| Scottish Rite Clinics, 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children, and Programs For Childhood Language Disorders In the early 1950's in Colorado, Scottish Rite Masons initiated a program to help children with speech and language disorders. The success of the program in Colorado led to the establishment to date of 150 clinics, centers, and programs supported by the Northern and Southern Supreme Councils of the Scottish Rite throughout the United States. Staffed by Speech-language pathologists and other trained personnel, Scottish Rite Clinics and Centers provide diagnosis and treatment of childhood speech and language disorders and associated learning disabilities. Some auxiliary services are provided by Scottish Rite Masons and their wives.
The value of the program is readily apparent. Thousands of America's youngsters have been helped significantly. With the good work of dedicated clinicians and parents, these clinics, centers, and programs have achieved successes that could only be imagined a few years ago. Children who might have remained educationally handicapped for a lifetime can now talk, read, and lead useful lives.
As a rule, these Scottish Rite facilities accept preschool children who have difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken word or school age youngsters who have difficulty learning to read. These children are often slow in developing a vocabulary or are difficult to understand, using incomplete or incorrect sentences. They may have difficulties with attention, memory, or word retrieval and be slow in processing auditory information. All services are available regardless of race, creed, Masonic relationship, of the family's ability to pay.
The influence of this nationwide program goes far beyond the walls of Scottish Rite facilities. In many instances, it is not unusual for the staff of the clinic or center to go into the community and visit schools or other institutions. For example, the Dallas Scottish Rite Hospital's Child Development has prepared a series of instructional videotapes available to distant areas. In addition, a Scottish Rite clinic or center can function in the training of young people interested in the field of speech pathology.
Helping children with speech and language disorders is a particular mission of Scottish Rite Freemasons and one of their many contributions to their communities. There is a contribution in human terms in solving these problems for the well-being and happiness of children and their parents. There is also a significant contribution to the economic well-being of our country in providing the means for these children to become productive adults able to contribute to their own lives and to society.
A Letter From Barbara Bush
The White House
February 4 , 1991
Dear Fred Kleinknecht,
What a wonderful idea it is to dedicate a special issue of the Scottish Rite Journal to America's children with learning disabilities. Scottish Rite Childhood Centers have helped so many who might otherwise go unaided, and your magazine is another fine way to offer support.
I remember with great fondness my visit with the children and staff of your wonderful facility in our nation's capital. The enthusiasm and responsiveness of everyone I met touched me deeply, and it makes me so glad to know that this is only one of 74 clinics serving our children across the country.
Thank you for caring, and best wishes for continued success,
Warmly,
Barbara Bush
Letters Found at http://www.aasrcleveland.org/aasr/charity.htm |