ASHA’s Identify the Signs Campaign Joins Forces With Bright by Text
By Lisa Padilla -
Thursday Jun 11, 2020
To help connect families with information about their child’s communication development, expected milestones, and everyday ways to build key skills in their critical early years, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Identify the Signs campaign and Bright by Text are joining forces on an innovative and effective educational channel.
ASHA’s Identify the Signs campaign educates about typical communication development as well as the early warning signs of speech, language, and hearing disorders. The campaign operates with the premise that early detection of, and treatment for, communication disorders contributes to speedier recoveries, shortened treatment periods, and reduced costs for families and society. Through its campaign, ASHA encourages the public to learn the warning signs; promptly get professional help, if necessary; and spread the word about the importance of early intervention with family, friends, and social networks.
A free text messaging service, Bright by Text delivers relevant and high-quality information to families to help them foster a child’s healthy growth, based on their exact age and developmental stage. It has approximately 100,000 subscribers and is growing rapidly. ASHA’s Identify the Signs campaign will serve as a content partner for Bright by Text, joining other entities such as PBS, Sesame Street, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The first series of ASHA resources will be included in the Bright by Text service within the next 3 weeks. Topics include warning signs of speech and language delays/disorders, information on bilingual language development, and how to find a provider to help with communication disorders.
Parents/caregivers as well as prospective parents can sign up by texting BRIGHT to 274448, or by using the form on the Bright by Text website. Text messages are customized by the child’s age and zip code.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 211,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems, including swallowing disorders. http://www.asha.org
