To the editor:
I am writing to let people know about a gem here in Syracuse: the Gebbie Speech and Language Clinic at SU. While my oldest son was in pre-K, I was urged by his teachers to have him evaluated for speech issues. I admit, I was hesitant, thinking, “He’ll grow out of it.” But I agreed to the evaluation, and there comes a time when parents are presented with a list of “approved” clinics and agencies to provide this evaluation and, possibly, speech and language services, should they be found necessary. I was at a loss — which one to choose?
I was lucky to have a friend who is an educator to present this list of options to, including many for-profit entities who come to your home or school to provide services. As I read down the list and came upon Gebbie Speech and Language Clinic, she said, “Take him to Gebbie.” And I did. The evaluation was done in a state-of-the-art setting with several people. There was a staff person from Syracuse University, along with graduate students who worked with him. I was presented with a stunningly complete report that included exactly what his speech abnormalities were and a plan to correct them. He was subsequently approved for services through our school district.
I decided to continue to take him to the Gebbie Clinic at SU for therapy, which required me to take him there after I got out of work. He received services for nine months and is now a successful and clear-spoken first-grader.
I wrote this not just to let people know that the Gebbie Clinic exists and their amazing abilities, but to wonder why it is not used more often. While we all talk about consolidation of services and eds and meds versus the suburbs, it occurred to me, to have this resource in our community, powered by Syracuse University and all of its speech and language students who are striving to earn their degrees and excited about their area of study, why has someone not urged a partnership in this area? There are so many students in area schools who are “not qualified” to receive services through their school districts, but would benefit and excel if given extra instruction. Meanwhile, too many school districts are constrained by the tax cap to offer any additional paid people to provide services.
Could there be a partnership here, or an internship program, perhaps, to allow the many students at Syracuse University an opportunity to work in their field of study and help our local students? If not, I would urge every local school district to contact the university and see if it is possible to put a program in place. It would fill a void within our school districts for kids who fall within the intermediate range and increase their chance at success.
In any case, if your preschooler is recommended for speech services and you feel the way I did, a bit lost and confused, I would urge you to take them to Gebbie. You will not regret it!
Lynn Precourt
Baldwinsville
