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

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

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

[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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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 !

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 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.

“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.”

Good cooperation with parents to help special needs kids. Excellent Speech therapy support for kids with ASD.

Efficient, excellent communication and follow up post classes, excellent advice for further at hone progress.

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.

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

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.”

Refreshing no-nonsense parent’s perspective.

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

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 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 enjoyed the interaction and the humour!

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.

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

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.

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

[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.

Really Great Event. Well done CATTS ?

“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.”

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

[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 multiple steps in learning signs - helped memory.

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

"Marijke made the day very funny and interesting."

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.

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

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

Patty is an excellent presenter, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Marijke makes learning fun!

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

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

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

I learned more ways to create communication opportunities.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Hi,

Just said I'd let you know that since Easter break, I have really noticed a huge improvement in [NAME]' speech. His confidence is really showing, putting his hand up regularly throughout the day to answer questions, telling me things and asking me general questions etc. It is so nice to see!

Kind Regards,
[Teacher Name]

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

I came away with far more than I could have imagined

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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".

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

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.

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

"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 of new Lamh signs

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

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

Really enjoyed the course, excellent information & presenter.

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 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!

[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.

Overall Satisfaction: 96%
Value for Money: 92%

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.

"Loved the training style. Very enjoyable day."

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

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

"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."

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

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

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

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

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.

"Nice people, good understanding with asd kids."

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Marijke was excellent - brilliant tutor.

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

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.

"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.

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

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

CATTS are very flexible. My child loves coming and my child understands the speech therapist's instructions, which is very important to me.

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.

Patty is an excellent presenter, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

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

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

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%

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

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

Good cooperation with parents to help special needs kids. Excellent Speech therapy support for kids with ASD.

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

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

Really Great Event. Well done CATTS ?

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.

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

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

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!

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

I came away with far more than I could have imagined

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

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.

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.

Marijke was excellent - brilliant tutor.

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

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 learned a lot of new Lamh 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 think the best thing about CATTS is the professional service. The therapists are very skilled and it is of huge benefit to my child.

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Marijke makes learning fun!

[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 positive interaction between the tutor & learners.”

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

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 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!

"Loved the training style. Very enjoyable day."

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

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

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.

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

Really enjoyed the course, excellent information & presenter.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Efficient, excellent communication and follow up post classes, excellent advice for further at hone progress.

"Nice people, good understanding with asd kids."

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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."

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

I enjoyed the interaction and the humour!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

CATTS are very flexible. My child loves coming and my child understands the speech therapist's instructions, which is very important to me.

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

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

"Marijke made the day very funny and interesting."

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

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

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

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.

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 !

Refreshing no-nonsense parent’s perspective.

I learned more ways to create communication opportunities.

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 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.

Hi,

Just said I'd let you know that since Easter break, I have really noticed a huge improvement in [NAME]' speech. His confidence is really showing, putting his hand up regularly throughout the day to answer questions, telling me things and asking me general questions etc. It is so nice to see!

Kind Regards,
[Teacher Name]

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

"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."

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

[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.

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

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.

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.

[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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 learned a lot of new Lamh signs

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 !

CATTS are very flexible. My child loves coming and my child understands the speech therapist's instructions, which is very important to me.

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

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

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

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

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

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Marijke makes learning fun!

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.

Overall Satisfaction: 96%
Value for Money: 92%

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Really Great Event. Well done CATTS ?

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

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.

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

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

I came away with far more than I could have imagined

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

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 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.”

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

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

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

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

Marijke was excellent - brilliant tutor.

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

[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.

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

"Marijke made the day very funny and interesting."

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

"Loved the training style. Very enjoyable day."

Efficient, excellent communication and follow up post classes, excellent advice for further at hone progress.

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.

Good cooperation with parents to help special needs kids. Excellent Speech therapy support for kids with ASD.

"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."

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.

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

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.

Patty is an excellent presenter, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

[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.

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

Hi,

Just said I'd let you know that since Easter break, I have really noticed a huge improvement in [NAME]' speech. His confidence is really showing, putting his hand up regularly throughout the day to answer questions, telling me things and asking me general questions etc. It is so nice to see!

Kind Regards,
[Teacher Name]

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

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

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

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.

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

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

[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 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 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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

I learned more ways to create communication 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.

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!

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

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

I enjoyed the interaction and the humour!

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

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

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

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.

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".

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

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.

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

[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.

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.

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

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

Refreshing no-nonsense parent’s perspective.

"Nice people, good understanding with asd kids."

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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.

"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."

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

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.

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

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

"Loved the training style. Very enjoyable day."

I learned more ways to create communication opportunities.

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

I learned a lot of new Lamh signs

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

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 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!

Really Great Event. Well done CATTS ?

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Refreshing no-nonsense parent’s perspective.

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

Really enjoyed the course, excellent information & presenter.

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.

Hi,

Just said I'd let you know that since Easter break, I have really noticed a huge improvement in [NAME]' speech. His confidence is really showing, putting his hand up regularly throughout the day to answer questions, telling me things and asking me general questions etc. It is so nice to see!

Kind Regards,
[Teacher Name]

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

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Marijke makes learning fun!

I enjoyed the interaction and the humour!

[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.

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".

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

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

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

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 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 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.

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

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.

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

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

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 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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Good cooperation with parents to help special needs kids. Excellent Speech therapy support for kids with ASD.

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.

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

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

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 really enjoyed Patty, loved her style, stories and analogies

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

I came away with far more than I could have imagined

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

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

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

“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.”

Efficient, excellent communication and follow up post classes, excellent advice for further at hone progress.

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.

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

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.

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

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

"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."

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.

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

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.

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

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!

[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.

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

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

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.

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.

"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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

[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.

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

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.

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

CATTS are very flexible. My child loves coming and my child understands the speech therapist's instructions, which is very important to me.

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

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.

"Marijke made the day very funny and interesting."

Marijke was excellent - brilliant tutor.

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

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

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

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

[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.

Patty is an excellent presenter, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

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

"Nice people, good understanding with asd kids."

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

"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."

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

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

"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."

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

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

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 !

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

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

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

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.

Overall Satisfaction: 96%
Value for Money: 92%

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