect of these disorders on interacting with the criminal justice system. Click here to […]
Hearing loss and its connection to literacy & pragmatic language
Recent research has revealed that children with hearing loss are at risk for literacy and pragmatic language deficits. Click here to download the presentation.
Selective Mutism
This presentation discusses general information, diagnostic criteria, professional roles, evaluation, and treatment of individuals with selective mutism. Click here to download the presentation.
School Aged and Adolescent Fluency
A review of evidence-based assessment and treatment frameworks/recommendations for school age-adolescent individuals with fluency disorders. Click here to download the presentation.
Treatment Strategies for Childhood Fluency Disorders
An overview of treatment approaches and treatment ideas for childhood fluency disorders. Click here to download the presentation.
CASL-2 – The Comprehensive Assessment of Speech and Language
CASL-2: This presentation discusses how to properly administer and score the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language, 2nd edition (CASL-2). Click here to download the presentation.
Evaluating Non-Standard Populations
This presentation discusses various ways to evaluate certain populations beyond standardized testing, including bilingual speakers and speakers of African-American English. Click here to download the presentation.
Pediatric Feeding Evaluation and Profiles
Pediatric feeding evaluation requires a whole-child perspective and a multi-disciplinary approach in order to identify the etiology and treatment plan. Click here to download the presentation.
Effects of Screen Time on Children
This presentation discusses current research on the effects of screen time on a child’s speech and language development, reviews how children best learn language, and provides recommendations for screen time […]
Evaluating and Treating Voice Disorders in the School-Based Setting
An overview of assessment and treatment protocols and logistics for individuals with voice differences and disorders in the school-based setting. Click here to download the presentation.
Orafacial Myofunctional Disorders
Orafacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) is a class of disorders that include issues with movement, strength, coordination or use of the muscles in the tongue, lips, or jaw than impact the […]
Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Considerations for the evaluation and treatment of those with cleft lip and cleft palate. Click here for the presentation.
Eligibility and Dismissal for Adolescents
This presentation discusses school service eligibility criteria as they apply specifically to adolescent populations that we serve, with discussion of FAPE, IDEA, and special considerations for this age. Click here […]
Language Processing
Language processing is your ability to interpret words and attach meaning at more complex levels. Difficulty with this skill can affect a person’s ability to make sense of and organize the […]
SLP Ideas and Hacks
This presentation gives tips to SLP to help with motivation, organization, advocacy, and student resources! Click here to download the presentation.
Increasing SLPs and Educators Collaboration in the Schools
How can SLPs increase our collaborations with school staff to best support our caseload? Click here to download the presentation.
What is AAC?
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, which includes all forms of communication other than oral speech. For example, people who are nonverbal might use pictures, boards, or devices to […]
AAC in the classroom
This presentation discusses strategies to increase the use of AAC throughout a student’s school day. Click here to download the presentation.
Beginning School Year Procedures
This presentation discusses necessary procedures for beginning therapy in the school setting including: referrals RTI/MTSS, consent/assessment, evaluations, and eligibilities. Click here to download the presentation.
Cluttering vs. Stuttering
A review of literature to help clinicians figure out differential diagnostic characteristics as well as some treatment recommendations. Click here to download the presentation.
Features and assessment of African American English (AAE)
Considerations for evaluating school-age children with regards to AAE. Click here to download the presentation.
English Language Learners Assessment
This presentation discusses language acquisition and assessment in English language learners. Information is provided to help differentiate a language difference versus language disorder. Click here to download the presentation.