Testimonials

Here are some of the comments participants are making about New Voices ~ Nuevas Voces:



"I feel much more comfortable. I think the New Voices training helped to increase my understanding of cultural differences."

"With the families I see, I am trying to ask more questions about what they can do or how they feel about their child's speech and language instead of assuming things."

"I suggest that everybody find out about New Voices and try to go to the three-day workshop. I highly recommended it!"


"Knowledge about Latino culture and general information about cultural diversity has changed my attitudes and my understanding when working with families and clients."

"I’m managing to get our parent letter translated because we have one other person on staff that can do that for me. … I’ve been getting really good information back from the parents in regard to they are really following through on assignments—we’re sending it home in Spanish."

"I have attempted to establish interpreters to use in counties where I don't have access to interpreters. I try to have interpreters call to do follow-up when necessary rather than send letters (in Spanish). Knowledge of cultural differences has caused me to approach/treat families differently."

"I’ve been more courageous using the language. Our interpreters are not always on site. Prior to the course, I would rely on the interpreters and wait to communicate something. But I’ve felt more comfortable communicating directly with the family, even if it’s through a three-way phone call. I’ve been feeling more confident in my role as a PT when working with those families. I can just pick up the phone and talk to them. So, my communication with the families has been different. As far as treatment with the families, I would just say that the knowledge that I gained in the course about cultural barriers helped me become more understanding of some of the barriers we’re up against."

"We made the bilingual flash cards for the children."

"We’re making home exercise program goal cards for general motor or other physical therapy. They’re not specifics for a certain child, but they’re cards we copy and use over again with many families. On each card there’s a picture of what we want the child to do, then there’s a phrase in English and a phrase in Spanish. So, I may work with a parent for about 10 minutes on helping their child role over, and then I want them to really understand what I want them to try to do at home. Some times that’s hard. So, I thought that having the card with the picture on it would help them understand that this is what I’d like them to work on at home."

"I have a new boy who has some vocabulary already in Spanish. I have used both Spanish and English with him, but he’s using more Spanish. He has some concepts in Spanish. For example, with the farm animals, he calls everything “caballo” (horse). So, I present ideas in Spanish first with him, rather than in English."

"We’re developing procedures for referrals to Special Education."

New Voices/Nuevas Voces
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill