100% of Speech Therapy clients surveyed would recommend CATTS to a friend or family member!

Without a doubt my son's progression is down to Marijke's involvement. I think the best thing about CATTS service is that they value parents and external therapists input and have no problem liaising with outside services (i.e. HSE, Enable Ireland, etc). We have both learned techniques/ mechanisms to increase speech and reduce fustration. Definate drop in NAME's distress.
The progress my son has made over the last year is astounding. Marijke is a fabulous therapist. It is obvious she enjoys her job and cares for her clients. I appreciate the value CATTS places on parent involvement ant think the tips / techniques provided to use at home have proved to be very successful. We are 100% satisfied with the service CATTS provide.

“I enjoyed the games, these were practical and helped consolidate our learning and helped us to retain the new signs.”

Very informative course, learned a lot both theoretical and practical from a very skilled presenter.

Very happy with the speech service my son is getting through CATTS. The therapist is working very well with my son and gets the best out of him. Only for this service my son would be getting no speech. I am very grateful.

The best thing about CATTS therapy is the tailored sessions and continuous review of what is working.
[NAME] is very happy and is progressing. My son has built a lot of confidence since starting therapy, our family & friends really see a difference in his abilities.

My son has attended regularly for some months now, and responded very early on to the use of Lámh. He has made good progress and enjoys going to sessions. Overall would highly recommend Marijke as an SLT.

I learned so many new signs and lots of different ways to approach kids to create conversation opportunities.

Patty’s approach to teaching was so engaging, she has a wealth of knowledge and a lovely way of delivering information. A really enjoyable experience overall.

CATTS Ireland were good and helpful hosts.
Great course. Need more interdisciplinary type courses in Ireland!

I liked the way the tutor presented the class. It enabled me to learn in a relaxed way. Her coverage was fantastic. I would attend another class hosted by her.

A Super Day! A wealth of knowledge. Loved the detail and attention to accuracy. Thank you.

The best thing is the therapist's genuine interest in my child and getting to know her and what works best for her - in particular a shared passion for Pokemon! I have noticed improvements in pronunciation of words, developments of language and improvements of winning / losing scenarios.

I liked the way nobody was singled out. The signs were demonstrated as a group.

I liked the structure of the class. Marijke made the class fun and enjoyable to learn the different signs.

"Catts Ireland is providing a superb vital service for children"

Very happy with the attention and detail [NAME] gets at each session. Each session is setup in advance and if a games doesn't go to plan there is always a backup nearby.
I like the no rushing of each session so it can respond to what [NAME] needs on the day. He has opened up so much and has become more confident as time goes on.

Excellently covered by Patty, I am walking away feeling a lot more confident that my clients will receive better therapy.

"Great anecdotes helped me associate the words with the sign."

I learned 100 signs to go away and teach my autistic child.

The energy of the course and how it was taught. Great information that will stay in my brain!

Am so happy with speech therapy. She knows how to encourage my son to attempt to say words. He wouldn't have even tried for other therapists. (Therapist) has a fantastic way with him. And out of all the speech therapists we've attended over the years, both public and private, this has been the best by far. Highly recommend.

We have been attending CATTS for over 5 years and can only recommend them to anyone looking for a friendly and professional service. My child's speech, communication and confidence has made huge improvements consistently over the years. He's gone from a child who was frustrated with very little words and screamed to let us know what he needed to now working on grammar! The sessions are always fun to keep him interested and focused on his needs and exactly what he should be working on. This progress wouldn't have been possible if I hadn't been attending Marijke at CATTS.

Very well organised event. - Looking forward to the next CATTS CPD event. Thank you!

I think the best thing is our therapist's approach to dealing with my sometimes difficult child.

"My thanks to you and Marijke for the excellent staff and responsive service that you have provided in CATTS."
Large Residential Service Provider

The sessions are fun and she always strives to remember what works for our son down to the smallest details. Our SLT always made sessions fun and engaging but also was able to get the most out of each session which is so important when dealing with intellectual disability.

CATTS really know how to attract great speakers. Really professionally run event. Felt very well looked after.

I was a bit hesitant at first to ask a question, but once I did, she was really quick getting back to me with pointers and things to do.

“I liked the positive interaction between the tutor & learners.”

“I thought it was very well presented. Not only was it about Lamh sign; it was about communication.”

Marijke was excellent - brilliant tutor.

Would highly recommend CATTS. I have seen a big difference in my child since his first session. The biggest has been learning to wait. [NAME] has come along so much, now his vocab is coming on better and better everyday. Since starting the sessions the whole family have joined in to learn what we do in every session and really enjoy learning how to really have fun on [NAME]'s level. it is great to see [NAME] so excited when we get out of the car and see Marijke's door. He knows where he is going and really enjoys it which makes it really enjoyable for us to look at. Thank you.

I like the fact that you can look at the videos and browse the group at your own pace.

Huge amount of useful info. Video clips were useful.
Excellent topic and event. It is difficult to get the opportunity to learn from the main experts in specific fields.

"Our therapist obviously puts a lot of thought and effort into each of [NAME]'s sessions, very creative to get the best out of him."

Social interaction, speech has come on, both expressive and receptive. I'm more relaxed and reassured because I feel supported.

"Very helpful when we asked questions - she didn't hesitate to answer anything we asked"

Marijke made it very easy to learn and very entertaining! ?

I learned a lot of new Lamh signs

This is a great idea. It really helps to have a resource on hand you can trust

CATTS has a great system that definitely works.
[Therapist] just makes him feel do comfortable. [NAME] has come along so well since we started CATTS. Me and [NAME] have a great communication now and he barely spoke 2 words when we started. Now he is flying with his vocab. We couldn't be prowder.

Public speaking is a significant feature of my job. An injury at work meant I had to step back from this aspect of my work. Present for me also was an underlying worry whether I would be able to overcome the resultant speech issues. Step by step, like completing a jig-saw, Marijke systematically took me through the various steps towards recovery with an additional, unexpected bonus of learning to use my voice properly when public speaking. This was never covered when I first trained in public speaking twenty years ago. I did my homework between sessions but I learned that I did not always execute the practices correctly. It was this expert correction and feedback from Marijke that was invaluable! Thank you !

Overall Satisfaction: 96%
Value for Money: 92%

This was a fun, interactive course. Marijke was very good, and patient, friendly and funny.

Lovely facilities, nice class size. Amazing that only 3 rows back, it felt small and intimate.

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Marijke makes learning fun!

Patty is an excellent presenter, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

I liked Marijke. You made the course interesting and fun.

The best thing about CATTS is the experience of the Speech Therapist. How she engages with my son. He understands a lot more, his receptive language has improved greatly since starting.

I learned a lot of new signs and that it's possible to learn a lot of signs in a relatively short space of time.

The CATTS team were so friendly and enthusiastic. We all felt really well looked after.

Since starting with CATTS, my son's confidence has improved, he is involved more socially and he is not as anxious.

I liked that the day was active ad no one was put on the spot!

I learned more ways to create communication opportunities.

Public speaking is a significant feature of my job. An injury at work meant I had to step back from this aspect of my work. Present for me also was an underlying worry whether I would be able to overcome the resultant speech issues. Step by step, like completing a jig-saw, Marijke systematically took me through the various steps towards recovery with an additional, unexpected bonus of learning to use my voice properly when public speaking. This was never covered when I first trained in public speaking twenty years ago. I did my homework between sessions but I learned that I did not always execute the practices correctly. It was this expert correction and feedback from Marijke that was invaluable! Thank you !

I liked Marijke as a Lamh tutor. She was extremely engaging and personable. I like how it was fun during the lesson.

"I enjoyed the group interaction. Moving between theory and practical Lamh signs has helped me to concentrate for the entirety of the day.”

I liked the structure of the day. The associations Marijke used helped me to remember the signs. I also like that the games reinforced the signs. Plus the sweets as rewards!

“I’ve learned 100 Lamh signs. I’ve learned ways to use them and importance of repetition. I’ve enjoyed Marijke’s energetic method of teaching.”
Good cooperation with parents to help special needs kids. Excellent Speech therapy support for kids with ASD.

CATTS work really well with my child's school resource teacher and SNA to insure my child has every opportunity to improve his communication skills.

“I thought the course was made very interesting because it was informal and amusing at times. I was surprised at how the Lamh signs stuck in my mind.”

Really enjoyed the course, excellent information & presenter.

"Am so happy with speech therapy. She knows how to encourage my son to attempt to say words. He wouldn't have even tried for other therapists. (Therapist) has a fantastic way with him. And out of all the speech therapists we've attended over the years, both public and private, this has been the best by far. Highly recommend. Only annoyed we didn't know about it before. We would have taken him years ago."

I learned how I can use signs to help children communicate on a one to one basis or in a group to encourage social and language skills in an informal way.
Learned more than I thought I would at one sitting!
CATTS are very flexible. My child loves coming and my child understands the speech therapist's instructions, which is very important to me.

I liked the way the 100 words were split out throughout the day. Not information overload. Very enjoyable - the day flew!

My little boy absolutely loves going to CATTS. He loves playing all his 'games' and 'sound games' and thinks it is great fun. Marijke makes every minute of speech therapy fun and exciting. It is lovely to see my little boy progress in a fun, warm environment. Marijke is warm and provides great guidance and support for home. Marijke always responds to queries in a timely manner. Learning is made fun. He has made improvements in speech sounds and is now more susceptible to fixing up errors without resistance.

Good insight into different behaviours of autism which was based in the real world. Really excellent

"Very interesting. Benefits us especially while working with kids - learned so many things I never knew e.g. DVD, and apps"

I really enjoyed Patty, loved her style, stories and analogies

"Nice people, good understanding with asd kids."
[NAME] settled well. He found it hard first time but after a few sessions he got used to being there and started to work well. He makes more sounds now and is copying the words after us.

I am very happy with the service we have received with [Therapist]. After 2 sessions [NAME] had started saying 'more', 'again', 'up', 'down' and is continuing to add new words each week.

I liked the enthusiasm of the presenter. It was really interactive, clear and well paced.

Excellent. Very informative and Patty was wonderfully engaging. Learned so much!

"Loved the training style. Very enjoyable day."

Everyone has commented on how well my son's speech has come on.
His speech is more relevant to what is happening around him. Today, he answered a 'Where' question for the first time appropriately without being prompted first.

I learned how to think about how it might feel to not be able to communicate. I learned not only about the signs but also how to associate them with other things to remember them. I also learned how to 'teach' the signs in an effective way with the kids.

I learned a lot of signs I didn't know and how to teach them to my brother. I'll finally be able to have a proper conversation with him.

We've seen improvement from day one. We've also learned a lot from watching her work. My son enjoys his sessions with Marijke, she somehow manages to get a 4 year old to focus for the whole session and have fun while doing it. We're seeing constant improvement.

Really Great Event. Well done CATTS ?

Refreshing no-nonsense parent’s perspective.

"I enjoyed doing the signs and activity. I think that this will help me in the future with being a special needs assistant"

Without a doubt my son's progression is down to Marijke's involvement. I think the best thing about CATTS service is that they value parents and external therapists input and have no problem liaising with outside services (i.e. HSE, Enable Ireland, etc). We have both learned techniques/ mechanisms to increase speech and reduce fustration. Definate drop in NAME's distress.
The progress my son has made over the last year is astounding. Marijke is a fabulous therapist. It is obvious she enjoys her job and cares for her clients. I appreciate the value CATTS places on parent involvement ant think the tips / techniques provided to use at home have proved to be very successful. We are 100% satisfied with the service CATTS provide.

I've joined so many groups etc to try help [NAME], this one is really useful. I do need to ask more questions though lol.

Great Content. Well organised.
All members of the CATTS team were friendly and helpful. They were always providing much needed information.

Amazing, Well planned, Very impressed with Lisa’s knowledge as a mother.

The energy and humour of the presenter helps me remember. Marijke delivered it very well and made it very informative and enjoyable! 🙂

I have been attending CATTS with my son for 5 years now and the service we have received is fantastic. Marijke is a wonderful therapist and my son's speech and communication has come on so much from when he started from a no-verbal little boy to a fully verbal child now. Marijke has each session planned to meet his needs and I feel fully involved. We travel a long distance to each session but it is worth it to see the difference in my son's communication and confidence.

Thought the tutor (Marijke) was excellent. Really easy to listen to, so easy to learn from. Made the day fun. Kept you focused.

[NAME] always had a 'difficult' relationship with his speech therapists from his service providers. CATTS therapists are totally different, young & energetic & determined to get the best out of him.

“I’ve learned so many signs and how to effectively communicate with residents.”

I learned over 100 signs which will make it a lot easier to communicate with my child.

CATTS is an excellent service providing Speech and Language which is highly needed for children with special needs.

That's fantastic thanks so much for all of those strategies! I want to maximise on this latest development with his desire to vocalise sounds and some words! Thanks a million!

"Marijke made the day very funny and interesting."

Lisa is very inspiring, very practical and we benefited most from the presenter’s own experience. Enjoyed the positive approach of presenter – I feel invigorated

I think the best thing about CATTS is the professional service. The therapists are very skilled and it is of huge benefit to my child.

I liked the multiple steps in learning signs - helped memory.

[NAME] enjoys going to Marijke and I feel the work being done is addressing [NAME]'s needs. We attended other speech therapists in the past and whilst they also helped I think CATTS' way of establishing where [NAME]'s main areas of need are, is very good.

The best thing is that my daughter's needs, strengths and weaknesses are being met, understood and worked on. Going at her pace, with patience.

“What I liked: Use of videos as well as slides. The variety of signs taught. Relaxed atmosphere – had a laugh while learning signs.”

I find our therapist Brilliant! She gives great tips and is excellent in engaging with my son. It is much improved for primary school as he can tell me things that happen in his summer setting, which is less frustrating for him and less worrying for me.

The BEST THING about CATTS is the One to One service, Great Advice and Tips to work on at home!

I learned how to put Lamh into the school setting where I work. How to plan and create situations where I can use it.

We researched a lot of places and time and time again CATTS was recommended to us. We are so glad we listened as we have seen great progress in our son. [Therapist] just "gets him" and its so nice to have a positive experience all the while our son is doing some "work".

Niamh is phenomenal! She is so talented at working with children in a fun and relaxed way. My 9 year old didn't even realize any of it was work. He looked forward to every session and that is due to Niamh and her kindness and skill.

“I liked learning sign language so it can help me communicate with my cousin and each other.”
Efficient, excellent communication and follow up post classes, excellent advice for further at hone progress.

I have been using CATTS for several month with my daughter. What started off as a very difficult appointment every week (with another service), now my daughter is happy to enter the room immediately and engage with Marijke. I see an improvement at every appointment. I would be lost if I had not found CATTS.

Found Marijke very enjoyable as a teacher. Made the course a lot more intereting and easier to learn.

“I’ve enjoyed learning everything about Lamh, including watching videos, doing games and working in group. It was very interesting.”

Since starting speech therapy my daughters speech has improved considerably. Her language skills and comprehension have also seen a huge improvement. She is more confident and thrives on the positive feedback about her progress. I love that the program is designed to meet her needs and grows with her.

"This is a great service, he really looks forward to the therapy sessions."

I came away with far more than I could have imagined

"I learned how important it is to communicate. I hope it will make life happier for the service users.”

I learned lots of new signs. Can't wait to learn more.

"Since starting speech therapy my daughters speech has improved considerably. Her language skills and comprehension have also seen a huge improvement. She is more confident and thrives on the positive feedback about her progress. I love that the program is designed to meet her needs and grows with her."

I learned a lot more than I expected to! thank you .

The best thing about CATTS is that each session is individually tailored to that child's need at that time and carried out in a fun way.

“What did I like: being able to communicate with Lamh user. Brilliant course. Would recommend it to other people.”

100% of Speech Therapy clients surveyed would recommend CATTS to a friend or family member!

I am very happy with the progress that my daughter has made since we started to come to CATTS. The service is professional, on point and there is a genuine interest in the child. Every session is different with a combination of work and games which is very effective. There are adequate breaks which is very important and an excellent understanding of my daughter's ASD and ADHD. The games and lesson plans tie in very naturally with whats going on with school and at home and this makes the sessions valuable and effective with excellent learning and development for my daughter. I have recommended CATTS to many other mums and will continue to do so.

I enjoyed the interaction and the humour!

Great few days. Very professionally done and all needs tended to and anticipated

I am very satisfied with the treatment I got from CATTS. I was a bit apprehensive but the friendly, professional attitude of the therapist put me at my ease. The comparison of my performance at the start of treatment and at the six-monthly follow up showed that my voice had improved both in volume and range. I am more than pleased.

A very professional but friendly and focused to each individual child's needs.

Very beneficial program. I learnt a lot of strategies to help me.

The day was fun! Marijke made it fun and easy to learn. Really enjoying. Good craic.

With the rollout of Progressing Disabilities its so important to build awareness on family centred practice. Thank you for bringing this and other courses to Ireland.

I liked your enthuasian and how personable and approachable you are. So much was covered and I liked how you were willng to show us lots of other sign.

Really enjoyed the course, excellent information & presenter.

Since starting with CATTS, my son's confidence has improved, he is involved more socially and he is not as anxious.

"Since starting speech therapy my daughters speech has improved considerably. Her language skills and comprehension have also seen a huge improvement. She is more confident and thrives on the positive feedback about her progress. I love that the program is designed to meet her needs and grows with her."
[NAME] is very happy and is progressing. My son has built a lot of confidence since starting therapy, our family & friends really see a difference in his abilities.

I liked the way the tutor presented the class. It enabled me to learn in a relaxed way. Her coverage was fantastic. I would attend another class hosted by her.

Public speaking is a significant feature of my job. An injury at work meant I had to step back from this aspect of my work. Present for me also was an underlying worry whether I would be able to overcome the resultant speech issues. Step by step, like completing a jig-saw, Marijke systematically took me through the various steps towards recovery with an additional, unexpected bonus of learning to use my voice properly when public speaking. This was never covered when I first trained in public speaking twenty years ago. I did my homework between sessions but I learned that I did not always execute the practices correctly. It was this expert correction and feedback from Marijke that was invaluable! Thank you !

Lovely facilities, nice class size. Amazing that only 3 rows back, it felt small and intimate.

"Our therapist obviously puts a lot of thought and effort into each of [NAME]'s sessions, very creative to get the best out of him."

I liked the way the 100 words were split out throughout the day. Not information overload. Very enjoyable - the day flew!

We researched a lot of places and time and time again CATTS was recommended to us. We are so glad we listened as we have seen great progress in our son. [Therapist] just "gets him" and its so nice to have a positive experience all the while our son is doing some "work".

The day was fun! Marijke made it fun and easy to learn. Really enjoying. Good craic.

Huge amount of useful info. Video clips were useful.
Excellent topic and event. It is difficult to get the opportunity to learn from the main experts in specific fields.

I learned more ways to create communication opportunities.

Refreshing no-nonsense parent’s perspective.

I have been using CATTS for several month with my daughter. What started off as a very difficult appointment every week (with another service), now my daughter is happy to enter the room immediately and engage with Marijke. I see an improvement at every appointment. I would be lost if I had not found CATTS.

We have been attending CATTS for over 5 years and can only recommend them to anyone looking for a friendly and professional service. My child's speech, communication and confidence has made huge improvements consistently over the years. He's gone from a child who was frustrated with very little words and screamed to let us know what he needed to now working on grammar! The sessions are always fun to keep him interested and focused on his needs and exactly what he should be working on. This progress wouldn't have been possible if I hadn't been attending Marijke at CATTS.

Really Great Event. Well done CATTS ?

I liked Marijke as a Lamh tutor. She was extremely engaging and personable. I like how it was fun during the lesson.

The energy of the course and how it was taught. Great information that will stay in my brain!

Would highly recommend CATTS. I have seen a big difference in my child since his first session. The biggest has been learning to wait. [NAME] has come along so much, now his vocab is coming on better and better everyday. Since starting the sessions the whole family have joined in to learn what we do in every session and really enjoy learning how to really have fun on [NAME]'s level. it is great to see [NAME] so excited when we get out of the car and see Marijke's door. He knows where he is going and really enjoys it which makes it really enjoyable for us to look at. Thank you.

Very happy with the speech service my son is getting through CATTS. The therapist is working very well with my son and gets the best out of him. Only for this service my son would be getting no speech. I am very grateful.

"My thanks to you and Marijke for the excellent staff and responsive service that you have provided in CATTS."
Large Residential Service Provider

"Nice people, good understanding with asd kids."

Since starting speech therapy my daughters speech has improved considerably. Her language skills and comprehension have also seen a huge improvement. She is more confident and thrives on the positive feedback about her progress. I love that the program is designed to meet her needs and grows with her.

I liked that the day was active ad no one was put on the spot!

Public speaking is a significant feature of my job. An injury at work meant I had to step back from this aspect of my work. Present for me also was an underlying worry whether I would be able to overcome the resultant speech issues. Step by step, like completing a jig-saw, Marijke systematically took me through the various steps towards recovery with an additional, unexpected bonus of learning to use my voice properly when public speaking. This was never covered when I first trained in public speaking twenty years ago. I did my homework between sessions but I learned that I did not always execute the practices correctly. It was this expert correction and feedback from Marijke that was invaluable! Thank you !

I liked Marijke. You made the course interesting and fun.

“What did I like: being able to communicate with Lamh user. Brilliant course. Would recommend it to other people.”

I have been attending CATTS with my son for 5 years now and the service we have received is fantastic. Marijke is a wonderful therapist and my son's speech and communication has come on so much from when he started from a no-verbal little boy to a fully verbal child now. Marijke has each session planned to meet his needs and I feel fully involved. We travel a long distance to each session but it is worth it to see the difference in my son's communication and confidence.

Lisa is very inspiring, very practical and we benefited most from the presenter’s own experience. Enjoyed the positive approach of presenter – I feel invigorated

Niamh is phenomenal! She is so talented at working with children in a fun and relaxed way. My 9 year old didn't even realize any of it was work. He looked forward to every session and that is due to Niamh and her kindness and skill.

"Loved the training style. Very enjoyable day."

I learned so many new signs and lots of different ways to approach kids to create conversation opportunities.

The best thing about CATTS is that each session is individually tailored to that child's need at that time and carried out in a fun way.

Good insight into different behaviours of autism which was based in the real world. Really excellent

"Catts Ireland is providing a superb vital service for children"

I learned how to think about how it might feel to not be able to communicate. I learned not only about the signs but also how to associate them with other things to remember them. I also learned how to 'teach' the signs in an effective way with the kids.

CATTS is an excellent service providing Speech and Language which is highly needed for children with special needs.
[NAME] settled well. He found it hard first time but after a few sessions he got used to being there and started to work well. He makes more sounds now and is copying the words after us.

I liked the structure of the day. The associations Marijke used helped me to remember the signs. I also like that the games reinforced the signs. Plus the sweets as rewards!

"Marijke made the day very funny and interesting."

Am so happy with speech therapy. She knows how to encourage my son to attempt to say words. He wouldn't have even tried for other therapists. (Therapist) has a fantastic way with him. And out of all the speech therapists we've attended over the years, both public and private, this has been the best by far. Highly recommend.

"I learned how important it is to communicate. I hope it will make life happier for the service users.”

A very professional but friendly and focused to each individual child's needs.

I am very happy with the service we have received with [Therapist]. After 2 sessions [NAME] had started saying 'more', 'again', 'up', 'down' and is continuing to add new words each week.

“I liked learning sign language so it can help me communicate with my cousin and each other.”

I learned a lot of new signs and that it's possible to learn a lot of signs in a relatively short space of time.

"Am so happy with speech therapy. She knows how to encourage my son to attempt to say words. He wouldn't have even tried for other therapists. (Therapist) has a fantastic way with him. And out of all the speech therapists we've attended over the years, both public and private, this has been the best by far. Highly recommend. Only annoyed we didn't know about it before. We would have taken him years ago."

My little boy absolutely loves going to CATTS. He loves playing all his 'games' and 'sound games' and thinks it is great fun. Marijke makes every minute of speech therapy fun and exciting. It is lovely to see my little boy progress in a fun, warm environment. Marijke is warm and provides great guidance and support for home. Marijke always responds to queries in a timely manner. Learning is made fun. He has made improvements in speech sounds and is now more susceptible to fixing up errors without resistance.

Found Marijke very enjoyable as a teacher. Made the course a lot more intereting and easier to learn.

I came away with far more than I could have imagined

CATTS Ireland were good and helpful hosts.
Great course. Need more interdisciplinary type courses in Ireland!
Good cooperation with parents to help special needs kids. Excellent Speech therapy support for kids with ASD.

I really enjoyed Patty, loved her style, stories and analogies

Patty is an excellent presenter, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

This is a great idea. It really helps to have a resource on hand you can trust

I learned a lot more than I expected to! thank you .

I liked the way nobody was singled out. The signs were demonstrated as a group.

[NAME] always had a 'difficult' relationship with his speech therapists from his service providers. CATTS therapists are totally different, young & energetic & determined to get the best out of him.

Very well organised event. - Looking forward to the next CATTS CPD event. Thank you!

Marijke made it very easy to learn and very entertaining! ?

The best thing about CATTS is the experience of the Speech Therapist. How she engages with my son. He understands a lot more, his receptive language has improved greatly since starting.

Very happy with the attention and detail [NAME] gets at each session. Each session is setup in advance and if a games doesn't go to plan there is always a backup nearby.
I like the no rushing of each session so it can respond to what [NAME] needs on the day. He has opened up so much and has become more confident as time goes on.

The energy and humour of the presenter helps me remember. Marijke delivered it very well and made it very informative and enjoyable! 🙂

I like the fact that you can look at the videos and browse the group at your own pace.

I find our therapist Brilliant! She gives great tips and is excellent in engaging with my son. It is much improved for primary school as he can tell me things that happen in his summer setting, which is less frustrating for him and less worrying for me.

Social interaction, speech has come on, both expressive and receptive. I'm more relaxed and reassured because I feel supported.

I think the best thing is our therapist's approach to dealing with my sometimes difficult child.

I learned 100 signs to go away and teach my autistic child.

I learned over 100 signs which will make it a lot easier to communicate with my child.

Without a doubt my son's progression is down to Marijke's involvement. I think the best thing about CATTS service is that they value parents and external therapists input and have no problem liaising with outside services (i.e. HSE, Enable Ireland, etc). We have both learned techniques/ mechanisms to increase speech and reduce fustration. Definate drop in NAME's distress.
The progress my son has made over the last year is astounding. Marijke is a fabulous therapist. It is obvious she enjoys her job and cares for her clients. I appreciate the value CATTS places on parent involvement ant think the tips / techniques provided to use at home have proved to be very successful. We are 100% satisfied with the service CATTS provide.
CATTS are very flexible. My child loves coming and my child understands the speech therapist's instructions, which is very important to me.

“I liked the positive interaction between the tutor & learners.”

Very informative course, learned a lot both theoretical and practical from a very skilled presenter.

“I thought it was very well presented. Not only was it about Lamh sign; it was about communication.”

“I enjoyed the games, these were practical and helped consolidate our learning and helped us to retain the new signs.”

With the rollout of Progressing Disabilities its so important to build awareness on family centred practice. Thank you for bringing this and other courses to Ireland.

I liked the structure of the class. Marijke made the class fun and enjoyable to learn the different signs.

100% of Speech Therapy clients surveyed would recommend CATTS to a friend or family member!

Excellent. Very informative and Patty was wonderfully engaging. Learned so much!

Everyone has commented on how well my son's speech has come on.
His speech is more relevant to what is happening around him. Today, he answered a 'Where' question for the first time appropriately without being prompted first.

The best thing is that my daughter's needs, strengths and weaknesses are being met, understood and worked on. Going at her pace, with patience.

A Super Day! A wealth of knowledge. Loved the detail and attention to accuracy. Thank you.

Great few days. Very professionally done and all needs tended to and anticipated

My son has attended regularly for some months now, and responded very early on to the use of Lámh. He has made good progress and enjoys going to sessions. Overall would highly recommend Marijke as an SLT.

"This is a great service, he really looks forward to the therapy sessions."

Very beneficial program. I learnt a lot of strategies to help me.

“I thought the course was made very interesting because it was informal and amusing at times. I was surprised at how the Lamh signs stuck in my mind.”

The CATTS team were so friendly and enthusiastic. We all felt really well looked after.

“I’ve learned 100 Lamh signs. I’ve learned ways to use them and importance of repetition. I’ve enjoyed Marijke’s energetic method of teaching.”

CATTS really know how to attract great speakers. Really professionally run event. Felt very well looked after.

I've joined so many groups etc to try help [NAME], this one is really useful. I do need to ask more questions though lol.
Efficient, excellent communication and follow up post classes, excellent advice for further at hone progress.

I learned lots of new signs. Can't wait to learn more.

We've seen improvement from day one. We've also learned a lot from watching her work. My son enjoys his sessions with Marijke, she somehow manages to get a 4 year old to focus for the whole session and have fun while doing it. We're seeing constant improvement.

That's fantastic thanks so much for all of those strategies! I want to maximise on this latest development with his desire to vocalise sounds and some words! Thanks a million!

"Very helpful when we asked questions - she didn't hesitate to answer anything we asked"

The sessions are fun and she always strives to remember what works for our son down to the smallest details. Our SLT always made sessions fun and engaging but also was able to get the most out of each session which is so important when dealing with intellectual disability.

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Marijke makes learning fun!

Excellently covered by Patty, I am walking away feeling a lot more confident that my clients will receive better therapy.

"I enjoyed the group interaction. Moving between theory and practical Lamh signs has helped me to concentrate for the entirety of the day.”

“I’ve enjoyed learning everything about Lamh, including watching videos, doing games and working in group. It was very interesting.”

I am very satisfied with the treatment I got from CATTS. I was a bit apprehensive but the friendly, professional attitude of the therapist put me at my ease. The comparison of my performance at the start of treatment and at the six-monthly follow up showed that my voice had improved both in volume and range. I am more than pleased.

I liked your enthuasian and how personable and approachable you are. So much was covered and I liked how you were willng to show us lots of other sign.

CATTS has a great system that definitely works.
[Therapist] just makes him feel do comfortable. [NAME] has come along so well since we started CATTS. Me and [NAME] have a great communication now and he barely spoke 2 words when we started. Now he is flying with his vocab. We couldn't be prowder.

I think the best thing about CATTS is the professional service. The therapists are very skilled and it is of huge benefit to my child.

"Great anecdotes helped me associate the words with the sign."

I liked the enthusiasm of the presenter. It was really interactive, clear and well paced.

I learned a lot of signs I didn't know and how to teach them to my brother. I'll finally be able to have a proper conversation with him.

This was a fun, interactive course. Marijke was very good, and patient, friendly and funny.

[NAME] enjoys going to Marijke and I feel the work being done is addressing [NAME]'s needs. We attended other speech therapists in the past and whilst they also helped I think CATTS' way of establishing where [NAME]'s main areas of need are, is very good.

The best thing is the therapist's genuine interest in my child and getting to know her and what works best for her - in particular a shared passion for Pokemon! I have noticed improvements in pronunciation of words, developments of language and improvements of winning / losing scenarios.

“I’ve learned so many signs and how to effectively communicate with residents.”

“What I liked: Use of videos as well as slides. The variety of signs taught. Relaxed atmosphere – had a laugh while learning signs.”

Patty’s approach to teaching was so engaging, she has a wealth of knowledge and a lovely way of delivering information. A really enjoyable experience overall.

I learned a lot of new Lamh signs

Overall Satisfaction: 96%
Value for Money: 92%

CATTS work really well with my child's school resource teacher and SNA to insure my child has every opportunity to improve his communication skills.

"Very interesting. Benefits us especially while working with kids - learned so many things I never knew e.g. DVD, and apps"

"I enjoyed doing the signs and activity. I think that this will help me in the future with being a special needs assistant"

I learned how I can use signs to help children communicate on a one to one basis or in a group to encourage social and language skills in an informal way.
Learned more than I thought I would at one sitting!

I learned how to put Lamh into the school setting where I work. How to plan and create situations where I can use it.

Marijke was excellent - brilliant tutor.

The best thing about CATTS therapy is the tailored sessions and continuous review of what is working.

I enjoyed the interaction and the humour!

I am very happy with the progress that my daughter has made since we started to come to CATTS. The service is professional, on point and there is a genuine interest in the child. Every session is different with a combination of work and games which is very effective. There are adequate breaks which is very important and an excellent understanding of my daughter's ASD and ADHD. The games and lesson plans tie in very naturally with whats going on with school and at home and this makes the sessions valuable and effective with excellent learning and development for my daughter. I have recommended CATTS to many other mums and will continue to do so.

The BEST THING about CATTS is the One to One service, Great Advice and Tips to work on at home!

I was a bit hesitant at first to ask a question, but once I did, she was really quick getting back to me with pointers and things to do.

I liked the multiple steps in learning signs - helped memory.

Great Content. Well organised.
All members of the CATTS team were friendly and helpful. They were always providing much needed information.

Thought the tutor (Marijke) was excellent. Really easy to listen to, so easy to learn from. Made the day fun. Kept you focused.

Amazing, Well planned, Very impressed with Lisa’s knowledge as a mother.

This was a fun, interactive course. Marijke was very good, and patient, friendly and funny.

Found Marijke very enjoyable as a teacher. Made the course a lot more intereting and easier to learn.

I learned over 100 signs which will make it a lot easier to communicate with my child.

I was a bit hesitant at first to ask a question, but once I did, she was really quick getting back to me with pointers and things to do.

Since starting speech therapy my daughters speech has improved considerably. Her language skills and comprehension have also seen a huge improvement. She is more confident and thrives on the positive feedback about her progress. I love that the program is designed to meet her needs and grows with her.

“I liked the positive interaction between the tutor & learners.”

Everyone has commented on how well my son's speech has come on.
His speech is more relevant to what is happening around him. Today, he answered a 'Where' question for the first time appropriately without being prompted first.

"Our therapist obviously puts a lot of thought and effort into each of [NAME]'s sessions, very creative to get the best out of him."

“I thought it was very well presented. Not only was it about Lamh sign; it was about communication.”

“I’ve enjoyed learning everything about Lamh, including watching videos, doing games and working in group. It was very interesting.”

"Am so happy with speech therapy. She knows how to encourage my son to attempt to say words. He wouldn't have even tried for other therapists. (Therapist) has a fantastic way with him. And out of all the speech therapists we've attended over the years, both public and private, this has been the best by far. Highly recommend. Only annoyed we didn't know about it before. We would have taken him years ago."

Lisa is very inspiring, very practical and we benefited most from the presenter’s own experience. Enjoyed the positive approach of presenter – I feel invigorated

We researched a lot of places and time and time again CATTS was recommended to us. We are so glad we listened as we have seen great progress in our son. [Therapist] just "gets him" and its so nice to have a positive experience all the while our son is doing some "work".

Public speaking is a significant feature of my job. An injury at work meant I had to step back from this aspect of my work. Present for me also was an underlying worry whether I would be able to overcome the resultant speech issues. Step by step, like completing a jig-saw, Marijke systematically took me through the various steps towards recovery with an additional, unexpected bonus of learning to use my voice properly when public speaking. This was never covered when I first trained in public speaking twenty years ago. I did my homework between sessions but I learned that I did not always execute the practices correctly. It was this expert correction and feedback from Marijke that was invaluable! Thank you !

Niamh is phenomenal! She is so talented at working with children in a fun and relaxed way. My 9 year old didn't even realize any of it was work. He looked forward to every session and that is due to Niamh and her kindness and skill.

Social interaction, speech has come on, both expressive and receptive. I'm more relaxed and reassured because I feel supported.
Efficient, excellent communication and follow up post classes, excellent advice for further at hone progress.

Amazing, Well planned, Very impressed with Lisa’s knowledge as a mother.

Very informative course, learned a lot both theoretical and practical from a very skilled presenter.

I liked the structure of the day. The associations Marijke used helped me to remember the signs. I also like that the games reinforced the signs. Plus the sweets as rewards!

“I’ve learned 100 Lamh signs. I’ve learned ways to use them and importance of repetition. I’ve enjoyed Marijke’s energetic method of teaching.”

This is a great idea. It really helps to have a resource on hand you can trust

The day was fun! Marijke made it fun and easy to learn. Really enjoying. Good craic.

I liked that the day was active ad no one was put on the spot!

The best thing about CATTS is that each session is individually tailored to that child's need at that time and carried out in a fun way.

"My thanks to you and Marijke for the excellent staff and responsive service that you have provided in CATTS."
Large Residential Service Provider

We have been attending CATTS for over 5 years and can only recommend them to anyone looking for a friendly and professional service. My child's speech, communication and confidence has made huge improvements consistently over the years. He's gone from a child who was frustrated with very little words and screamed to let us know what he needed to now working on grammar! The sessions are always fun to keep him interested and focused on his needs and exactly what he should be working on. This progress wouldn't have been possible if I hadn't been attending Marijke at CATTS.

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Marijke makes learning fun!

Good insight into different behaviours of autism which was based in the real world. Really excellent

"This is a great service, he really looks forward to the therapy sessions."

I learned a lot of signs I didn't know and how to teach them to my brother. I'll finally be able to have a proper conversation with him.

Lovely facilities, nice class size. Amazing that only 3 rows back, it felt small and intimate.

Since starting with CATTS, my son's confidence has improved, he is involved more socially and he is not as anxious.

“What did I like: being able to communicate with Lamh user. Brilliant course. Would recommend it to other people.”

Very well organised event. - Looking forward to the next CATTS CPD event. Thank you!

CATTS really know how to attract great speakers. Really professionally run event. Felt very well looked after.

My little boy absolutely loves going to CATTS. He loves playing all his 'games' and 'sound games' and thinks it is great fun. Marijke makes every minute of speech therapy fun and exciting. It is lovely to see my little boy progress in a fun, warm environment. Marijke is warm and provides great guidance and support for home. Marijke always responds to queries in a timely manner. Learning is made fun. He has made improvements in speech sounds and is now more susceptible to fixing up errors without resistance.

I liked the way the tutor presented the class. It enabled me to learn in a relaxed way. Her coverage was fantastic. I would attend another class hosted by her.

"Nice people, good understanding with asd kids."

I liked the enthusiasm of the presenter. It was really interactive, clear and well paced.

I liked the multiple steps in learning signs - helped memory.

Overall Satisfaction: 96%
Value for Money: 92%

Marijke was excellent - brilliant tutor.

“I’ve learned so many signs and how to effectively communicate with residents.”

The BEST THING about CATTS is the One to One service, Great Advice and Tips to work on at home!

That's fantastic thanks so much for all of those strategies! I want to maximise on this latest development with his desire to vocalise sounds and some words! Thanks a million!

I learned how I can use signs to help children communicate on a one to one basis or in a group to encourage social and language skills in an informal way.
Learned more than I thought I would at one sitting!

We've seen improvement from day one. We've also learned a lot from watching her work. My son enjoys his sessions with Marijke, she somehow manages to get a 4 year old to focus for the whole session and have fun while doing it. We're seeing constant improvement.

100% of Speech Therapy clients surveyed would recommend CATTS to a friend or family member!

Without a doubt my son's progression is down to Marijke's involvement. I think the best thing about CATTS service is that they value parents and external therapists input and have no problem liaising with outside services (i.e. HSE, Enable Ireland, etc). We have both learned techniques/ mechanisms to increase speech and reduce fustration. Definate drop in NAME's distress.
The progress my son has made over the last year is astounding. Marijke is a fabulous therapist. It is obvious she enjoys her job and cares for her clients. I appreciate the value CATTS places on parent involvement ant think the tips / techniques provided to use at home have proved to be very successful. We are 100% satisfied with the service CATTS provide.

Thought the tutor (Marijke) was excellent. Really easy to listen to, so easy to learn from. Made the day fun. Kept you focused.

I think the best thing about CATTS is the professional service. The therapists are very skilled and it is of huge benefit to my child.

I have been attending CATTS with my son for 5 years now and the service we have received is fantastic. Marijke is a wonderful therapist and my son's speech and communication has come on so much from when he started from a no-verbal little boy to a fully verbal child now. Marijke has each session planned to meet his needs and I feel fully involved. We travel a long distance to each session but it is worth it to see the difference in my son's communication and confidence.

CATTS has a great system that definitely works.
[Therapist] just makes him feel do comfortable. [NAME] has come along so well since we started CATTS. Me and [NAME] have a great communication now and he barely spoke 2 words when we started. Now he is flying with his vocab. We couldn't be prowder.

"Great anecdotes helped me associate the words with the sign."

Really enjoyed the course, excellent information & presenter.

I find our therapist Brilliant! She gives great tips and is excellent in engaging with my son. It is much improved for primary school as he can tell me things that happen in his summer setting, which is less frustrating for him and less worrying for me.

Patty is an excellent presenter, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

The energy and humour of the presenter helps me remember. Marijke delivered it very well and made it very informative and enjoyable! 🙂

Would highly recommend CATTS. I have seen a big difference in my child since his first session. The biggest has been learning to wait. [NAME] has come along so much, now his vocab is coming on better and better everyday. Since starting the sessions the whole family have joined in to learn what we do in every session and really enjoy learning how to really have fun on [NAME]'s level. it is great to see [NAME] so excited when we get out of the car and see Marijke's door. He knows where he is going and really enjoys it which makes it really enjoyable for us to look at. Thank you.

I learned how to think about how it might feel to not be able to communicate. I learned not only about the signs but also how to associate them with other things to remember them. I also learned how to 'teach' the signs in an effective way with the kids.

The best thing is the therapist's genuine interest in my child and getting to know her and what works best for her - in particular a shared passion for Pokemon! I have noticed improvements in pronunciation of words, developments of language and improvements of winning / losing scenarios.

I liked the way the 100 words were split out throughout the day. Not information overload. Very enjoyable - the day flew!

I have been using CATTS for several month with my daughter. What started off as a very difficult appointment every week (with another service), now my daughter is happy to enter the room immediately and engage with Marijke. I see an improvement at every appointment. I would be lost if I had not found CATTS.

“I thought the course was made very interesting because it was informal and amusing at times. I was surprised at how the Lamh signs stuck in my mind.”

With the rollout of Progressing Disabilities its so important to build awareness on family centred practice. Thank you for bringing this and other courses to Ireland.

The best thing about CATTS is the experience of the Speech Therapist. How she engages with my son. He understands a lot more, his receptive language has improved greatly since starting.

CATTS work really well with my child's school resource teacher and SNA to insure my child has every opportunity to improve his communication skills.
Good cooperation with parents to help special needs kids. Excellent Speech therapy support for kids with ASD.

"Very interesting. Benefits us especially while working with kids - learned so many things I never knew e.g. DVD, and apps"

Great Content. Well organised.
All members of the CATTS team were friendly and helpful. They were always providing much needed information.

I learned so many new signs and lots of different ways to approach kids to create conversation opportunities.

A very professional but friendly and focused to each individual child's needs.

I liked the way nobody was singled out. The signs were demonstrated as a group.

Great few days. Very professionally done and all needs tended to and anticipated

I am very satisfied with the treatment I got from CATTS. I was a bit apprehensive but the friendly, professional attitude of the therapist put me at my ease. The comparison of my performance at the start of treatment and at the six-monthly follow up showed that my voice had improved both in volume and range. I am more than pleased.

I like the fact that you can look at the videos and browse the group at your own pace.

I liked Marijke as a Lamh tutor. She was extremely engaging and personable. I like how it was fun during the lesson.

I learned more ways to create communication opportunities.

I learned how to put Lamh into the school setting where I work. How to plan and create situations where I can use it.

The CATTS team were so friendly and enthusiastic. We all felt really well looked after.

My son has attended regularly for some months now, and responded very early on to the use of Lámh. He has made good progress and enjoys going to sessions. Overall would highly recommend Marijke as an SLT.

I am very happy with the progress that my daughter has made since we started to come to CATTS. The service is professional, on point and there is a genuine interest in the child. Every session is different with a combination of work and games which is very effective. There are adequate breaks which is very important and an excellent understanding of my daughter's ASD and ADHD. The games and lesson plans tie in very naturally with whats going on with school and at home and this makes the sessions valuable and effective with excellent learning and development for my daughter. I have recommended CATTS to many other mums and will continue to do so.

The sessions are fun and she always strives to remember what works for our son down to the smallest details. Our SLT always made sessions fun and engaging but also was able to get the most out of each session which is so important when dealing with intellectual disability.

"Catts Ireland is providing a superb vital service for children"

The energy of the course and how it was taught. Great information that will stay in my brain!

Excellent. Very informative and Patty was wonderfully engaging. Learned so much!
CATTS are very flexible. My child loves coming and my child understands the speech therapist's instructions, which is very important to me.

Refreshing no-nonsense parent’s perspective.

"Loved the training style. Very enjoyable day."

"Since starting speech therapy my daughters speech has improved considerably. Her language skills and comprehension have also seen a huge improvement. She is more confident and thrives on the positive feedback about her progress. I love that the program is designed to meet her needs and grows with her."

[NAME] enjoys going to Marijke and I feel the work being done is addressing [NAME]'s needs. We attended other speech therapists in the past and whilst they also helped I think CATTS' way of establishing where [NAME]'s main areas of need are, is very good.

Very happy with the speech service my son is getting through CATTS. The therapist is working very well with my son and gets the best out of him. Only for this service my son would be getting no speech. I am very grateful.

"I enjoyed doing the signs and activity. I think that this will help me in the future with being a special needs assistant"

I came away with far more than I could have imagined

I learned a lot of new signs and that it's possible to learn a lot of signs in a relatively short space of time.

I think the best thing is our therapist's approach to dealing with my sometimes difficult child.

Excellently covered by Patty, I am walking away feeling a lot more confident that my clients will receive better therapy.

“I enjoyed the games, these were practical and helped consolidate our learning and helped us to retain the new signs.”

A Super Day! A wealth of knowledge. Loved the detail and attention to accuracy. Thank you.

I really enjoyed Patty, loved her style, stories and analogies

"Marijke made the day very funny and interesting."

The best thing is that my daughter's needs, strengths and weaknesses are being met, understood and worked on. Going at her pace, with patience.

I've joined so many groups etc to try help [NAME], this one is really useful. I do need to ask more questions though lol.

Public speaking is a significant feature of my job. An injury at work meant I had to step back from this aspect of my work. Present for me also was an underlying worry whether I would be able to overcome the resultant speech issues. Step by step, like completing a jig-saw, Marijke systematically took me through the various steps towards recovery with an additional, unexpected bonus of learning to use my voice properly when public speaking. This was never covered when I first trained in public speaking twenty years ago. I did my homework between sessions but I learned that I did not always execute the practices correctly. It was this expert correction and feedback from Marijke that was invaluable! Thank you !

I learned a lot of new Lamh signs

Patty’s approach to teaching was so engaging, she has a wealth of knowledge and a lovely way of delivering information. A really enjoyable experience overall.

I liked your enthuasian and how personable and approachable you are. So much was covered and I liked how you were willng to show us lots of other sign.

Am so happy with speech therapy. She knows how to encourage my son to attempt to say words. He wouldn't have even tried for other therapists. (Therapist) has a fantastic way with him. And out of all the speech therapists we've attended over the years, both public and private, this has been the best by far. Highly recommend.

Very beneficial program. I learnt a lot of strategies to help me.

Huge amount of useful info. Video clips were useful.
Excellent topic and event. It is difficult to get the opportunity to learn from the main experts in specific fields.

“I liked learning sign language so it can help me communicate with my cousin and each other.”

“What I liked: Use of videos as well as slides. The variety of signs taught. Relaxed atmosphere – had a laugh while learning signs.”

I learned 100 signs to go away and teach my autistic child.

Marijke made it very easy to learn and very entertaining! ?

I enjoyed the interaction and the humour!

I am very happy with the service we have received with [Therapist]. After 2 sessions [NAME] had started saying 'more', 'again', 'up', 'down' and is continuing to add new words each week.

I learned a lot more than I expected to! thank you .

I learned lots of new signs. Can't wait to learn more.

Very happy with the attention and detail [NAME] gets at each session. Each session is setup in advance and if a games doesn't go to plan there is always a backup nearby.
I like the no rushing of each session so it can respond to what [NAME] needs on the day. He has opened up so much and has become more confident as time goes on.

CATTS is an excellent service providing Speech and Language which is highly needed for children with special needs.

[NAME] always had a 'difficult' relationship with his speech therapists from his service providers. CATTS therapists are totally different, young & energetic & determined to get the best out of him.

"I learned how important it is to communicate. I hope it will make life happier for the service users.”

The best thing about CATTS therapy is the tailored sessions and continuous review of what is working.

I liked the structure of the class. Marijke made the class fun and enjoyable to learn the different signs.
[NAME] settled well. He found it hard first time but after a few sessions he got used to being there and started to work well. He makes more sounds now and is copying the words after us.

"Very helpful when we asked questions - she didn't hesitate to answer anything we asked"

"I enjoyed the group interaction. Moving between theory and practical Lamh signs has helped me to concentrate for the entirety of the day.”

I liked Marijke. You made the course interesting and fun.

CATTS Ireland were good and helpful hosts.
Great course. Need more interdisciplinary type courses in Ireland!
[NAME] is very happy and is progressing. My son has built a lot of confidence since starting therapy, our family & friends really see a difference in his abilities.

Really Great Event. Well done CATTS ?

I like the fact that you can look at the videos and browse the group at your own pace.

I learned a lot of new signs and that it's possible to learn a lot of signs in a relatively short space of time.

The best thing about CATTS therapy is the tailored sessions and continuous review of what is working.

Without a doubt my son's progression is down to Marijke's involvement. I think the best thing about CATTS service is that they value parents and external therapists input and have no problem liaising with outside services (i.e. HSE, Enable Ireland, etc). We have both learned techniques/ mechanisms to increase speech and reduce fustration. Definate drop in NAME's distress.
The progress my son has made over the last year is astounding. Marijke is a fabulous therapist. It is obvious she enjoys her job and cares for her clients. I appreciate the value CATTS places on parent involvement ant think the tips / techniques provided to use at home have proved to be very successful. We are 100% satisfied with the service CATTS provide.

Niamh is phenomenal! She is so talented at working with children in a fun and relaxed way. My 9 year old didn't even realize any of it was work. He looked forward to every session and that is due to Niamh and her kindness and skill.

The energy and humour of the presenter helps me remember. Marijke delivered it very well and made it very informative and enjoyable! 🙂

“I liked learning sign language so it can help me communicate with my cousin and each other.”

I learned how I can use signs to help children communicate on a one to one basis or in a group to encourage social and language skills in an informal way.
Learned more than I thought I would at one sitting!

I liked the way the 100 words were split out throughout the day. Not information overload. Very enjoyable - the day flew!

I liked the way nobody was singled out. The signs were demonstrated as a group.

Good insight into different behaviours of autism which was based in the real world. Really excellent

A very professional but friendly and focused to each individual child's needs.

Really Great Event. Well done CATTS ?

"Am so happy with speech therapy. She knows how to encourage my son to attempt to say words. He wouldn't have even tried for other therapists. (Therapist) has a fantastic way with him. And out of all the speech therapists we've attended over the years, both public and private, this has been the best by far. Highly recommend. Only annoyed we didn't know about it before. We would have taken him years ago."

I've joined so many groups etc to try help [NAME], this one is really useful. I do need to ask more questions though lol.

CATTS Ireland were good and helpful hosts.
Great course. Need more interdisciplinary type courses in Ireland!

"My thanks to you and Marijke for the excellent staff and responsive service that you have provided in CATTS."
Large Residential Service Provider

Thought the tutor (Marijke) was excellent. Really easy to listen to, so easy to learn from. Made the day fun. Kept you focused.

[NAME] always had a 'difficult' relationship with his speech therapists from his service providers. CATTS therapists are totally different, young & energetic & determined to get the best out of him.

I liked the way the tutor presented the class. It enabled me to learn in a relaxed way. Her coverage was fantastic. I would attend another class hosted by her.

Lovely facilities, nice class size. Amazing that only 3 rows back, it felt small and intimate.

I learned so many new signs and lots of different ways to approach kids to create conversation opportunities.

I really enjoyed Patty, loved her style, stories and analogies

Excellently covered by Patty, I am walking away feeling a lot more confident that my clients will receive better therapy.

The sessions are fun and she always strives to remember what works for our son down to the smallest details. Our SLT always made sessions fun and engaging but also was able to get the most out of each session which is so important when dealing with intellectual disability.

“I’ve learned 100 Lamh signs. I’ve learned ways to use them and importance of repetition. I’ve enjoyed Marijke’s energetic method of teaching.”

Very happy with the attention and detail [NAME] gets at each session. Each session is setup in advance and if a games doesn't go to plan there is always a backup nearby.
I like the no rushing of each session so it can respond to what [NAME] needs on the day. He has opened up so much and has become more confident as time goes on.

I liked the structure of the day. The associations Marijke used helped me to remember the signs. I also like that the games reinforced the signs. Plus the sweets as rewards!

I liked the multiple steps in learning signs - helped memory.

I think the best thing is our therapist's approach to dealing with my sometimes difficult child.

I learned a lot of signs I didn't know and how to teach them to my brother. I'll finally be able to have a proper conversation with him.

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Marijke makes learning fun!

100% of Speech Therapy clients surveyed would recommend CATTS to a friend or family member!

Very happy with the speech service my son is getting through CATTS. The therapist is working very well with my son and gets the best out of him. Only for this service my son would be getting no speech. I am very grateful.

CATTS really know how to attract great speakers. Really professionally run event. Felt very well looked after.

I learned a lot of new Lamh signs

We have been attending CATTS for over 5 years and can only recommend them to anyone looking for a friendly and professional service. My child's speech, communication and confidence has made huge improvements consistently over the years. He's gone from a child who was frustrated with very little words and screamed to let us know what he needed to now working on grammar! The sessions are always fun to keep him interested and focused on his needs and exactly what he should be working on. This progress wouldn't have been possible if I hadn't been attending Marijke at CATTS.

The best thing about CATTS is the experience of the Speech Therapist. How she engages with my son. He understands a lot more, his receptive language has improved greatly since starting.

I liked that the day was active ad no one was put on the spot!
[NAME] settled well. He found it hard first time but after a few sessions he got used to being there and started to work well. He makes more sounds now and is copying the words after us.

The best thing about CATTS is that each session is individually tailored to that child's need at that time and carried out in a fun way.

Patty is an excellent presenter, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

"Catts Ireland is providing a superb vital service for children"

This was a fun, interactive course. Marijke was very good, and patient, friendly and funny.

We researched a lot of places and time and time again CATTS was recommended to us. We are so glad we listened as we have seen great progress in our son. [Therapist] just "gets him" and its so nice to have a positive experience all the while our son is doing some "work".

“I enjoyed the games, these were practical and helped consolidate our learning and helped us to retain the new signs.”

“I thought the course was made very interesting because it was informal and amusing at times. I was surprised at how the Lamh signs stuck in my mind.”

I learned 100 signs to go away and teach my autistic child.

Since starting speech therapy my daughters speech has improved considerably. Her language skills and comprehension have also seen a huge improvement. She is more confident and thrives on the positive feedback about her progress. I love that the program is designed to meet her needs and grows with her.

We've seen improvement from day one. We've also learned a lot from watching her work. My son enjoys his sessions with Marijke, she somehow manages to get a 4 year old to focus for the whole session and have fun while doing it. We're seeing constant improvement.

CATTS is an excellent service providing Speech and Language which is highly needed for children with special needs.

My little boy absolutely loves going to CATTS. He loves playing all his 'games' and 'sound games' and thinks it is great fun. Marijke makes every minute of speech therapy fun and exciting. It is lovely to see my little boy progress in a fun, warm environment. Marijke is warm and provides great guidance and support for home. Marijke always responds to queries in a timely manner. Learning is made fun. He has made improvements in speech sounds and is now more susceptible to fixing up errors without resistance.

I think the best thing about CATTS is the professional service. The therapists are very skilled and it is of huge benefit to my child.

"Great anecdotes helped me associate the words with the sign."

My son has attended regularly for some months now, and responded very early on to the use of Lámh. He has made good progress and enjoys going to sessions. Overall would highly recommend Marijke as an SLT.

I liked the enthusiasm of the presenter. It was really interactive, clear and well paced.

Found Marijke very enjoyable as a teacher. Made the course a lot more intereting and easier to learn.

Great few days. Very professionally done and all needs tended to and anticipated

The day was fun! Marijke made it fun and easy to learn. Really enjoying. Good craic.

"Our therapist obviously puts a lot of thought and effort into each of [NAME]'s sessions, very creative to get the best out of him."

I learned how to put Lamh into the school setting where I work. How to plan and create situations where I can use it.

Am so happy with speech therapy. She knows how to encourage my son to attempt to say words. He wouldn't have even tried for other therapists. (Therapist) has a fantastic way with him. And out of all the speech therapists we've attended over the years, both public and private, this has been the best by far. Highly recommend.
[NAME] is very happy and is progressing. My son has built a lot of confidence since starting therapy, our family & friends really see a difference in his abilities.

I liked the structure of the class. Marijke made the class fun and enjoyable to learn the different signs.

"Marijke made the day very funny and interesting."

Public speaking is a significant feature of my job. An injury at work meant I had to step back from this aspect of my work. Present for me also was an underlying worry whether I would be able to overcome the resultant speech issues. Step by step, like completing a jig-saw, Marijke systematically took me through the various steps towards recovery with an additional, unexpected bonus of learning to use my voice properly when public speaking. This was never covered when I first trained in public speaking twenty years ago. I did my homework between sessions but I learned that I did not always execute the practices correctly. It was this expert correction and feedback from Marijke that was invaluable! Thank you !

"Nice people, good understanding with asd kids."

A Super Day! A wealth of knowledge. Loved the detail and attention to accuracy. Thank you.

The best thing is that my daughter's needs, strengths and weaknesses are being met, understood and worked on. Going at her pace, with patience.

The best thing is the therapist's genuine interest in my child and getting to know her and what works best for her - in particular a shared passion for Pokemon! I have noticed improvements in pronunciation of words, developments of language and improvements of winning / losing scenarios.

Really enjoyed the course, excellent information & presenter.

I am very happy with the progress that my daughter has made since we started to come to CATTS. The service is professional, on point and there is a genuine interest in the child. Every session is different with a combination of work and games which is very effective. There are adequate breaks which is very important and an excellent understanding of my daughter's ASD and ADHD. The games and lesson plans tie in very naturally with whats going on with school and at home and this makes the sessions valuable and effective with excellent learning and development for my daughter. I have recommended CATTS to many other mums and will continue to do so.

Very informative course, learned a lot both theoretical and practical from a very skilled presenter.

Everyone has commented on how well my son's speech has come on.
His speech is more relevant to what is happening around him. Today, he answered a 'Where' question for the first time appropriately without being prompted first.

Since starting with CATTS, my son's confidence has improved, he is involved more socially and he is not as anxious.

I am very happy with the service we have received with [Therapist]. After 2 sessions [NAME] had started saying 'more', 'again', 'up', 'down' and is continuing to add new words each week.

"Very helpful when we asked questions - she didn't hesitate to answer anything we asked"

I find our therapist Brilliant! She gives great tips and is excellent in engaging with my son. It is much improved for primary school as he can tell me things that happen in his summer setting, which is less frustrating for him and less worrying for me.

CATTS work really well with my child's school resource teacher and SNA to insure my child has every opportunity to improve his communication skills.

I liked your enthuasian and how personable and approachable you are. So much was covered and I liked how you were willng to show us lots of other sign.

"Since starting speech therapy my daughters speech has improved considerably. Her language skills and comprehension have also seen a huge improvement. She is more confident and thrives on the positive feedback about her progress. I love that the program is designed to meet her needs and grows with her."

I enjoyed the interaction and the humour!

I learned lots of new signs. Can't wait to learn more.

[NAME] enjoys going to Marijke and I feel the work being done is addressing [NAME]'s needs. We attended other speech therapists in the past and whilst they also helped I think CATTS' way of establishing where [NAME]'s main areas of need are, is very good.

"Very interesting. Benefits us especially while working with kids - learned so many things I never knew e.g. DVD, and apps"

The BEST THING about CATTS is the One to One service, Great Advice and Tips to work on at home!

“What I liked: Use of videos as well as slides. The variety of signs taught. Relaxed atmosphere – had a laugh while learning signs.”

"I enjoyed doing the signs and activity. I think that this will help me in the future with being a special needs assistant"

I learned how to think about how it might feel to not be able to communicate. I learned not only about the signs but also how to associate them with other things to remember them. I also learned how to 'teach' the signs in an effective way with the kids.

This is a great idea. It really helps to have a resource on hand you can trust

The CATTS team were so friendly and enthusiastic. We all felt really well looked after.

I came away with far more than I could have imagined

Lisa is very inspiring, very practical and we benefited most from the presenter’s own experience. Enjoyed the positive approach of presenter – I feel invigorated

Very well organised event. - Looking forward to the next CATTS CPD event. Thank you!

"Loved the training style. Very enjoyable day."

“What did I like: being able to communicate with Lamh user. Brilliant course. Would recommend it to other people.”

I learned over 100 signs which will make it a lot easier to communicate with my child.

The energy of the course and how it was taught. Great information that will stay in my brain!

Very beneficial program. I learnt a lot of strategies to help me.

"I learned how important it is to communicate. I hope it will make life happier for the service users.”

Social interaction, speech has come on, both expressive and receptive. I'm more relaxed and reassured because I feel supported.

That's fantastic thanks so much for all of those strategies! I want to maximise on this latest development with his desire to vocalise sounds and some words! Thanks a million!

Marijke made it very easy to learn and very entertaining! ?

“I liked the positive interaction between the tutor & learners.”
CATTS are very flexible. My child loves coming and my child understands the speech therapist's instructions, which is very important to me.

CATTS has a great system that definitely works.
[Therapist] just makes him feel do comfortable. [NAME] has come along so well since we started CATTS. Me and [NAME] have a great communication now and he barely spoke 2 words when we started. Now he is flying with his vocab. We couldn't be prowder.

Great Content. Well organised.
All members of the CATTS team were friendly and helpful. They were always providing much needed information.

“I’ve enjoyed learning everything about Lamh, including watching videos, doing games and working in group. It was very interesting.”
Good cooperation with parents to help special needs kids. Excellent Speech therapy support for kids with ASD.

Huge amount of useful info. Video clips were useful.
Excellent topic and event. It is difficult to get the opportunity to learn from the main experts in specific fields.

Refreshing no-nonsense parent’s perspective.

Overall Satisfaction: 96%
Value for Money: 92%

Excellent. Very informative and Patty was wonderfully engaging. Learned so much!

I have been attending CATTS with my son for 5 years now and the service we have received is fantastic. Marijke is a wonderful therapist and my son's speech and communication has come on so much from when he started from a no-verbal little boy to a fully verbal child now. Marijke has each session planned to meet his needs and I feel fully involved. We travel a long distance to each session but it is worth it to see the difference in my son's communication and confidence.

“I’ve learned so many signs and how to effectively communicate with residents.”

I liked Marijke. You made the course interesting and fun.

"I enjoyed the group interaction. Moving between theory and practical Lamh signs has helped me to concentrate for the entirety of the day.”

Marijke was excellent - brilliant tutor.

I have been using CATTS for several month with my daughter. What started off as a very difficult appointment every week (with another service), now my daughter is happy to enter the room immediately and engage with Marijke. I see an improvement at every appointment. I would be lost if I had not found CATTS.

I learned a lot more than I expected to! thank you .

I learned more ways to create communication opportunities.

“I thought it was very well presented. Not only was it about Lamh sign; it was about communication.”

I am very satisfied with the treatment I got from CATTS. I was a bit apprehensive but the friendly, professional attitude of the therapist put me at my ease. The comparison of my performance at the start of treatment and at the six-monthly follow up showed that my voice had improved both in volume and range. I am more than pleased.

With the rollout of Progressing Disabilities its so important to build awareness on family centred practice. Thank you for bringing this and other courses to Ireland.

Patty’s approach to teaching was so engaging, she has a wealth of knowledge and a lovely way of delivering information. A really enjoyable experience overall.

"This is a great service, he really looks forward to the therapy sessions."

Would highly recommend CATTS. I have seen a big difference in my child since his first session. The biggest has been learning to wait. [NAME] has come along so much, now his vocab is coming on better and better everyday. Since starting the sessions the whole family have joined in to learn what we do in every session and really enjoy learning how to really have fun on [NAME]'s level. it is great to see [NAME] so excited when we get out of the car and see Marijke's door. He knows where he is going and really enjoys it which makes it really enjoyable for us to look at. Thank you.

I liked Marijke as a Lamh tutor. She was extremely engaging and personable. I like how it was fun during the lesson.

Public speaking is a significant feature of my job. An injury at work meant I had to step back from this aspect of my work. Present for me also was an underlying worry whether I would be able to overcome the resultant speech issues. Step by step, like completing a jig-saw, Marijke systematically took me through the various steps towards recovery with an additional, unexpected bonus of learning to use my voice properly when public speaking. This was never covered when I first trained in public speaking twenty years ago. I did my homework between sessions but I learned that I did not always execute the practices correctly. It was this expert correction and feedback from Marijke that was invaluable! Thank you !

Amazing, Well planned, Very impressed with Lisa’s knowledge as a mother.

I was a bit hesitant at first to ask a question, but once I did, she was really quick getting back to me with pointers and things to do.
Efficient, excellent communication and follow up post classes, excellent advice for further at hone progress.