General Information
The University of Montana RiteCare Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic, established in 1998, provides diagnostic and treatment services for children and adults with communication disorders and follow-along services for families. The RiteCare division of the clinic is supported by the Scottish Rite of Free-masonry in partnership with The University of Montana, is one of more than 170 Scottish Rite clinics throughout the United States. The RiteCare division of the clinic helps to provide services free of charge to qualifying families. Masonic affiliation is not required.The clinic is housed in the Curry Health Center on The University of Montana campus. Licensed speech and language pathologists provide diagnostic and therapeutic treatment for children experiencing speech, language, hearing and literacy difficulties. The clinic also serves as practicum site for university students enrolled in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at The University of Montana. These students, who are studying to be speech and language pathologists, have the opportunity to observe and to work with children and their families under the supervision of the clinic speech and language pathologists.
Children experiencing difficulty with speech, language, hearing, or literacy have a special kind of learning difference. Such children often have normal intelligence but have not acquired speech or language in a normal manner. The problems may range from a mild articulation delay to a severe expressive and/or receptive language difficulty. Some of these children have difficulty understanding or remembering what is said to them. Others may understand, but cannot easily express their own wishes and thoughts clearly. Many times these challenges with speech and language lead to difficulty learning skills needed for literacy development. The effects can be devastating to children and their families if the problem is not treated at an early age.
For more information, view our brochure.
Eligibility and Referrals
This RiteCare division of the clinic serves clients living in Western Montana. Young children who exhibit speech, language, hearing, or literacy difficulties, and who are unable to obtain services from other agencies, are eligible for services at the clinic. Anyone can make a referral to the clinic by calling (406) 243-5261 or (406) 243-2405.
When a referral is made, diagnostic and observational information is gathered to evaluate a client's communication skills and abilities. After the evaluation process has been completed, the results and recommendations are discussed with the client and/or the client's family. If treatment or therapy services are recommended, the client may be enrolled at our clinic. The therapy sessions are designed to meet the client's individual needs and family priorities, and they include training for families to extend the therapy activities at home.
Forms & Letters
Funding for the University of Montana RiteCare Language and Hearing Clinic comes from donations, wills, and bequests. You are invited to assist in this worthy project for children. The RiteCare division of the clinic is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible. Please consider the philanthropic efforts of the program to help our clients.
Testimonials
"Thank you for your continued support of the RiteCare Clinic. The speech therapy and literacy development your clinic has provided to my son has given him an opportunity to succeed in school and in life."
"The RiteCare Clinic has been a blessing to our family. Without the clinic's assistance, our children's speech problems would have required expensive treatment. Our children have enjoyed coming to the clinic and have made continual progress. The clinic is a benefit to our community and provides an important service to many children."
"We would like to thank all of you for the wonderful opportunities that your clinic has given to our family. Our son has experienced a positive childhood. His communication abilities are awesome and he is so proud that he is able to play with other children and able to communicate his needs. Thank you for offering this fabulous program to our family. We will be ever indebted to your efforts to make this program continue."
"I don't know where our daughter would be without the help of the Scottish Rite. Her imaginary play skills, computer skills, reading skills, as well as listening and attending skills have all greatly improved as a result of her sessions at the clinic. We are grateful for the generosity and vision of the Scottish Rite Foundation. Our daughter will be forever blessed because of our experience with the RiteCare Clinic."
"The RiteCare Clinic has had an incredible impact on our family's life. When our son first started coming to the clinic, you could not understand anything he was trying to say. It was hard for him to communicate what was wrong with him or his excitement. Now he is communicating everything he needs to say. He doesn't get frustrated anymore like he used to do so often. The Scottish Rite Foundation is the greatest thing that has come into our family and son's life. It has turned frustration into laughter. Thank you for everything you do for us!"
Contact Information
The University of Montana
RiteCare Language and Hearing Clinic
Lower Level, Curry Health Center
634 Eddy Avenue
Missoula, Montana 59812
Phone: (406) 243-5261/(406) 243-2405
Fax: (406) 243-6678
Email: RiteCare Language and Literacy Clinic
