Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders has openings in the Little Jacks program for children ages three to four experiencing communication concerns.
The center, which is located in the Department of Human Services and Educational Leadership in the James I. Perkins College of Education, offers speech therapy services to residents of East Texas. The clinic’s Little Jacks program specializes in serving children ages three to four who have a receptive and expressive language delay. The program is run by graduate students and senior undergraduate students under the supervision of Erin Keeling, clinical instructor in the Department of Human Services and Educational Leadership.
“Children in the Little Jacks program participate in a language-enriched environment within a small group made up of five to six children in a pre-K type classroom for 60 minutes, then receive a small group session to work on specific skills individualized to the child,” said Keeling. “The clients participate in literacy-based language units, craft time, snack time, rotate through activity rooms, and then have one-on-one time to work on specific goals.”
The program currently has three openings that are expected to be filled by mid-February. The length of the program depends on the client. Sessions are only available in the fall and spring semesters and meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
To be admitted, a $75 speech and language evaluation is required unless a current evaluation by another health care provider can be submitted. Speech therapy sessions are $15, and insurance is not accepted.
“If a parent has communication concerns with their child, such as receptive language (the child understanding what is said) or expressive language (the child expressing themselves), or if a pediatrician has expressed concerns, parents are welcome to call for an evaluation or to inquire about services,” Keeling said. “Parents are not required to have a referral from a physician.”
For additional information, visit the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders website or call (936) 468-7109.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at the SFA website.