We are committed to providing quality services to young children with speech and language disorders. Our primary goals are early identification and treatment of speech and language disorders and facilitating family involvement in the process. Early intervention can prevent a disorder form becoming a lifelong handicap and curtail secondary language delays such as behavior, emotional, and learning problems.
Do you know a child who needs speech therapy?
The McAlester RiteCare Clinic is a speech therapy clinic for children ages 18-months to 12-years. All services are provided free of charge due to the support from the McAlester Scottish Rite Masons and private contributors. Children qualify for services if they have a specific language impairment or speaking difficulty. We do not provide services to children whose difficulty is a result of permanent hearing loss or autism spectrum disorder. We do not provide services to children who are eligible for intensive special education services.
The clinic is open the full calendar year, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 to 5:00. To schedule an appointment, a parent must call and provide basic background information about the child.
Initially, a diagnostic evaluation is arranged and testing is completed. Through gathering background information, observation, and testing, a speech-language pathologist helps determine your child's strengths and weaknesses in the areas of speech and language. Upon completion of the evaluation process, an appropriate course of treatment is recommended.
The speech-language pathologist works with the child and the caregivers to facilitate the development of appropriate communication skills. Speech therapy is provided once a week for fifty-minute sessions. Consistent attendance and completed homework assignments are mandatory.
Does my child need an evaluation?
Your child may have a speech and/or language problem if:
By age one, your child does not cry, babble, or pay attention to other voices.
By age two, your child does not understand a small vocabulary and can't put words together in speech.
By age three, your child's speech cannot be understood by family, friends, or peers.
By age four, your child doesn't have a growing vocabulary, use short sentences, or make most speech sounds.
By age five, your child does not carry a simple conversation, is hard to understand, stutters, or sounds much different from playmates.
Therapy is conducted within the context of developmentally appropriate activities such as playing with toys, sharing books, and using computers. This makes therapy fun and motivating for the child.
The RiteCare Clinic is funded by
the McAlester Scottish Rite Masons.
If you know a child who needs speech therapy,
Please have a parent contact us at 918-426-2300
Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: Intersection of First and Adams in the Masonic Center.
We proudly and happily accept all donations for any amount!
Please mail donations to the:
McAlester RiteCare Clinic
PO Box 609
McAlester, OK 74501
All donations are tax deductible!
Pictured above with Ashley is Kristen Oller. Kristen joined the RiteCare team for an eight-week internship in March to complete her speech pathology graduate program requirements. She will then join us for a full-time speech pathology position at the McAlester Clinic.
Congratulations Graduates of the McAlester RiteCare Clinic
