| When my youngest son was born everything | | | | hope. We held on tight to that hope and in the |
| seemed fine. It wasn't until he turned two that | | | | course of a year Caleb's speech was much |
| we began to get concerned. The pediatrician | | | | better. It still wasn't where it should be, but we |
| assured us that Caleb was on track and | | | | had come a long way. Frustration settled in when |
| everything would be fine. Caleb had an older | | | | our health insurance would only pay for so many |
| brother who did all of his talking for him. However, | | | | speech therapy sessions a year. We had set in so |
| when Caleb turned three we were still very | | | | many speech sessions that we knew how to |
| concerned at his lack of speech. His older brother | | | | work with him at home. We decided to home |
| could sing the alphabet on his second birthday. We | | | | school because we did not want our son to get |
| were very encouraged that Caleb seemed normal | | | | categorized and placed into special education. |
| other than his speech delay. We had no idea what | | | | During the homeschooling experience Caleb has |
| we were up against. We would have countless | | | | been a really good student. He is good at math |
| trips to the pediatrician and speech therapists. | | | | and shows great understanding in other subjects. |
| We have had many speech therapists over the | | | | However, some people just assume that if a child |
| years. The first one was a fruit cake. In Caleb's | | | | can not speak correctly they must be mentally |
| first evaluation his speech therapist was trying to | | | | retarded. Now at the age of eight, Caleb can talk |
| determine if he could follow directions. So she | | | | very well. We still have to work with a few |
| pushed some building blocks off the table and | | | | sounds, but we are thankful to God that Caleb |
| asked Caleb to pick them up. He looked at her | | | | has come so far. |
| and said "NO". She wrote in her report that he | | | | We want our story to be an encouragement to |
| could not understand or follow simple directions. In | | | | everyone with a child that has a speech delays. |
| fact she went on to tell us that Caleb would | | | | The first bit of advice would be to get a speech |
| never learn to talk. We left in tears. Why would | | | | therapist that works well with your child. Never |
| we take our son to a speech therapist who didn't | | | | feel obligated to stick it out with a speech |
| believe in him? We knew that she felt it was a | | | | therapist that does not work well with your child. |
| hopeless case. So we did the only thing we could. | | | | Also don't be afraid to 'fire' the therapist and |
| We fired her. We needed somebody that would | | | | move on if you feel they are not giving your child |
| teach our son and work hard to help him. The | | | | a fair evaluation or not encouraging about the |
| experience left us afraid to seek the help of | | | | possibility of success. You will need to stand up |
| another professional speech therapist. We were | | | | for your child and find a speech therapist that is |
| already aware of what our son could not do. We | | | | encouraging and shows real effort with your child. |
| needed someone that would teach him and show | | | | It is a good idea to put a lot of prayer into finding |
| us what he could learn to do. | | | | the right speech therapist for your child. And |
| When he was four years old we were blessed | | | | never give up hope. There is always hope. |
| with a wonderful speech therapist who offered us | | | | |