My experience with the Communication and Learning Clinic has been nothing but a blessing. My daughter came to Cindy through First Steps and the progress she has made is astounding. Because of her diagnosis of PDD and epilepsy, I wasn’t sure how much to hope for. My daughter went from saying less than two words an entire session to talking non stop in a period of only months! My son, who has autism, began therapy with Sara a short time later. Not only is his speech exploding, but his very limited choice of foods is expanding as well. I can’t begin to express the amount of gratitude I feel for everyone at the Communication and Learning Clinic. The wisdom of the clinicians there pertaining to the autism spectrum and all the behaviors and difficulties associated with it has given me a life of hope out of the depths of despair.

Tara T.

[Cindy's note: Tara's daughter's spoken language improved significantly; however, she continues to receive speech therapy through her school for speech sound errors.]

My son Noah has been going to the Communication and Learning Clinic (CLC) since June 2004. The speech therapists at the clinic have been lifesavers for us. With the weekly 2 hours speech session he receives, he has been moved out of the "restricted classroom" and put in the general education classroom and is able to handle the curriculum with his peers.

When he first started at CLC he would put his head down on the desk, would mumble and complain the whole time. Now my son is happy when he comes, works for 2 hours (w/out a break - his choice) and has not displayed the type of behavior as when he first started. He is holding his hand up in class to answer questions; he has tons of confidence, and has done a complete 360 (sic) in school.

Noah still has a long road ahead of him, but with the continued help and support from CLC I know it will help him achieve the success he deserves. I have so much trust and respect for the therapists at CLC. They have given us hope, when others wrote us off.

Sincerely,

Holly S.

I came to the Communication and Learning Clinic feeling very discouraged and frustrated trying to help my grandson who had a communication disorder and multiple learning disabilities. I had been homeschooling him for three years. He wanted to learn and put forth great effort but was still unable to learn. I had tried all the traditional learning/teaching methods, the suggestions of professionals and those of other more experienced homeschoolers - nothing was working. It was painful not know how to help and difficult for both of us in our struggle to help him "get it". I was beginning to for feel desperate and ill equipped to educate him, but I still knew that homeschooling him was his best opportunity for learning.

In 2001 someone told me to call Cindy Gerard at the Communication and Learning Clinic. What a blessing! Finally someone who was educated trained and equipped with knowledge to offer us hope. She and her therapists genuinely care about their clients and have their best interests at heart. She thinks outside the box, does good assessments and uses a diversity of tools that are appropriate for the individual client and sees past their disabilities to the potential they have to learn given the right opportunities. She also had the willingness to educate and equip me in the learning methods that were best for him.

I will never forget the joy in watching my grandson start holding his head up and smile because he knew HE was really learning and finally "getting it". How grateful I am for the impact and investment she has made in his life and the hope for his future that has been given.

Linda