- May 1, 2024
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Laura Kruger, Kaya Kaminski, Isa Morillo, Jessica Tejera and Stacy Pruett at A+ Tutoring. Photo by Dori Umansky
Blaze helps with speech therapy sessions at A+ Tutoring. Photo by Dori Umansky
Blaze helps with speech therapy sessions at A+ Tutoring. Photo by Dori Umansky
Blaze helps with speech therapy sessions at A+ Tutoring. Photo by Dori Umansky
A+ Tutoring offers academic tutoring and guidance counseling. Photo by Dori Umansky
Kaya Kaminski. Photo by Dori Umansky
Blaze helps with speech therapy sessions at A+ Tutoring. Photo by Dori Umansky
Blaze helps Andrew Matthews a with speech therapy session at A+ Tutoring. Photo by Dori Umansky
Blaze helps Andrew Matthews a with speech therapy session at A+ Tutoring. Photo by Dori Umansky
Blaze helps Andrew Matthews a with speech therapy session at A+ Tutoring. Photo by Dori Umansky
Recognizing the growing need for speech therapy services in the area, A+ Tutoring in Ormond Beach recently brought a new four-legged member onboard: Blaze.
Being in business for almost 30 years in Ormond Beach, A+ Tutoring offers academic tutoring and guidance counseling. Center Administrator Kaya Kaminski said the business decided to offer animal-assisted speech therapy services, featuring their new goldendoodle, because private speech therapy options are limited.
“It really motivated us,” Kaminski said. “We're like, ‘We've got to get some speech language pathologists on staff and start offering that along with our tutoring services as well,’ because our tutoring has always been successful, and it's always been beneficial for the kids.”
The center now offers speech therapy services for a broad range of ages, from preschool to adult students with specific needs, such as dysphagia.
Animal-assisted speech therapy is a professional intervention designed to address various therapeutic goals such as enhancing children's confidence, attention and motivation. Speech Language Pathologist Laura Kruger, who owns Blaze, said reserved or shy kids often find it easier to open up in the presence of her goldendoodle.
“I've had many instances where they'll see Blaze, and as soon as they see him, their bodies just relax,” Kruger said. “We've had kids sobbing and then Blaze sits with them for about a minute or so, and they just totally changed their whole demeanor and they are able to regulate their emotions and things, and then they go back to class.”
While new to the center, Blaze is not new to animal-assisted therapy. He has been trained and involved in the therapy for five years.
Blaze's role is more than just mere companionship. By associating Blaze's body with different speech elements, children develop phonemic awareness, improved blending, and the ability to segment sounds and words, Kruger added.
Kaminski said animal-assisted speech therapy helps children in the long run to feel more comfortable during their sessions.
“Speech therapy … can be intense,” she said. “It can be frustrating for kids, especially if it's an articulation issue.”
Blaze helps keep them focused, engaged and wanting to come back, Kaminski said.
Visit aplustutorflorida.com.
