Chichester and Arun Down Syndrome Group Logo

Chichester and Arun Down Syndrome Group

A local group providing support to families who have a person with Down Syndrome in the Chichester and Arun Districts.

Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapists (SALTs) are trained to help children to develop their communication skills. Some children find talking and listening harder than others. They might find it hard to understand what words and sentences mean.

Some struggle to find the right words or sounds to use and put them in order. These children may need help from a speech and language therapist to develop good communication skills. Speech and language therapists offer assessment, advice and in close partnership with families and other professionals. Some speech and language therapists also help children with eating and drinking difficulties.

SALT

Since its formation, CADSG has offered members financial support for speech and language therapy. All members accessing SALT may submit their invoice to the Treasurer for a 75% contribution of the full amount to a monthly limit of £100. There is no restriction on the number of years a member partakes of SALT and no age restriction.

We are delighted to offer 75% of the cost of speech therapy per month up to £120 per month. Please note: payments are made to the parent/carer and not therapist.

The Treasurer will mostly arrange reimbursement within 10 days of receiving the invoice.

If you are a member of CADSG and are interested in applying for funding, please email: secretary@cadsg.org
Quotes from parent who have used private SALT:

We also use Talk Tools which isn’t available on the NHS SALT, it helps with the desensitisation of Francesca’s mouth to help with her teeth grinding and tongue chewing. She also has an under bite so the work they are doing might be enough to avoid surgery when she’s older. I feel like our SALT has massively supported Francesca’s teachers and one to one support in school hugely, setting appropriate targets to build into her day, rather than take her out of the classroom all the time.

Louisa is now a young adult. She started SALT, supported by CADSG, at the age of 14; past the age when progress is expected but over 9 years showed consistent improvement to the point where now she can join a conversation and make her needs known.