Speech Therapy Related Links and Helpful Resources

Here at Forte Speech & Language Therapy, we’re dedicated to supporting you and your family through your speech and language therapy journey. After all, speech therapy is not just about providing solutions for speech and language disorders. It’s about empowering you and your family with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your future.

With that in mind, we’ve collected some links to resources that may help.

Local Speech and Language Resources

Help Me Grow LA

Help Me Grow LA is an LA county organization that connects people with the community resources they need.

From childhood development to early intervention services and more, Help Me Grow LA can help.

Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles

The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles is an advocacy group for people with Down syndrome and their families. They offer support groups for people with Down syndrome, as well as specific groups geared toward those who have siblings with Down syndrome.

They also offer social groups, community resources, resources for medical professionals, and much more.

Developmental Milestones

Speech Sound Acquisition Norms

Speech sounds are the sounds required to build words in any given language. English has its own set of speech sounds, and so does every other language.

Children develop the ability to produce speech sounds over time, which is why kids generally pronounce certain words incorrectly at first. Every child develops this at their own pace. However, there are some general milestones children are expected to meet when it comes to producing speech sounds.

This infographic can help you recognize whether your child is on track.

Associations & Organizations

American Speech-Language Hearing Association

As mentioned above, ASHA is the regulatory body dedicated to the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology in the United States.

They have a wealth of resources for the general public to help you better understand speech and language disorders, and speech therapy in general.

Apraxia Kids

Apraxia Kids is an organization geared toward advocating for kids with childhood apraxia of speech.

They offer a wealth of resources, including how to advocate for your child receiving an IEP, support groups, educational materials, and more.

RELATED: IEP Advocacy Services

National Stuttering Association

The National Stuttering Association has a large number of local chapters dedicated to supporting people who stutter.

They also organize an annual conference around stuttering, and provide educational materials as well.

The Stuttering Foundation of America

The Stuttering Foundation Of America is an organization that provides resources and support to people who stutter and their families.

Autism Level Up

If you’re autistic yourself, or have an autistic person in your family, Autism Level UP! can help. They go beyond awareness and acceptance, instead focusing on helping autistic people thrive.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is an organization dedicated to advocating for autistic people. Their motto is “nothing about us, without us”.

As a result, their leadership is made up entirely of autistic people. They use their own experiences to advocate for themselves and people like them.

Regional Center & Self-Determination Program (SDP)

Forte Speech & Language Therapy proudly partners with Regional Center families and provides services through California’s Self-Determination Program (SDP), including supports under Service Code 331: Community Integration Supports.

For additional information regarding the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), including complaint resources, please visit https://www.dds.ca.gov/complaints or call 916-654-1987.

Additional Resources

AAC Language Lab

AAC Language Lab is an organization that helps both speech therapists and the general public better understand how AAC works and how best to use it.

Assistiveware Core Word Classroom

AssistiveWare Core Word Classroom offers a series of programs to help implement AAC into your child’s routine. This includes printable displays, activity planners, and more.

PrAACtical AAC

PrAACtical AAC is an organization dedicated to AAC support. It’s made up of professionals in the field of AAC, as well as families with loved ones who use AAC.

Voice Options Program

The Voice Options Program is a program offered through the California Department Of Rehabilitation.

If you or a loved one has difficulty speaking, the Voice Options Program will provide you with a speech-generating AAC device for free.

AbleNet Device Funding

The AbleNet QuickTalker Freestyle is an AAC device that can help your loved one with a speech disorder to better communicate.

They offer funding for their devices as well. To find out if you qualify, take a look at their website.

Meaningful Speech

Is your child a gestalt language processor? If so, Meaningful Speech can help. They offer resources on better understanding, and supporting, your child through their speech and language development.

NeuroClastic – The Autism Spectrum According to Autistic People

NeuroClastic is an autism collective dedicated to publishing autistic voices from an intersectional perspective. Rather than looking at autism as a collection of “symptoms” or “problems”, they seek to humanize autistic people and share their experiences.

If you or your child has a speech or language disorder, we’re here to help.

Book your appointment with Forte Speech & Language Therapy today.

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Jess W.

We found Forte through our SDP service coordinator and have had a really great experience all around. The team is responsive and professional, and it’s clear that they genuinely care about their clients. They've made everything really easy and my adult son adores his SLP. Highly recommend!

John J.

Cassie worked with my daughter via Zoom and was SO engaging and patient. She made virtual sessions fun and effective, even when my daughter was a little wiggly! We saw great progress and felt supported every step of the way. Highly recommend!

Rory O.

My 6 year old son worked with Megan from Forte for 9 months. He had done speech work for several years before and I would say Megan is as good as it gets for kids at my son’s development level. She was able to come to our house and find ways to keep him engaged every week when speech was the last thing he wanted to do. We are very grateful for Forte and Megan. Can’t recommend enough.

Crystal B.

The Forte team was amazing to work with, and our speech therapist was great at connecting with kids and making therapy fun! I cannot say enough about this talented team! They have a unique way of connecting with children that allows them to feel they are meeting with someone they trust and look forward to seeing. Our child’s sessions that felt more like play were incredibly effective.

Xayide G.

Forte is great! I've had a wonderful experience with them across the board. From the initial appointment to actual treatment, it's been fantastic. My speech therapist made such a difference, and it felt like we had a meaningful connection. The whole process seemed very thoughtful, deliberate, and designed to address my unique needs. It really helped my self esteem as well, which I didn't expect as much but hey, I'm not complaining! Highly recommended to anyone looking to improve their communication skills.

Gwen S.

Speech therapy at Forte has been a great experience for me. It really felt like my therapist took a personalized approach which made each session feel valuable. I'm much more confident in my speaking skills than I used to be, I highly recommend Forte to anyone who needs to improve their speech skills. They're great!

Emily P.

Forte has been amazing for my speech delayed twins. We have worked with Shawn and Megan, and have nothing but wonderful things to say about them. My twins have similar speech issues, but have been treated as individuals with their own unique areas to be developed. And developed they have! My sons are able to express themselves and be understood. I highly recommend Forte!

Joel O.

We found Forte Speech from a friend recommendation and have been using them for a while now to help with our son's speech goals. He's made huge progress already in just a couple months! Megan Winer is our therapist and she's been really amazing, instantly connecting with our son (5y/o). He loves each session, and get to play new interesting games each time while learning. Billing and scheduling is super easy too with Forte. We highly recommend. :)

Emily S.

We started speech therapy with Shawn for our son when he was 1 1/2 due to an expressive speech delay. Throughout every step of the way, Shawn was caring, patient, invested and truly understanding of our child’s needs. Our son took to Shawn right away and our sessions together were something we both looked forward to. We could see progress so soon after we started working together and Shawn also took the time to educate us as parents about what we can do at home to help. We would highly recommend Shawn and Forte Speech and Language to anyone looking for a truly compassionate and knowledgeable speech therapist.