Build the resources to help children with speech
Imagine your daughter says her first word later than her friends do. You wait, hoping she will catch up. By age three, she still is not putting words together the […]
Imagine a Manitoba where children with speech delays and disorders receive the early support they need. Currently, thousands of Manitoba families face a severe shortage of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The province is the only one in Western Canada without its own graduate program to train SLPs, leaving health regions with long wait times and overloaded caseloads for existing professionals.
As a result, children with language delays may not receive help until they are in kindergarten, leading to struggles with basic communication and social interaction. The consequences reach far beyond the individual child and their family, affecting their mental health, academic performance, and even future involvement with the justice system.
Investing in a graduate program at the University of Manitoba would address the shortage, train professionals familiar with Manitoba's unique populations, and prevent long-term negative outcomes. The cost of waiting is significant, as unidentified language disorders are linked to delinquent behavior, poor mental health, low school engagement, and higher dropout rates.
By providing early intervention, Manitoba can improve the lives of individuals with speech difficulties and alleviate the strain on health care, education, and justice systems. The time to act is now.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
