Providing speech, language, and social communication services to children of all ages for
15 years! We specialize in physically-supportive services to children with autism diagnoses, and others who benefit from sensorimotor supports.

CDC News

Looking Ahead to summer!

We have a few openings for the summer, so please
give us a call in the next couple weeks if you'd like
to schedule your child!

Echolalia described in a way you'll never forget...

"'It won’t cost much, just your voice!' He does it again. Stop. Rewind. Play. And one more time. On the fourth pass, Cornelia whispers, “It’s not ‘juice.’ ” I barely hear her. 'What?' 'It’s not ‘juice.’ It’s ‘just’ . . . ‘just your voice’!' I grab Owen by the shoulders. 'Just your voice! Is that what you’re saying?!' He looks right at me, our first real eye contact in a year. 'Juicervose! Juicervose! Juicervose!"

Read more of this article here.

For more interesting articles and updates, please visit the CDC Facebook page!

Tweet! Tweet!

We are very excited to announce that CDC now has a Twitter! If you'd like to welcome us, please follow or tweet at us (our Twitter handle is @ComDvlpCntr).

More Post-ASHA reflections

Thanks to those of you who downloaded the form for scoring language samples with Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) protocol. We assume most of you are SLPs and some of you were even at the ASHA seminar on that subject — but if you missed the seminar you can check out our NLA Forum, where you will find a scoring form itself. Also, please check out the article series, "Finding the Words ... To Tell the Whole Story" which describes the progression from echolalia to self-generated grammar.

Please feel free to email us with your thoughts and questions about using the protocol and the other information about NLA. We hope to have an online e-course available soon.

Have you read a short but sweet article on echolalia?

Highlighted on the online Autism Asperger's Digest:

Marge describes echolalia as "the language 'soup' from which useful phrases will be extracted," and offers this encouragement: "Echolalia signals a delay, not a disorder." Click the link below and read it for yourself!

Echolalia on the Spectrum: The Natural Path to Self-Generated Language

If you missed asha, check out this blog and comment...

How does a blog about language development in autism end up on HuffPost? Click here and find out! Read Deb Roy's account of his young son's emerging first words, and then read what Marge had to say about that process and autism! Some interesting parallels!

Autism and First Words

"Use Your Words!"

"Use Your Words!" ... That's what we remind our kids!

Good advice? Well, sometimes...
Check out our articles page to read more

ORDER the CDC book now!

Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum: The Journey from Echolalia to Self-Generated Language is ready to be sent your way!

Reviews are starting to come in!
Check out the new book page for the latest.

Order your copy today!
$29.95 plus shipping and handling.

Here's what SLPs are saying:

"Marge's work will revolutionize your thinking about your child's language and help you understand the depth of meaning behind it!"
-- Megan Snow, M.S., CCC-SLP

"It has been a joy to share Natural Language Acquistion with parents, and witness their excitement the first time they participate in a meaningful and reciprocal conversation with their child with ASD. This book empowers parents and SLPs to fully appreciate and honor the language their children have, provides strategies and tools to facilitate further language development, and provides opportunities for families to experience mutually fulfilling and exciting communicative interactions."
-- Jessica Schmidt, M.S., CCC-SLP

There are two ways to order:

For orders in the United States, please click here:

For international orders:
Please send your name, billing address, and address to: communicationdevelopmentcenter@gmail.com

articles by Marge Blanc

Bringing It Home: Physical Supports for Speech at Home and in Other Environments

It's All Gibberish to Me: Redefining "Non-verbal"

More Than Words (Parts 1-6)

Click here for more articles by Marge Blanc

 

Welcome to CDC!

We are a small, non-profit clinic on the
west side of Madison, WI, specializing in communication services for children who benefit from play and physical activity to support their interactions and language: children with challenges associated with autism, dyspraxia, and sensorimotor coordination. Please browse our site to learn more about us!

For some of the latest thinking on ASD and child development, please like our Facebook page!

Calendar

Mar 15 to 23 - closed for spring break
May 30 - spring semester ends
June 16 - summer session starts
August 8 - summer session ends
September 2 - fall semester starts

Kid Quotes

Our kids say the best things!

"I went on my sweng woblwobl said ellen and Bryn."





"I was flieg. it was fun elen and bryn are my frends."



(C=Child, A=Adult)

C: What were you sick with?
A: It was a flu virus.
C: My computer gets viruses all the time.

[Out of the blue]
C: Hey! You smell...
A: What do i smell like?
C: ... Weird.

A: Did you know Ellen speaks Spanish. Hola como estas?
C: Subtitles?

C: Bryn, you're standing on the horse! You're going to Fall!
[Bryn falls}
C: Weeooweeooweeoo [ambulance sound]

deep in thought...
A: What are you thinking about?
C: Bryn... She's such a goofball.


Valid point on washing hands...
A: I think you need to wash both hands.... It didn't get soap.
C: It got water!

We'd love to include other favorite quotes from your kids, so when you have one, send it to us!