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Giant Steps is thrilled to announce that we will now be offering Hippotherapy with a Speech-Language Pathologist. Hippotherapy, which is physical, occupational or speech therapy utilizing a horse, is an effective and fun means of treatment, and is conducted on a one-to-one basis. Adding the movement of the horse to the treatment strategies of the therapist allows participants to gain additional benefit from each session.

Speech therapy will be provided by Áine Vejby, a California licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. Áine attended San Francisco State University for both undergraduate and graduate studies in communicative disorders. She participated in Project Common Ground, an autism specialization-training program run by leading experts in the field. Áine’s work experience includes serving clients with acquired speech and language impairments including aphasia, apraxia of speech, and neurogenic stuttering, as well as pediatric autism spectrum disorder. She has worked in both San Francisco and Sonoma County schools as well as early intervention programs. Áine has also worked with adults as part of a multidisciplinary team of speech, physical, and occupational therapists treating patients who suffered from impaired speech, language, cognition, and swallowing abilities, resulting from traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and degenerative diseases.

Speech therapy classes will be held at Giant Steps on Mondays and space is extremely limited. No scholarships will be provided for hippotherapy, but insurance may cover the cost of the therapy sessions. Please check with your provider. If you are interested in the speech therapy program, please contact Julie Larson at julie@giantstepsriding.org.