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There is probably nothing more emotionally moving than to witness helpless children in pain or distress. They turn to us—hoping, pleading with their eyes that we do something to help them. Modern science, fortunately, is now able to cure more and more physical afflictions of young people. Surgery or therapy can correct or minimize the effects of many birth defects. Each year chemotherapy and radiation save thousands of once terminally ill children. Psychiatry reaches the mentally disturbed child, restoring a happy normalcy.
We in the
Scottish Rite are gratified to be involved in the humanitarian movement to
aid children by helping to relieve some of the most distressing childhood
disorders. The Supreme Council’s
Childhood Language Disorders
Program, now operating in each of our 37 Orients within the United
States and Puerto Rico, serves, without regard to race, color, or creed,
thousands of children who are afflicted with conditions that severely hamper
their speaking, reading, and writing abilities. The afflicted child, if diagnosed
early and given appropriate specialized help, can become a fully functioning
and productive citizen. If not assisted, the child may become instead a
heartbreaking liability for the family and for the state.
The initial interest of The Supreme Council in helping children with
communication problems followed the lead of the Denver and Rocky Mountain
Scottish Rite Bodies, which in 1952 had created a philanthropic foundation
in Colorado to treat children with aphasia, the result usually of a brain
injury impairing the ability to use words. In 1958, the Scottish Rite’s
involvement in childhood aphasia expanded to California where a similar project
was supported by an Orient foundation. As the zeal for this worthwhile charitable
program spread, more and more Orients (states) became active participants.
In 1986, under the leadership of Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°,
The Supreme Council implemented a
S
cottish Rite
Credit Card Program, which not only provides a service to our members but
also generates substantial ongoing revenues for the support of our Childhood
Language Disorders Program. Funds received from this program enable us to
provide financial assistance to the Orients that, in turn, help advance the
Scottish Rite’s work with childhood language disorders. These funds
help to support existing clinics and to establish new ones.
Grand Commander Kleinknecht has succeeded in making the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., Inc., much more active in generating funds for the clinics, centers, and programs. Nothing succeeds like success! From 1985 to 1998, the number of facilities and programs has grown to 133, with more clinics being established each year. Also, many of the existing clinics have continued to expand their services. From its inception, the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Program has helped tens of thousands of children with aphasia and/or dyslexia and a wide variety of other related language and learning disorders.
On October 18, 1988, Grand Commander Kleinknecht was presented a Certificate
of Appreciation and Recognition by the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association, affirming the Scottish Rite’s success in promoting a national
image for its Childhood Language Disorders Program. In 1994, the Northern
Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite officially adopted a similar program
and began to establish a network of 32° Masonic Learning Centers for
Ch
ildren in a
number of states. As of 1998, there were 12 such centers in operation, and
23 in various stages of planning or construction, so that eventually, as
in the Southern Jurisdiction, each of the Northern Jurisdiction’s 15
states will have at least one and, probably, several Children’s Learning
Centers, thus making the American Scottish Rite’s flagship philanthropy
truly nationwide.
Both nationally and on the local level, this philanthropic program has made tremendous strides because our members sincerely care about helping children with communication disorders. Information regarding the program and the location of clinics may be obtained by contacting the Scottish Rite Bodies in your locality or by writing The Supreme Council (for address, see page 1 of this booklet or call 1-800-SRMASON) for a copy of the brochure entitled "H.E.L.P., Help Eliminate Language & Learning Problems in Children."
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Click here for a complete map of Childhood Language Disorders clinics, centers and programs around the United States. |