Tatiana Finds Her Voice
May 19, 2023
"Tatiana didn't speak her first word until she was six years old," says Shawna Williams-Bradshaw, Tatiana's grandmother and adoptive parent. "As an 11-year-old, she fills our home with words all day long."
Communication is difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder and can cause many challenges for their families. Team members at The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh have expertise in helping kids better understand and interact with the world around them.
"The Children's Institute has vast knowledge of kids on the spectrum, and they work to find the best in every child," Williams-Bradshaw explains. "Her therapists saw in Tatiana what I saw in her. They knew she was an amazing kid, and they did everything they could to learn how her mind works."
When Tatiana Summers started receiving physical health services at The Children's Institute at age five, she did not speak and was unable to make eye contact and was also impulsive and prone to outbursts of frustration. Coordinated services initially included physical, occupational, nutrition, and speech therapies. Currently, Tatiana receives weekly speech therapy from The Children's Institute, typically onsite at the Squirrel Hill campus or sometimes through telehealth. She loves to talk, has a great sight-word vocabulary, is energetic and cheerful, and is always willing to try new things.
Katie Hartman, M.A., CCC-SLP, senior staff speech language pathologist, is working with Tatiana on improving her expressive language skills so she can convey her wants and needs, along with her thoughts and ideas. They also practice having appropriate conversations, "reading the room" so her tone and subject matter match current conversation, and understanding figurative language.
"It is important for Tatiana to be able to communicate effectively to become more independent," Hartman explains. "In her five years at The Children's Institute, she has matured considerably and has made good progress overcoming several challenging behaviors. By practicing in safe places like The Children's Institute and with family, Tatiana is learning a lot about how to appropriately connect with others."
"Today is better than yesterday,'' says Williams-Bradshaw. "And tomorrow will be better than today. With all the tomorrows we have to look forward to, I have an abundance of hope for Tatiana's future and her place in this world."
For more information about Speech Language Therapy options, please click here.
Communication is difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder and can cause many challenges for their families. Team members at The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh have expertise in helping kids better understand and interact with the world around them.
"The Children's Institute has vast knowledge of kids on the spectrum, and they work to find the best in every child," Williams-Bradshaw explains. "Her therapists saw in Tatiana what I saw in her. They knew she was an amazing kid, and they did everything they could to learn how her mind works."
When Tatiana Summers started receiving physical health services at The Children's Institute at age five, she did not speak and was unable to make eye contact and was also impulsive and prone to outbursts of frustration. Coordinated services initially included physical, occupational, nutrition, and speech therapies. Currently, Tatiana receives weekly speech therapy from The Children's Institute, typically onsite at the Squirrel Hill campus or sometimes through telehealth. She loves to talk, has a great sight-word vocabulary, is energetic and cheerful, and is always willing to try new things.
Katie Hartman, M.A., CCC-SLP, senior staff speech language pathologist, is working with Tatiana on improving her expressive language skills so she can convey her wants and needs, along with her thoughts and ideas. They also practice having appropriate conversations, "reading the room" so her tone and subject matter match current conversation, and understanding figurative language.
"It is important for Tatiana to be able to communicate effectively to become more independent," Hartman explains. "In her five years at The Children's Institute, she has matured considerably and has made good progress overcoming several challenging behaviors. By practicing in safe places like The Children's Institute and with family, Tatiana is learning a lot about how to appropriately connect with others."
"Today is better than yesterday,'' says Williams-Bradshaw. "And tomorrow will be better than today. With all the tomorrows we have to look forward to, I have an abundance of hope for Tatiana's future and her place in this world."
For more information about Speech Language Therapy options, please click here.
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