Contact:
TLC
– The Treatment and Learning Centers
(301) 424-5200, ext. 270
Rockville, MD, June 25, 2003 – The Treatment and Learning Centers, a non-profit
organization, which helps children and adults with a wide range of
disabilities, today announced that Dr. Patricia A. Ritter, assistant executive
director at TLC and licensed speech-language pathologist has been awarded
funding through the Starfish Mini-Grant Program from the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Special Interest Division 1 – Language,
Learning and Education. The grant seeks
to foster collaboration between academicians and practicing clinicians. The
project collaborators are Patricia Ritter, Ph.D., CCC-SLP and Laura Justice,
Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, McGuffey Reading Center, Curry School of
Education at the University of Virginia.
Drs.
Ritter and Justice will investigate an intervention technique for promoting
emergent literacy in young children.
Emergent literacy describes the skills, knowledge, and concepts young
children have about reading and writing prior to attaining conventional
literacy. Although the proposed study
involves typically developing children, results will contribute to the
profession’s progress in conceptualizing, evaluating, and implementing emergent
literacy intervention for preschoolers with language impairments.
“This
is an exciting opportunity to involve the centers in research that contributes
to knowledge regarding early reading skills,” said Patricia Ritter, assistant
executive director at TLC and licensed speech-language pathologist. “The teachers are enthusiastic about the
process and the children have responded positively.”
The
project research will examine the influence of variations in adult-child shared
reading on the early literacy skills of 4-year old children. The research also will look at how these
variations might assist in developing
models for improving literacy in the preschool years. Approximately 30 4-year old children attending Shady Grove Early
Learning Centers at TLC will participate.
Children are completing a 12-week storybook reading intervention
involving two reading sessions per week.
Effects of adult-child reading sessions will be evaluated using pre and
post test emergent literacy measures, particularly phonological awareness.
The
study will conclude on June 30th and results will be prepared for
dissemination. A project summary will
be submitted to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Special
Interest Division 1 – Language, Learning and Education.
About Special Interest Division 1: Language Learning and Education
Division 1 is a special interest group that supports
professional development, research and networking opportunities in child
language. The Starfish Minigrant is
just one of the many activities sponsored by Division 1. The grant provides
seed money to assist affiliates with the funding of a creative project.
Division 1 is committed to funding partnerships that foster collaboration
between academicians and practicing clinicians to make a difference for
children and youth with language impairments.
About ASHA
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing
association for more than 109,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists,
and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Speech-language pathologists are
health care professionals who identify, assess, and treat speech and language
problems, including swallowing problems.
The Treatment and
Learning Centers, located in Rockville, Maryland, enables children and adults
to develop to their full potential, to communicate effectively with others, and
to achieve educational and vocational success.
TLC provides services that strengthen their abilities and respond to
their changing needs. With over 53
years of service to the community, TLC is committed to integrity and excellence
in our care and will strive to assist all, regardless of their ability to
pay. For more information call
301-424-5200 or visit www.ttlc.org.
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