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Welcome to Early Words/1ers Mots!

The professionals from Early Words, the Hamilton Preschool Speech and Language Service, welcome you to our webpage. We hope that this webpage will prove to be a useful source of information for you. All Early Words/1ers mots members strive to serve the communication needs of young children and their families in Hamilton. Parents and caregivers are the most valuable resource young children have.

Early Words/1ers mots is responsible for the implementation of two programs that are centrally administered by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

  • The Preschool Speech and Language program is our community-wide system of preschool speech and language services in Hamilton.
  • The Infant Hearing Program services the needs of young children with permanent hearing loss in Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton, and Niagara.

Our Vision

"Our vision is to provide the highest quality of service for children with communication needs by committed professionals in respectful partnership with families and caregivers."

History of Early Words, the Hamilton Preschool Speech and Language Service

  • In 1996 the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCYS) and Ministry of Education and Training, announced annual funding for preschool speech and language services across Ontario
  • Our local Hamilton plan was developed collaboratively and submitted in 1997
  • In September 1999 a central point of parent referral to preschool speech and language services, the Regional Access Service of Early Words began
  • In 2002, Early Words was given responsibility for the Infant Hearing Screening for the regions of Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton and Niagara
  • In 2005, the MCYS announced that an area in east Hamilton would be the city-based demonstration site for the Best Start Plan. Please click on this link MCYS for further information
  • In 2007 Early Words is given responsibility for the Blind Low Vision Program
  • The Ministry of Children and Youth Services assumes responsibility for the Preschool Speech & Language Service, Infant Hearing Program, and Blind Low Vision Programs.

Our Primary Mandate

  • To provide regionally co-ordinate preschool speech and language services to children and their families

Our Goals

  • Early identification of speech and language delays and disorders
  • Provide simplified access, where parents/caregivers are able to access the system directly
  • To provide common intake for coordinated referral between parents, caregivers and professionals, facilitating early identification and sharing of general information and suggestions for addressing children’s communication needs
  • Provide a common assessment protocol that involves parents and other caregivers. This includes working with other community professionals and other disciplines such as Pediatrics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Audiology, etc. to address child/family needs and concerns in other areas of development
  • To provide a comprehensive range of child-based and parent-based interventions
  • To provide transition planning as children move into the educational system from health or community services to ensure that children continue to receive the intervention necessary in a timely manner
  • To provide parent support and education services on a regularly scheduled basis about speech and language development and information on how to access services in the community
  • To promote public awareness and ensure linkages with prevention programs in our community
  • To provide public education to professionals who routinely see preschool children and will recognize delays and difficulties early, and make appropriate referrals to support early identification