July Newsletter

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Reminders

As summer officially kicks off, we hope everyone enjoys the warm weather, vacations, and time off school!

Please inform your clinician about upcoming cancellations or if you plan on taking a break for the summer.

Did You Know?

We may be able to accommodate extra sessions in the daytime during the summer. Consult with your clinician if interested!

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Days in July

Canada Day – July 1, 2026

Enjoy Canada Day on July 1st and catch some good food, music, entertainment and fireworks at Bayfront Park (Hamilton) and/or Montebello Park (St. Catharines).

What makes you proud to be Canadian?

July is ... Disability Pride Month!

Disability Pride Month has been celebrated in Ontario since 2023, as a way to combat the exclusion, discrimination, and violation of principles of basic dignity prevalent in Ontario’s History(1). It is a time to recognize and give visibility to disability culture, pride, and self-value, while continuing to listen to people with disabilities(2). Flying the disability pride flag allows us to recognize that disabilities span borders between nations, the need to mourn victims of ableism (black), cut across barriers (diagonal stripe), for people with all disabilities including physical (red) neurodivergence (gold), invisible and diagnosed (white), psychiatric (blue) and sensory (Green)(2).

Let’s learn about Disability Advocacy & Disability Pride in July by learning about…

The Disability Pride flag colours
The Communication Bill of Rights
Ableism
How to be an inclusive ally
Inclusive language swaps
UN Conventions of Rights for Persons with Disability
Read a book, play a game, or watch a video with disabled characters

International Self-Care Day

July 24, 2026

This Self-Care Day, don’t forget that communication is part of wellness! Here are some self-care tips from our clinicians to nurture small communication moments that can have a big impact on our overall well-being:

Call or message a loved one
Read a book, magazine, or article on a topic you enjoy
Listen to your favourite music or podcast
Challenge your brain with a crossword, puzzle, or memory game
Journal about your goals or what you’re grateful for
Participate in a hobby that allows you to express yourself creatively
Take a walk with family and enjoy some social connection
Give yourself permission to rest when communication feels tiring or overwhelming

International Day of Friendship

July 30, 2026

International Day of Friendship recognizes the importance of friendships in promoting peace, connection, and understanding across all communities. At Lear, we see this reflected daily in the meaningful relationships built with our clients, families, caregivers, schools, hospitals, neighbouring clinics, and through ongoing professional collaborations. These connections support communication growth and well-being, reminding us that collaboration and friendship are at the heart of care. We are grateful for every connection that helps our community grow a little stronger!

Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month

A cleft occurs when facial tissues do not fully join during early development, resulting in a cleft lip, cleft palate (an opening in the roof of the mouth), or both. Craniofacial differences encompass a broader range of structural conditions, such as premature fusion of the skull bones (craniosynostosis) or underdevelopment of one side of the jaw.

In some cases, these structural differences can impact the child’s ability to feed, swallow, and speak clearly. Early in life, SLPs support infants and families in managing feeding and swallowing challenges safely. Later, as the child develops, SLPs may help these individuals by addressing speech sound production and resonance differences.