Tag Archives: speech and language

Therapro's Booth at ASHA 2023; table with blue tablecloth and the Therapro logo with Therapro games on display

Therapro at the ASHA 2023 Annual Convention

Events, ,

A Recap of Unforgettable Moments

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 2023 Annual Convention was a whirlwind of excitement, innovation, and meaningful connections. Therapro was thrilled to be a part of this prestigious event held in the vibrant city of Boston, Massachusetts. We had a fantastic time showcasing our wide range of products, connecting with industry friends, and participating in some unforgettable highlights that made the event truly special.

Pirate Lucky’s Special Visit from Kokolingo

One of the most memorable moments of our time at ASHA 2023 was the special visit by Pirate Lucky from Kokolingo. Lucky’s visit brought an element of fun and excitement to our booth that left our guests both entertained and informed about Kokolingo. Kokolingo is a speech articulation app, developed by a licensed Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists, that will help accelerate progress through gamified speech articulation exercises. Lucky, with his colorful attire and boundless energy, engaged visitors and provided a peek into the world of Kokolingo. His visit was a hit among attendees and left a lasting impression on all those who stopped by the Therapro booth.

Live Demonstrations of Speech and Language Learning Games

At Therapro, we believe in the power of play to promote speech and language development. ASHA 2023 allowed us to demonstrate some of our favorite games designed for this purpose. Attendees were treated to live demonstrations of Novenops, Trunks, Lion in My Way, and many others – all fantastic tools for speech and language pathologists, educators, and parents seeking innovative ways to engage and support children in their language journey. The interactive nature of these games truly captivated the audience, illustrating the effectiveness of play-based learning.

Lion In My Way: A Game of Imaginative Solutions
Novenops; game in small yellow tin

Product Spotlight: Social Language Rules & Tools

Social Language Rules & Tools: A Preschool Curriculum of activities to improve social–ability

Therapro’s “Product Spotlight Corner” at ASHA 2023 featured the book Social Language Rules & Tools: A Preschool Curriculum. This curriculum is a valuable resource for professionals working with young children, providing a structured and engaging framework to teach social language skills. Attendees were able to explore this curriculum up close, gaining insight into how it can benefit their therapy sessions and classrooms.

Visits from Friends of Therapro

Our booth at ASHA 2023 was not only a hub for our products but also a gathering place for friends and collaborators in the industry. We were thrilled to welcome friends of Therapro, including Hillel from Spark Innovations, Dawn from ezpz, and Mary from Chewy Tubes. These connections and partnerships underscore the sense of community and mutual support that characterizes the world of speech and language therapy.

Demonstrating Our Wide Range of Products

At Therapro, we take pride in offering a diverse range of products to support speech and language development. During ASHA 2023, our team had a blast demonstrating our extensive catalog, which spans from assistive technology, to oral motor tools, to feeding solutions, to games that foster social and emotional language development. Our goal is to provide professionals and caregivers with the tools they need to make a positive impact on the lives of those with speech and language challenges.

BIG Step-by-Step with Levels
Happy Senso sensory foam

The ASHA 2023 Annual Convention in Boston was a memorable experience for the Therapro team. We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with fellow professionals, showcase our products, and contribute to the advancement of speech and language therapy. The enthusiasm and passion of everyone we met at the convention were truly inspiring, and we look forward to continuing to support speech and language development for years to come.

Thank you to everyone who visited us at ASHA 2023, and we can’t wait to see you again at future events and conferences. Together, we’ll keep making a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Modifying Games to Address Therapeutic Goals

Activities, , , , , ,

Games are a useful therapeutic tool; they are versatile, engaging, and so much fun! WIth a few simple modifications games can address a wide range of therapeutic needs.  A few simple modifications can be used for almost every game:

  1. Add Visuals.  Visuals can be anything from simplified directions to communication aids, like “your turn” and “my turn”. Visuals can help those who struggle with sequencing, memory, or communication participate more independently in game play.  
  2. Change the playing position. Playing games on the floor, at a countertop, or with alternative seating helps to increase participation and access.  Playing a game on the floor allows players to play in alternative positions, like laying on their bellies. This position is great for those with postural instability, and helps increase their focus and endurance.  Another option is to use a therapy ball (add a base for stability), Alert Seat, Ball Chair, or air filled cushion instead of a traditional chair.  These types of alternative seating provides movement input which may allow those with shortened attention spans to participate longer and with more focus.  Some games like, Left Center Right, have few manipulatives making these great games to use on scooter boards or swings.  
  3. Modify the Manipulatives.  Some game pieces are just too small, too big, or too difficult for students to access.  One quick fix is to swap out the game tokens for something more manageable like a jumbo dice.  Another option, insert game pieces into putty for a bigger gripping surface.  Other modifications include using a card holder or book holder.  
  4. Manipulating the manipulatives to target hand skills. To encourage a pincer grasp, place smaller game pieces into an egg carton (or similar small container); the smaller space allows for only a few fingers to access the piece, encouraging a two or three finger grasp pattern every time the player picks up the game pieces.  To incorporate hand strengthening and bilateral coordination, use a tennis ball with a small slit cut into it.  Players must squeeze the tennis ball with one hand while using the other hand to insert or remove their pieces.  To target fine motor manipulation with insertion, use plastic containers (your recycling bin is a great resource); cut a slit in the lid and work on inserting game manipulatives into the containers.
  5. Change the game rules to address specific therapeutic goals. If your focus is social interactions, team building, or cooperative problem solving, change game play so players play as a group instead of competing against each other. If you are doing individual treatment sessions instead of group sessions, change gameplay to make it a single-person game.  When time is limited or you have participants who struggle with extended attention and focus, add a time rule where gameplay ends after a set amount of minutes.  When the game is too hard or too easy for players, add more complexity or decrease the complexity.   
Example of modifying a game; tube with cover
Example of modifying a game; coins in a clear tube
A tennis ball with a slit and a coin inserted
coins in an egg carton

With a little bit of creativity, most games can be changed, adapted, or modified in order to use them as a therapeutic tool.  Check out Therapro’s handy games guide to see these modifications applied to some of our great games!