Resources


LinguiSystems Guide to Communication Milestones

Curious about what to expect as your child develops speech and language skills? The LinguiSystems Guide to Communication Milestones is a free resource that shows typical communication milestones from birth through age 6. It’s simple, easy to follow, and a great way to see what skills often emerge at different ages.

This guide is helpful not only for parents, but also for educators and professionals who support children’s communication development.

While some of the information is a bit dated, it’s still a handy tool for getting a general idea of communication development.

👉 Click here to check out the guide

Parent Handouts

Philly Speech is excited to share a growing collection of free resources designed to support your child’s communication journey at home. These handouts provide practical, easy-to-use strategies for parents and caregivers.

The first handout in this series is:
👉 5 Tips to Move Beyond the Single Word Level
This resource focuses on expanding expressive language and is especially helpful for toddlers and children with language delays.

More handouts are on the way—check back soon for additional tools to support speech and language development!

Public Services for Speech and Language Support in Pennsylvania (Birth–School Age)

There are free services available to support your child’s communication development, provided through Pennsylvania’s Early Intervention and public school systems. Depending on your child’s age, there are three main pathways:

1. Infant-Toddler Early Intervention (Birth–3 Years)

Early Intervention provides free evaluations and services for children under 3 who may be experiencing developmental delays. A team of specialists works with families to determine if support is needed in areas such as speech and language, motor skills, and overall development.

Services are provided in your home or community setting, and goals are created to support your child’s growth in daily routines. Families can request an evaluation by contacting their local Early Intervention program.

2. Elwyn (Ages 3–5)

Elwyn provides a multidisciplinary evaluation at no cost for eligible children ages 3–5. The evaluation determines if your child qualifies for services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and/or special instruction.

Elwyn’s approach focuses on education and kindergarten readiness, with therapy goals connected to academic development.

  • 🌐 Elwyn Website

  • 📞 Phone (Philadelphia, M–F 7:30am–4:30pm): (215) 222-8054

3. School-Based Services (Ages 5+)

Beginning at age 5 or when a child enters kindergarten, speech and language services may be provided through the public school system if the child qualifies for an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The school conducts a comprehensive evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services, which may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or academic supports. These services are provided at no cost to families and are tailored to help students succeed in the classroom setting.

Parents may request an evaluation by contacting their child’s school directly or through the school district’s special education office.