The Preschool Language Intervention Program (PLIP) was created in January 1983 by Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPPA) faculty member Candice Warner at Western Michigan University, to serve children 3 to 5 years of age who have a variety of communication challenges. PLIP provides speech and language intervention through group and individual therapy sessions. Services are provided by graduate clinicians from the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and music therapy clinicians from WMU's School of Music, leading to a high-quality interprofessional service delivery. Student clinicians are supervised by faculty members from their respective departments.
The goal of PLIP is to foster communication development and positive social interactions with peers by:
- Using lesson plans that allow for free play, circle and story time, art and pre-writing, music and movement, individual therapy, and parent education.
- Implementing a hybrid curriculum: naturalistic child-centered approaches blended with content-centered (teacher directed) approaches.
- Monitoring each child's progress throughout the semester.
This evidence-based intervention program enrolls four children per semester, which allows for individualized attention within the preschool-like setting. The unique format of the program allows children with speech and/or language challenges to receive services targeting social language in addition to individual speech and language goals. Emphasis is also placed on play, emergent literacy, pre-writing, and basic numerical skills.
Program information
- The PLIP program meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.
- A parent or caregiver must remain in the building during each two hour session.
- Parents are welcome to observe in the room and interact with their child if he or she needs support.
- Fall and spring semesters are 10 weeks in length and cost $375. Summer sessions are shorter and fees are adjusted.
Getting started
The Preschool Language Intervention Program (PLIP) takes referrals from community providers, school systems, and self-referrals from families. Please call (269) 387-7145 for a phone intake and to learn more about PLIP.
As the speech-language clinic is an educational program in the College of Health and Human Services at WMU, scheduling of services is dependent upon the availability of student clinicians and faculty supervisors. If the clinic is not able to provide an applicant immediate access to services, application information is retained on a waiting list and referral sources are provided, if needed.