Speech and Hearing BC contributes to Select Standing Committee for Children and Youth: Report released late October
In late May, 2019, Director of Early Intervention for Speech-Language Pathology, Lynne Patrick, presented on behalf of Speech and Hearing BC to the Select Standing Committee for Children and Youth. This committee was given the task of gathering information on eligibility and assessment processes for children and youth with neuro-diverse special needs across the province. Both Ministries of Health and Children and Families presented to this committee as well as many individuals and agencies across the province. On October 30th the committee released their report summarizing what they had heard and their recommendations in response. Repeated numerous times throughout the report was the issue of long assessment and service wait times for many involved professionals including speech-language pathologists as well as disparities in service by geographic location and the resulting negative impact on early identification and intervention. Speech and Hearing BC was referenced several times in the report.
At least five of the sixteen recommendations in the report could potentially impact speech-language pathologists working with toddlers and preschoolers. Please remember these are still only the committee’s recommendations at this point in time.
It is encouraging to note the efforts of many advocating on behalf of the children in BC. It is also encouraging to note the government is listening. Read the full report at www.leg.bc.ca under the Select Standing Committee for Children and Youth.