Community Resource: Speech Therapy with Easterseals Maryland
For many families, the journey to finding the right support for a child’s communication skills can feel over whelming and lonely. Toddler Talk, LLC would like to highlight resources that can cater to all families.
Whether you are noticing your toddler isn’t meeting language milestones or your school-aged child is struggling with articulation, you want a partner who sees your child’s potential as clearly as you do.
In Maryland, Easterseals can be one of those partners. With a legacy of empowerment, Easterseals provides compassionate, family-centered speech-language pathology services designed to help children (and adults) find their voices and build meaningful connections.
Easterseals Maryland offers a supportive environment where "therapy" often looks a lot like "play." Their licensed Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) specialize in:
Articulation and Phonology: Helping children produce sounds clearly.
Expressive and Receptive Language: Improving how children share thoughts and understand others.
Social Communication: Navigating the "unwritten rules" of conversation and play.
Feeding and Swallowing: Addressing sensory or physical challenges with eating.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Qualifying
The process of starting speech therapy is designed to be as stress-free as possible. Here is how you can get started in Maryland:
1. The Initial Inquiry
The first step is simply reaching out. You don't need a formal diagnosis to start the conversation. You can contact your local Easterseals center—such as the Silver Spring location (serving the DC/MD/VA area).
2. The Referral
While you can contact Easterseals directly, most speech therapy services require a referral from your pediatrician. This ensures that the therapy is integrated into your child's overall healthcare plan. For children under age three, you can also access services through the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program, where Easterseals often acts as a service provider.
3. Professional Evaluation
Once the referral is in place, an SLP will conduct a comprehensive evaluation. This isn't a "test" in the scary sense; it involves observing your child’s play, listening to them interact, and using standardized tools to identify strengths and areas for growth.
4. The Personalized Plan
If the evaluation shows a need for support, the team will work with you to create an Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP) or, for those in early intervention, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). This plan outlines specific, achievable goals tailored to your child’s unique personality.
5. Scheduling and Insurance
Easterseals works with various insurance providers, including Maryland Medicaid. Their intake coordinators will help you navigate the paperwork so you can focus on what matters most: your child.
A Community of Support
Their "coaching" model empowers parents to use therapy techniques at home, turning everyday moments—like bath time or grocery shopping—into opportunities for language growth. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength and a beautiful first step toward your child’s bright future.
Please reach out to us at Toddler Talk, LLC for more community resources and/or a FREE phone consultation.
