Dr. Deborah Hayes, Ph.D.
Director, Dept. of Audiology, Speech Pathology, and Learning Services
The Children's Hospital, 1056 East 19th Avenue, Denver, Colorado

The specific reason for the Grand Commander's visit was to show him our new therapy program facility at the hospital. This spacious area includes 17 individual treatment rooms with observation, two large group treatment rooms with observation, and three complete audiology sound suites. During the tour, Illustrious Brothers Kleinknecht and Hamilton watched a group of children using augmentative communication systems embark upon a "treasure hunt" for pirate's plunder. The activity provided opportunities for vocabulary development, social interaction, and imaginative play. Many of these children will attend the SRF-sponsored "Talking with Technology" camp later in the summer for a week-long intensive communication development program. Now in its 14th year, this unique program gives children with severe language disabilities a chance to practice new communication skills in a most natural childhood environment, an overnight camp.

During the tour, we also discussed several exciting developments in the Colorado SRF's statewide programs. In collaboration with the University of Northern Colorado, for example, the SRF is sponsoring weekly outreach services to children in rural areas. Based out of a modified trailer, the clinic travels to communities on the northeastern plains to provide clinical services. This mobile clinic makes SRF-sponsored therapy services available to children outside major metropolitan areas.

In the opposite corner of the state, the SRF is supporting a new language-based pre-literacy program for preschool children in Cortez, Colorado, and surrounding communities. This new program is designed to bring language stimulation activities and materials to area families with three- and four-year-old children. Developed in collaboration with community agencies, including the Ute Mountain Ute Head Start and the Piñon Project, the goal of the program is to provide a strong foundation of language skills in young children. Parents will be intimately involved in the learning process by being the child's first, and most committed, teacher.

Dori Biester, R.N., Ph.D., President of The Children's Hospital, joined Brothers Kleinknecht and Hamilton to express the hospital's and community's appreciation for five decades of partnership. In particular, Dr. Biester noted the importance of the SRF's recent commitment to endow a chair at The Children's Hospital. She noted that the chair will provide new opportunities for both TCH and the SRF to expand services, create quality programs, and serve children and families for generations to come.

From a modest beginning in Denver, Colorado, almost 50 years ago, Scottish Rite Foundation programs in Childhood Language Disorders have grown to encompass 138 Scottish Rite Clinics, Centers, or Programs throughout the Southern Jurisdiction today. Scottish Rite Masons can be rightfully proud of the service they provide to thousands of children and their families each year.

Deborah Hayes is Chair of the Department of Audiology, Speech Pathology, and Learning Services at The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado. In this capacity she works in close partnership with the Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado. Dr. Hayes is a nationally and internationally recognized clinician, scientist, and teacher, and serves on multiple professional committees, advisory boards, and task forces.