Hi, I’m Laura MacGrath, and I care a lot about helping kids develop their language and literacy abilities. I have been working in and around the Montreal area since 2009, in public schools and in private practice. I believe that collaboration with parents, teachers, and other caregivers is the best way for me to help children grow their skills.
My specialty in private practice is in reading and writing difficulties, including dyslexia. I became deeply interested in literacy problems after observing many kids struggle with reading and writing, even into the upper elementary years and beyond. What’s the best way to help?? Luckily, decades of research can help us shape a plan to help struggling readers.
I also work with children who need help to develop their speech and language abilities, including children with speech delays/difficulties, autism, bilingual and multilingual families, and children with complex communication needs, using Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC). I support children in English, and in French-second language settings.
I am currently a course lecturer at McGill University School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, on the topic of children’s speech development, and formerly on the topic of reading disabilities. I am licensed by the l’Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec, since graduating from McGill in 2009.
In a previous lifetime, I earned a Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance from UPEI, in 2004. I love how music and language are related; the parallels between early literacy development and learning an instrument are very cool! Stay tuned to my blog for some thoughts on this.
Do You Read Me? 