Reminders
April 3: Good Friday – CLOSED
April 6: Easter Monday – OPEN
Did you know?
Lear Communication is happy to introduce some new policies in order to serve our clients and communities better. Please ask us about our Jordan’s Principle and Clinic Policy.
April Days
April Fools Day
Crack a joke or pull a prank this April Fool’s Day! Here’s a reminder to find the fun and joy in all the hustle and bustle of everyday!
Good Friday & Easter
April 3-6, 2026
Good Friday (April 3rd), Easter Sunday (April 5th), and Easter Monday (April 6th), are times for celebration and reflection. Our clinic will be closed on Good Friday. Enjoy traditions like egg hunts, painting eggs, church, or meals with loved ones we’d love to hear how you celebrate!
Earth Day
April 22, 2026
Celebrate Earth Day by taking action to protect our planet. Join over a billion people worldwide focusing on restoring ecosystems, reducing plastic waste, and avoiding the excessive use of artificial intelligence. Small, daily changes make a significant impact for a sustainable future!
April is ... Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month!
Autism Awareness is knowing that autism exists, spreading information about it, and emphasizes education for others. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that is comprised of patterns of differences in: language and communication, socialization, interests, routines, and sensory processing. Remember, “If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism.” (Dr. Stephen Shore). Autism is a spectrum; it is not linear. There is no “more autistic” or “less autistic”. But rather vast variations among individuals, and some requiring “high supports” or “low supports” in different areas of need.
Autism Acceptance celebrates autistic strengths, focuses on understanding and inclusion, and promotes active change. It is crucial for advocacy and change to listen to autistic voices, in all communication forms and across the entire spectrum and of different backgrounds and experiences (e.g., BIPOC, high and low support needs, 2SLGBTQIA+, self-diagnosed, non-speaking, co-occuring diagnoses).
Next Steps to move towards Acceptance and Advocacy include:
- Fostering inclusive environments (e.g., flexible seating, sensory tools, movement breaks, other accommodations).
- Education and training for teachers and professionals.
- Connection and compassion over compliance.
- Celebrating authenticity.
Celebrating authenticity:
- All play is okay (as long as it’s safe).
- All forms of communication are equally valuable.
- Accept and honour social differences.
- Incorporate interests.
- Celebrate strengths.
- Respect stimming (as long as it’s safe).
- Respect sensory differences and provide tools and accommodations.
Parkinson's Awareness Month
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing understanding of Parkinson’s disease. It is a progressive neurological condition affecting movement, speech, and daily function. It’s a time to learn and support those impacted and promote early recognition, as it can impact voice, clarity and swallowing. Early recognition supports timely intervention, and speech-language pathologists can provide strategies and therapy to help maintain communication and swallowing function.
Functional Neurological Disorders Awareness Month
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a condition where the brain has trouble sending and receiving signals properly, even though there is no structural damage. This can affect how a person moves, thinks, or communicates. FND can impact speech and language causing slurred speech, difficulty finding words, or trouble getting thoughts out clearly. These challenges are real and can be frustrating, but with the right support, including speech-language therapy, people can improve communication and regain confidence in everyday interactions.
International PPA Awareness Day
April 4, 2026
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is an often underdiagnosed neurological condition affecting language due to degeneration in the frontal and temporal lobes. Individuals may experience word-finding difficulties, reduced sentence production, and impaired understanding.
Speech and language therapy focuses on supporting communication through strategies and caregiver training to maintain quality of life. April 4th marks PPA Awareness Day, helping raise understanding of this condition and its impact on communication.
National Caregiver Day
April 16, 2026
National Caregiver Day (April 7, 2026) honors unpaid and professional caregivers for their essential work, often navigating the unknown. This year’s focus includes a “Caregiving Across Ages and Stages” symposium with in-person and virtual options. At Lear Communication, we honor, acknowledge, and deeply appreciate the dedicated caregivers we are privileged to support, work with, and learn from.
National Volunteer Week
April 19-25, 2026
Lear Communication takes pride in supporting our valued volunteers who work so hard to lend a helping hand when we need it most!
Take a moment this week to recognize and celebrate a volunteer that you know!
World Voice Day
April 16, 2026
World Voice Day reminds us how important our voices are for communication, expression, and connection. Whether speaking, singing, or simply sharing our thoughts, our voices play an important role in our daily lives.
Take some time to care for your voice by staying hydrated, resting it when needed, and seeking professional help if problems arise. Healthy voices help us continue to be heard.
This year’s theme: Caring for our voices.
As voice clinicians, here are some vocal hygiene tips that we recommend to help you care for your voice:
- drink 6-8 cups of clear liquid each day to stay hydrated
- work hard consciously to reduce coughing and throat clearing (swallowing will often clear the irritant from your throat effectively; trying taking a sip of water, or perform a hard swallow)
- substitute yelling – hand gestures, play an audio, use a whistle (coaches, teachers)
- Consider you have “voice dollars” to spend and prioritize voice usage
- participate in warmups and exercises with a speech clinician and implement in your day-to-day