The Specialized Communication Resources for Children Program (SCRC) is in the Speech and Hearing Junction on the first floor of SSCY Centre. We are funded by donations to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation and their Starkids Golf Tournament. We provide services that promote the natural process of communication development. We work closely with the families of functionally non-speaking children.
We offer a variety of workshops and education sessions to families, therapists, school staff, childcare facility staff, and Jordan’s Principle teams. To be notified about upcoming SCRC Workshops please click “Contact Us” above and scroll down to sign up for the “Specialized Communication Resources for Children” Mailing list. To register for a workshop, fill out a registration form
We are also home to Manitoba’s largest public lending library of adapted books and take-away language learning kits. We have more than 700 children’s picture books available to anyone to borrow. Picture communication symbols have been added to the text to help with learning and comprehension. Learn more about the SCRC Library in the Loan Programs section of our website.
Overview of program:
The Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Program helps families of children whose speaking abilities are impaired, preventing the natural development of verbal and non-verbal communication. First, our team will assess your child’s current communication and cognitive abilities. Then, we will work with you to make a communication home program that is just right for your child and family. You will be given helpful communication materials. They may include picture symbols and/or speech generating devices. We will work with Occupational Therapists to get switches, mounting hardware and other environmental control technology when children cannot point to or touch the materials or devices, to give them access to the pictured language materials. Together we will make a ‘just right’ communication solution for your child.
Our priority is to build parents’ skill in communicating and interacting with their child. We teach parents the principles of guided participation and aided language stimulation. Your consultant will work with you to make a home program schedule that is right for you. It ranges from occasional consultation to an intensive parent guiding program (see the Relate Program below). Families who live in rural areas will be followed through Telehealth.
Upon request, school and daycare teams can be included in the AAC program. We can provide communication materials to support the student’s participation in their academic program. We can also help the educational team identify communication targets and teaching strategies that are right for the student.
The AAC Program is also home to Manitoba’s largest public lending library of adapted books and take-away language learning kits. The SCRC Library is open to everybody in the SSCY Centre catchment area. More information about the SCRC Library can be found in the Loan Programs section of this website.
The AAC Program also provides education sessions for parents, educational support teams and related professionals.
What to expect during your visit:
AAC Program
For your first visit, your child should come with their most familiar communication partner. It is important to bring your child’s communication system (such as their speech generating technology or samples of their paper based picture communication systems), and video samples of your child communicating at their best.
Initial intake assessments are intensive, and may last between 60 and 120 minutes. Your child and their primary communication partner will be observed and video recorded while doing preselected activities. After a short break, the evaluator will interact more directly with you and your child. You are encouraged to bring a snack for the break. Recommendations and support materials will be provided at your next visit. Families traveling from a distance may come back later the same day or the next day to learn about the initial recommendations and to pick up some initial customized communication materials. You may contact (204) 258-6500 with questions about your initial intake appointment.
SCRC Library
All users need to make an appointment for every visit. First time users should expect to stay about one hour, so they can be oriented to the library’s organizational system and offerings, and sign up for a borrowing card. If you would like to borrow language learning kits, please provide your child’s language profile, and make sure our Speech Language Pathologist will be there to help you during your visit. To maximize your time, provide a profile of your user and their interests and information about their upcoming academic content a few weeks before your visit, so that our staff can preselect and prepare items for you.
SCRC Library books and materials are best suited for students whose language learning needs or interests fall in the pre academic range. Books and materials are checked out at the front reception desk. Books and materials can be borrowed for a month or longer. The SCRC Library is co-managed by our Speech Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology Assistant. Please contact (204) 258–5695 with any questions.
Educational Sessions
Educational sessions for therapeutic and educational professionals and paraprofessionals and parents are available on a variety of topics for a small fee. Most are also available through Telehealth. Most of our workshops are full day sessions, from 9:00 – 3:30, with an hour lunch break. We encourage participants to bring their own lunch and eat onsite. Onsite paid parking is available most days. Educational Sessions may be led by any one of our SCRC team members. Please see our calendar and the workshop schedule for details. Agencies can also host educational sessions for large groups. For more information, contact scrc@rccinc.ca.
Meet your team:
Our Speech-Language Pathologist does communication assessments, designs home programs, designs language learning and communication materials, and provides ongoing coaching for the families in the AAC Program.
Our Assistive Technology Assistant prepares communication materials, programs speech generating devices, and makes sure that support staff are trained to program their student’s devices.
Our Assistive Technology Specialist is available by appointment for technical issues, such as adapting or repairing communication devices or switches, or for customizing technology.
Our Occupational Therapist is available to help with device access and mounting and related seating issues.
How to access the program:
The AAC Program is for functionally non-speaking children. Referrals are accepted from all community sources, including parents, doctors, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists and resource teachers. You will be contacted by your preferred contact method for your first intake appointment. All follow up appointments will be coordinated by your therapist. Wait times vary.
The SCRC Library is good for the support teams and caregivers of all students whose language learning needs or interests fall in the preschool range. It is recommended that library users make an appointment to visit the library. For appointments please contact scrc@rccinc.ca or (204) 258-6595.
The educational sessions are for classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, resource teachers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and parents/primary. You must be registered for workshops prior to attending. Please mail your registration form, along with cheque PAYABLE TO REHAB CENTRE FOR CHILDREN to: SCRC Workshop Registration, SSCY Centre, Rehab Centre for Children, 1155 Notre Dame Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3G1. Inquiries may be directed to scrc@rccinc.ca (204) 258-6500 or Toll Free: 1-866-314-0501.
Find and contact us:
The AAC program is available Tuesday – Friday. Initial appointments occur at SSCY Centre. Follow up consultations may occur in the community, home, SSCY Centre or via Telehealth, and may last as long as 1.5 hours. For information about the AAC program, please contact scrc@rccinc.ca or (204) 258-6596.
The SCRC Library is located in SSCY Centre and is available by appointment, Tuesday – Thursday, 8:00 – 4:30. For information about the SCRC Library and AAC material preparation, including Boardmaker workshops, please contact scrc@rccinc.ca or (204) 258-6595.
Educational Sessions are scheduled throughout the year on weekdays and are held at SSCY Centre. Many can be attended via Telehealth. For general workshop information and registration, please contact scrc@rccinc.ca or by phone at (204) 258-6500. Please let us know if you wish to attend via Telehealth.
Overview of program:
The Relate Program provides education and consultation to caregivers and professionals supporting Autistic children, and those with other neurodevelopmental difficulties, who are experiencing challenges related to social communication development, relationships, and behaviour. We are here to help caregivers who are finding it hard to connect with their child.
We help caregivers and professionals find strategies that work for the child and family to guide the child’s social behavior and learning related to communication, forming relationships, flexible thinking, attention, and co-regulation. Throughout the year we provide workshops to professionals such as school teams, child care facilities, and allied health staff. We also offer a 6-week group education program for caregivers (The Relate Parent Learning Series). These sessions explore core neurodevelopmental challenges that are understood to interfere with social communication and social behavior related to Autism. When caregivers better understand these vulnerabilities, we see an improved parent-child feedback system and parent-child relationship. Participants will also learn about accommodations that support attachment, co-regulation, attention maintenance, emotional arousal, flexible thinking, and integrated social thinking.
Meet Your Team:
The Relate Program Team consists of a part-time registered Speech-Language Pathologist who is also a Relationship Development Intervention® Consultant and an Administrative Assistant.
How to Access the Program:
Self-referrals are accepted for the Relate Parent Learning Series (RPLS) by calling the Administrative Assistant at the number below. Participants can register for Relate Program workshops by completing and submitting the Workshop Registration Form by fax or email. At this time, most of the Relate Program services are offered virtually and in-person as needed. There are no additional fees or for families accessing these health care services. The workshops for professionals are subject to a nominal fee. Payment is accepted by credit card, cash or cheque.
Find and Contact Us:
To register for Relate Program services, please call our Administrative Assistant at (204) 258-6500 or fax:(204) 477-5547 or email scrc@rccinc.ca. Please note, personal health information is not to be shared through email.
Extra Information:
To learn more about the RDI Program:
www.rdiconnect.com
To connect with other parents interested in developmental programs for children with Autism, the following link is for ADAPT (Association for Developmental Autism Programs and Therapies):
www.adaptmanitoba.ca
