Christine Ristuccia selected as "40 Under 40" by The Savannah Business Report and Journal - March 5, 2007

Over 2000 Pennsylvania SLPs Attend "Got /r/ Problems? Workshop - March 9, 2007

Graduate Programs Receive Latest Information on Treating [r] Articulation Disorders from Say It Right - March 9, 2007

Say It Right Launches "Entire World of R Blog" - March 28, 2007

Christine Ristuccia interview with Linda Schreiber on SpeechPathology.com. Topic: Got R Problems? Learn about an Effective Phonemic-Based Approach to /r/ Remediation - April 9, 2007

Got R Problems? A Phonemic Approach to /r/ Remediation presented on-line on SpeechPathology.com ASHA CEU

Say It Right Releases Bringing S & Z Home™

The Entire World of R Wins Therapy Times MVP Award

Say It Right Selected as a Coastal BETA Finalist

---------------------------------------

Over 2000 Pennsylvania SLPs Attend “Got /r/ Problems?” Workshop

Pittsburgh, PA–March 9, 2007. Close to 2000 Pennsylvania speech-language pathologists attend a one-day workshop on remediation /r/, using The Entire World of R™ phonemic approach to /r/ remediation methodology, and sibilants articulation disorders presented by Christine Ristuccia of Say It Right™.

How do you fit 2000 SLPs in one room?  

It was done remotely via teleconferencing. The workshop sponsored by the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network  (PaTTAN http://www.pattan.k12.pa.us/), the training branch of the Bureau of Special Education in Pennsylvania , which has a number of teleconferencing sites around the state of Pennsylvania. Ristuccia presented as part of the Speech and Language Professional Development Series, which is hosted via teleconferences for SLPs, special educators, and parents throughout the year. More information on the training can be found at http://www.pattan.k12.pa.us/files/Flyers07/Speech030907.pdf.

Confirming the interest speech-language pathologist continue to have in good /r/ solutions--especially with the difficult vocalic /r/--this was one of the largest audiences to ever attend training.

According to Cassie Budzilek, M.A. CCC-SLP, Educational Consultant for the PA Training and Technical Assistance Network and coordinator of the workshop, "The audience was the largest since I've been at PaTTAN."

“These numbers (2,000) really confirm the interest and need for good /r/ solutions,” says Ristuccia. “I was really nervous being in front of a TV camera, but the SLPs really responded favorably to concepts in The Entire World of R™, so it was worth it.”   

---------------------------------------

Graduate Programs Receive Latest Information on Treating [r] Articulation Disorders from Say It Right

Tybee Island, GA–March 9, 2007. Quick, what’s one of the most persistent and difficult articulation disorders to treat? Which disorder is the most frustrating for school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs)? Did you say. . . [r]? Yes, little ol’ [r] has many SLPs pulling their hair out. But treating [r] just got a whole lot easier for all US aspiring speech-language pathology students at all US university and college programs. Each graduate program specializing in communicative disorders recently received a donation of the latest updates to The Entire World of R™ program from Say It Right™.  

The instructional packages donated to each school included The Entire World of R™ Book of Elicitation Techniques, The Entire World of R™ Advanced Screening, and The Entire World of R™ Say & Sequence Playing Card System. The value of each donation was $115 for each school. Nationally, the donations totaled over $30,000; quite substantial for a company the size of Say It Right, which has only one full-time and two part-time employees. These recently-published materials are the result of thousands of hours of research and development into treating vocalic [r] by Christine Ristuccia, President and Founder of Say It Right. As a collection The Entire World of R™ program represents the latest state-of-the art expertise in evaluating and treating [r] articulation disorders, particularly for the persistent vocalic /r/.

“SLPs are clamoring for effective techniques that work,” says Ristuccia, “I’ve traveled all over the US and it’s the same chorus—give us something that works. We’ve done the homework including extensive research; it works. I feel compelled to get this information out and share it so therapists can benefit from the knowledge. We felt giving it away to graduate schools was the most efficient way.”

Ristuccia says the secret of The Entire World of R™ program is that [r] is treated as 32 separate allophones or sounds and treatment is centered on phonetically consistent practice. Traditionally, [r] was treated as just another consonant, but the vocalic properties really change pronunciation depending on usage and context. “Previously, treatment was haphazard and progress sporadic,” says Ristuccia. “That led to everyone’s frustration with [r].”  

In one survey conducted by Say It Right™ of over 100 school-based SLPs (K-12), it was found that nearly one in five students (18.6%) on caseloads was [r] related. Most SLPs reported treating [r] as both one of their most difficult tasks and most frustrating to perform. Not surprisingly, SLP’s reported that training on the subject was lacking.

“The Entire World of R™ program is extremely helpful if you have a lot of students with /r/ problems on your workload since it quickly and effectively pinpoints exactly where you need to begin your treatment, even if you are evaluating students who have been in articulation therapy for many years,” says Natasha Anderson, speech-language pathologist at the UTD Callier Center for Communication Disorders in Dallas, Texas. “In fact, the other supervisors and I have been so impressed with this program, we have not only introduced it to the student clinicians we supervise, but also to our colleagues in the schools who were previously unfamiliar with this approach. Although my graduate school curriculum did include information on how to evaluate and treat children with /r/ difficulties, this program has greatly accelerated my abilities to remediate even the most chronic students with /r/ problems. I wish it had been available when I was in school. ” 

Founded in 1999 and located on Tybee Island, GA, Say It Right™ publishes a range of speech-language and special education products including workbooks, reading books, games, and software. Christine Ristuccia has many years of experience in the field of speech-language pathology. She has worked primarily with elementary and middle school student, but has experience with preschoolers and adults Having presented at over 20 different regional, state and national speech association meetings Ristuccia is a recognized expert in [r] articulation disorders. She currently works part-time for Chatham County Schools in Savannah, GA.  Say It Right™ is available on the web at www.sayitright.org.

---------------------------------------

Say It Right Launches "Entire World of R Blog" 

Tybee Island, GA–March 28, 2007. Got a question about The Entire World of R? Perhaps just want to know more about treating vocalic /r/? Maybe you are a parent with a child with an "R" articulation disorder? What to know the most appropriate product to buy? Got a success story you'd like to share? 

The Entire World of R Blog is open for your comments and questions. 

Say It Right President and Founder Christine Ristuccia invites you to share your questions and comments. "We get so many questions on vocalic /r/," says Ristuccia. "Some are really specific, but you'd be surprised how many people have the same question. Many times people just need help in deciding what tools to get for treatment. Sometimes it's parents looking for direction," Ristuccia says. "We hope this forum can help people understand vocalic /r/ a little better."    

Click here and post your comments and questions.   

---------------------------------------

Transcript of Christine Ristuccia interview with Linda Schreiber on SpeechPathology.com. Topic: Got R Problems? Learn about an Effective Phonemic-Based Approach to /r/ Remediation - April 9, 2007

Linda Schreiber: Good morning Christine. Thank you for being willing to be interviewed about your phonemic-based approach to /r/ remediation this morning. Let’s start by having you tell us a little bit about your background.

Christine Ristuccia: I have worked with elementary and middle school children and I’m presently working with preschool children in Head Start preschools and daycare centers in Chatham County, GA, where I live. I’m working with children who have phonological disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, autism, and a wide range of preschool issues.

Schreiber: During your experience in the school setting while working with children, you saw a need for specific resources in the area of /r/ remediation. Tell us about that . . .For the complete interview Click Here.

---------------------------------------

Got R Problems? A Phonemic Approach to /r/ Remediation is presented on-line on SpeechPathology.com April 25th at 7pm EST. 

In a special on-line engagement with SpeechPathology.com, Christine Ristuccia, President of Say It Right, presented "Got R Problems? A Phonemic Approach to /r/ Remediation on-line on April 25, 2007. The one hour e-seminar, which counts for ASHA/0.1 Introductory Level CEUs, includes the background and concepts behind the popular The Entire World of R™ vocalic /r/ remediation system. This course was live and lasted 60 minutes. The recorded course will be available for one year at SpeechPathology.com.

---------------------------------------

Say It Right Releases Bringing S & Z Home™

Tybee Island, GA.  Obtaining and maintaining progress for frontal and lateral lisp disorders just got easier for speech-language pathologists with the latest release from  Say It Right: Bringing S & Z Home™.  Bringing S & Z Home™ is designed as both an in-class and at-home resource for teaching and remediating the elusive ‘S” and “Z” sounds.

Written by Jo Ann Gordon, who is a practicing speech-language pathologist with over 30 years in the field and author of six other books for children, Bringing S & Z Home™  fills the void of good take-home practice materials to maintain proficiency during extended school breaks.    

“The exercises, activities, and worksheets are written clear enough to be used by most any parent or care-giver,” says Say It Right President, Christine Ristuccia. “This book is a great resource for the SLP and the parent because it helps foster better communication and helps maintain proficiency. It fills a need and that’s what attracted us to this project. We’re proud to publish it.”

The 175-page book is designed to be a real time-saver for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to treat lisp articulation disorders. It can be used for students five and up. Bringing S & Z Home™  is available from Say It Right for $34.99.

---------------------------------------

The Entire World of R Wins Therapy Times MVP Award

---------------------------------------

Say It Right Selected as a Coastal BETA Finalist

Savannah, GA--Sept 28, 2007. Say It Right was recently selected as a finalist for the fifth annual Coastal Business, Education and Technology Alliance 2007 Technology awards in the Emerging Company Category. The six awards honor area businesses, educational institutions, and organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and technological excellence.

Coastal BETA is a community-membership organization for businesses, educators and technology groups that share the vision of Savannah and the coastal region as a relevant technology center offering a high-wage, growth economy to its citizens.

More information can be found at: http://savannahnow.com/node/365945.

"Being recognized in the same company as Gulfstream, Memorial Health, JCB and SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) is a true honor," said Jim Ristuccia, Director of Marketing for Say It Right. "These are some of the most prestigious names in Savannah and the Coastal Empire. Even as a small company, it's nice to be recognized for the innovations we've introduced and the impact we've had on the community and field of speech-language pathology."