Hanen’s Talkability program is designed for parents of verbal children between the ages of 3-8, with social communication difficulties, particularly those who find it difficult to:
• Have conversations with others
• Play with children their own age
• Talk about things that interest someone else
• Change a routine without becoming frustrated

This program teaches parents practical ways to help their child learn people skills. By “people skills”, we mean the ability to “tune in” to the thoughts and feelings of others by paying attention to non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, eye gaze, and tone of voice. The ability to consider other points of view and to have empathy for others is essential for successful conversations and for making friends. Children with social communication difficulties require extra help to develop these skills.

When you take the TalkAbility Program, you’ll learn:
• How your child carries on conversation and the next steps to take to help him have back-and-forth conversations
• How to encourage your child to pay attention to the social messages people send non-verbally
• How to talk so your child can tune in to what others are thinking; help them appreciate another person's feelings and point of view
• How to help your child tell stories and play imaginatively
• How to help your child make friends

• Caregiver Training
• Communication
• Language
• Social Skills

Breakthrough Speech & Language Therapy

8

This program is designed for children who can take multiple turns in conversations with others, but who
require assistance to continue a conversation.

2.5 hours of workshop on Thursdays (parents only), and 5 individual consultations, which include parent and child. The program rotates between a few workshop sessions and an individual consultations.

Thursday, September 5th, 2024

This program consists of eight group sessions with five individual consultations.