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.
Christine 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.
“The audience
was the largest since I’ve been at PaTTAN,” according to Cassie Budzilek,
M.A. CCC-SLP, Educational Consultant for the PA Training and Technical
Assistance Network and coordinator of the workshop.
“These
numbers (2,000) really confirm the interest and need for good /r/ solutions,”
says Christine. “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.”
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 (SLP)?Did
you say. . . [r]?Yes, little ol’
[r] has many SLP’s pulling their hair out. Treating [r], however, just got a
whole lot easier recently for aspiring speech-language pathologist 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 materials, recently published, 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/.
“SLP’s are
clamoring for effective techniques that work,” says Christine 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.”
The secret of The
Entire World of R™ program, according to Ristuccia, 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 1 in 5 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 Christine 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.
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?
"Please
share your questions and comments," says Christine Ristuccia. "We get
so many questions on vocalic /r/. Some are really specific, but you'd be
surprised how many people have the same question. Many time's people just need
help in deciding what tools to get for treatment. Sometimes it's parents looking
for direction. We hope this forum can help people understand vocalic /r/ a
little better."
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.
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.
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 (SLP) 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.
Tybee Island, GA. The
Therapy
Timeshas selected The Entire World of R™
for a 2007 Most Valuable Product (MVP) Award.
The MVP award recognizes exemplary products in the therapy industry that
through their innovation, practicality and usefulness in the field –
have had the greatest influence on today’s therapy professions. More
information can be found on the Therapy
Times
website.
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.
"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
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."
