WALNUT CREEK, CALIF. (March 16, 2011) – Spectrum Center Schools and Programs today announced the release of an innovative workbook for professionals who work with children with delayed communication skills and for parents and caretakers who want to support their child’s speech and language development at home.
Release highlights:
- Innovative workbook, Speech in Action, combines simple techniques from speech and language pathology with physical exercises that have been carefully designed to meet the individual needs of children who have delayed communications skills.
- Speech in Action was written by Spectrum Center faculty members Jim Elliott and Lois Jean Brady, in conjunction with speech pathologist America X. Gonzalez, and illustrated by Spectrum Center student Byron James.
- Speech in Action was published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers and is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
Quotes:
- “The experience of illustrating a book was exhausting and fun at the same time, but worth it. I usually like to draw cityscapes, so I had to expand my drawing horizons to illustrate people.” Byron James, Spectrum student and illustrator
- “We wanted to help children, and I can think of no better way to do that than to give one of them the opportunity to be an illustrator for a book. Byron deserves a lot of credit for his creativity and artistic prowess.” America X. Gonzalez, co-author
For Immediate Release
WALNUT CREEK, CALIF. (March 16, 2011) – Spectrum Center Schools and Programs today announced the release of an innovative workbook for professionals who work with children with delayed communication skills and for parents and caretakers who want to support their child’s speech and language development at home.
Speech in Action: Interactive Activities Combining Speech Language Pathology and Adaptive Physical Education was written by Spectrum Center faculty members Jim Elliott and Lois Jean Brady, in conjunction with speech pathologist America X. Gonzalez, and illustrated by Spectrum Center student Byron James.
Speech in Action is a practical workbook for parents, teachers, occupational therapists and other professionals. It features a new approach to learning that combines simple techniques from speech and language pathology with physical exercises that have been carefully designed to meet the individual needs of children who have delayed communications skills. This workbook describes the approach and how it works and features 90 photocopiable lessons that include fun and creative ideas to get kids talking and moving.
James, a 14-year-old Spectrum Center student with Asperger’s syndrome, was brought on as illustrator of Speech in Action because of his artistic interest and ability. An avid and gifted artist since the age of five, James was a good choice to illustrate Speech in Action, Brady said.
“The experience of illustrating a book was exhausting and fun at the same time, but worth it,” said James. “I usually like to draw cityscapes, so I had to expand my drawing horizons to illustrate people.”
Gonzalez describes James’ involvement as a source of motivation and a constant reminder of the reason they developed the book.
“We wanted to help children, and I can think of no better way to do that than to give one of them the opportunity to be an illustrator for a book,” said Gonzalez. “Byron deserves a lot of credit for his creativity and artistic prowess.”
Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Speech in Action is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
Spectrum Center’s state-certified nonpublic schools and public school integrated collaborative classrooms provide special education services to students, ages five to 22, with a wide array of special needs, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental delays, behavioral challenges, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and emotional disturbance.
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Resource Links:
spectrumschools.com
For more information:
Allison Russo
Lovell Communications Inc.
(615) 297-7766
allison@lovell.com
