FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2015
Editorial Contacts:
Stephen Betzen, Office Manager, (214) 646-1570, sbetzen@dallasreading.com
Cliff Pearson, Communications Coordinator, (214) 646-1570, cpearson@dallasreading.com
Speech Clinic to Offer Free Workshop for Parents
Therapists to teach signs of language issues in children as they learn reading skills
(DALLAS, November 12, 2015) – Dallas Reading and Language Services announces a free workshop for parents, “My Smart Kid Doesn’t Like to Read, Now What?” with certified and licensed speech-language pathologists Rachel Betzen, M.A., CCC/SLP, and Kate Hardin, M.S., CFY/SLP. This workshop will last from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 at the Dallas Public Library Children’s Center in Dallas.
“Reading is part of a language hierarchy,” says Ms. Betzen. “At the base of the hierarchy is a representation of experiences and knowledge which children use to build their basic vocabulary and language skills. Reading is another symbol-system imposed on top of our language.”
“If a child experiences a weakness anywhere in this hierarchy, difficulty with higher level skills, such as reading and writing, will result,” adds Ms. Hardin. “This is why children who have speech or language difficulties as preschoolers are at a higher risk of having learning problems in school, particularly when learning to read.”
In this workshop, parents will learn about:
- Language disorders
- Developmental reading milestones
- What to do if they have concerns about their child
About the lecturers:
Rachel Betzen, M.A., CCC/SLP, is the founding speech-language pathologist and owner of Dallas Reading and Language Services. She has worked with children who have displayed a variety of disorders and developmental challenges, as well as children with dyslexia and comprehension problems. Rachel received her Master in Arts degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston.
Kate Hardin, M.S., CFY/SLP, is a speech-language pathologist for Dallas Reading and Language Services, and is in her clinical fellowship year. Kate is bilingual (Spanish and English) and is from the Dallas area. Her background in speech therapy includes previous work in private practice clinics, and in both public and charter schools. She has worked with children from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, including children with disabilities. Kate earned her Master of Science degree in Communications Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas.
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Dallas Reading and Language Services is a provider of speech-language therapy and reading services to the Dallas community, employing licensed Speech-Language Pathologists and SLP Assistants.
