BEFORE REFERRING: CLICK HERE to view our Referral Process
When you are ready:
- CLICK HERE to access our fillable Referral Form
- CLICK HERE to access our Consent Form – please download in Adobe to complete and print for signature
Talk Tips are a collection of helpful resources posted by our team of SLPs. New items are posted regularly. Let us know if you find these useful or have a request for future items. Click on the TALK TIPS speech bubble to see the SLP resources.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS RECORDING OF 2022 FALL SYMPOSIUM SESSION
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SOME FREE AHS WEBINARS!
What is speech-language therapy?
Good communication skills lead to successful speaking, thinking, reading, writing, and learning. Speech Language Therapists work with school children who have communication challenges that affect success in:
- Classroom activities
- Social Interactions
- Literacy
- Learning
Speech Language Therapists work with children in a variety of ways:
- Combine communication goals with school routines and academic programming and social goals
- Individual work on specific skills such as specific letter sounds
- In class programming (ex. teaching social skills)
- Group work
- In collaboration with other team members
- SLPs – who we are and what we do – click the link learn more about the role of Speech Language Therapists.
Some examples of when to make a referral to a Speech Language Pathologist include:
- Difficulty saying words (ex. houth for house and wadder for ladder)
- If your child has difficulty understanding others and following directions.
- Difficulty expressing thoughts and ideas.
- Difficulty communicating with others both verbally and non-verbally (poor social skills).
- Stuttering
*****************************************************************************************************************************
Meet our Speech Language Pathologists:
Dallin Ellingson
Dallin worked with the Edmonton Catholic School District starting in 2018, then began working privately as an FSCD service provider prior to joining the SWCSS team. Dallin enjoys learning and collaborating with school teams and families to help share strategies across environments. Incorporating speech, language, and social strategies into play is something Dallin enjoys doing, as the best way to learn is through play. Dallin is trained in Hanen Learning Language and Loving It and More Than Words programs, which provide additional strategies and support for children that may have more complex communication needs. Outside of the classroom, Dallin enjoys fishing, camping, building, and spending time with his family.
Serving: Livingston Range School Division and AISCA
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 587.370.3843
Jaelyn Belisle
Jaelyn joined SWCSS in August 2020 after working at Children’s Allied Health (AHS) since 2009. She believes communication is connection, and there is nothing more important than connection! Jaelyn is passionate about collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to help support preschool and school age children in southern Alberta. She believes in a functional communication approach, and loves incorporating literacy and reading into therapy as much as possible! She enjoys finding creative ways to motivate students (and their learning teams and families) to reach their goals. Outside of work, Jaelyn enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children; camping, hiking, golfing, reading and traveling.
Serving: Filler for remainder of 2022-23 school year
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 403.332.1687
Kaitee Vegter
Kaitee comes to the SWCSS team after working in both rural and city schools in Southern Alberta and Montana. She holds her Certificate of Clinician Competence (CCC) through the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) as well as Certification through Speech and Audiology Canada (SAC). Kaitee enjoys supporting students and families from all different backgrounds to aid them with their communication needs. Her main passions in the field include: augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), early language learners, functional communication approaches, and play based learning. She also has experience working with multicultural and multilingual families and students within the schools, focusing on meaningful connections and collaborative approaches to assessment and intervention. In her free time she enjoys hiking, fishing, travelling and crafting!
Serving: Horizon, Palliser, Westwind
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 403.915.8206
Kara Prebushewski
Kara joins SWCSS after having worked with preschool and school-aged children at AHS Children’s Allied Health since 2006. She approaches her work from a functional communication perspective. This approach keeps it easy for parents/caregivers to be involved and ensures children are motivated and having fun for optimal treatment outcomes. Kara is passionate about empowering and teaching parents and school-teams how to best help children reach their goals. She prides herself on making meaningful connections with children, families, and other service providers and she thrives on working collaboratively in her role as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Outside of work hours, Kara keeps busy with a house full of boys who keep her active doing activities like biking, hiking, camping, and golfing.
Serving: Palliser, Westwind, AISCA
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 403.795.7320
Kendra Tait
Kendra joined the SWCSS team in 2020. Prior to this she completed her SLP training at the University of Alberta in 2015, and subsequently worked with school-aged children at Alberta Health Services. She is passionate about collaborating with school teams and families to help children participate fully and confidently in the activities they love. Communication is key to participation and overall wellness! She has additional training in Childhood Apraxia of Speech through Apraxia-Kids; sharing this knowledge and skillset empowers learning teams and families to provide the tailored support these students need. Outside of work, Kendra keeps busy with her husband and two kiddos playing, biking, walking, swimming, and reading.
Serving: Filler for remainder of 2022-23 school year
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 403.915.8328