First
Words Preschool Speech and Language Program of Ottawa
Premiers mots
- Programme
de services de rééducation de la parole et du langage pour les enfants d’âge
préscolaire d’Ottawa
Ottawa Public
Health Information/Info-santé publique d'Ottawa: (613) 580-6744
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The First Words Preschool Speech
and Language Program of Ottawa is a program that focuses on the
prevention, early identification and treatment of speech and
language problems in young children (age 0 until they become
eligible for senior kindergarten).
Funded by the Government of
Ontario, First Words is made up of a group of local agencies that
work together to ensure that all preschool children in Ottawa are
given the best chance of reaching their full communication
potential. These agencies include:
Pinecrest-Queensway Health
and Community Services (lead agency)
Children's Hospital of
Eastern Ontario, Speech and Language Service (central intake)
City of Ottawa, Ottawa Public
Health Information Line
Ottawa Children's Treatment
Centre
Each agency provides a unique
service and it is the role of central intake to identify the
appropriate agency to best serve the child's needs and diagnosis.
Did
You Know...?
Speech and
language difficulties are the most common handicap facing
Ontario's children.
Ten percent
of preschool children are at risk of speech or language
problems.
In 1998, only
one in five preschool children at risk of speech or language
problems in Ottawa had been identified and was receiving
treatment and family support.
Treating a
preschool child for speech and language difficulties costs less
money than treating an older child - for every dollar spent on
speech and language services for a preschooler, a total of six
dollars is saved over providing these services at a later age.
Our Mission First Words strives to ensure that
all Ottawa preschool children are given the best chance of reaching
their full language and communication potential.
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