For more than half his life,Β five-year-oldΒ Cade Sinness has attended speech therapy sessions at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs Communication Disorders Clinic. So whenΒ the soon-to-be kindergartnerΒ completed his last session this week,Β it was time for pomp and circumstance.
βCadeβs mother told me he would have a surprise for me at his last session,β said Tom Ehren, a clinical educator at the clinic. βI anticipated his surprise and came prepared in my own regalia.β
Cade arrived for his lastΒ session in a bright red cap and gown. Afterwards he beamed when Ehren formally presented him with a βdiploma.β
Ehren said he provides his clients with a “diploma” or “certificate” when itβs appropriate, but he likes to emphasize that achieving better communication skills is a reward in itself.
Cadeβs therapy sessions spanned nine semesters at the Communication Disorders Clinic, the training site for ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ graduate students preparing to become certified speech-language pathologists.Β They were conducted byΒ graduate students supervised by Ehren, a Board Recognized Specialist in Child Language.
This fall, Cade will enter kindergarten with much improved speech and language skills, thanks to the clinic, the support of Cadeβs family β and Cadeβs own hard work.
Congratulations, Cade!