Larson Language and Cognition Lab

08/26/2026

🚨 COMMUNITY NEED: STROLLERS 🚨

Here’s a reality we don’t talk about enough:

For some of the families we serve, a stroller isn’t a convenience. It’s transportation.

We work with so many families who are experiencing homelessness and living in hotels. This is the harsh reality. We also work with parents who don’t have a car and don’t have reliable access to transportation. And yet, they still have places they need to go. They have groceries to get. Appointments to make. Resources to access. Older children to get places. And sometimes they are doing all of it with a baby or toddler in tow.

Right now, strollers are one of our most requested items and our shelves are empty.

We need your help. 💙

If you have a new or gently used stroller in safe, clean, working condition, please consider donating it to First Chance for Children.

Because sometimes a stroller is more than a stroller.

Sometimes it’s how a family gets where they need to go.

📍 Donations can be dropped off at First Chance for Children
1002 Fay Street, Columbia, MO 65201

Please share this post and help us fill this need. 💙

08/26/2026

04/04/2026

This World Autism Awareness Day, we’re especially grateful to the self-advocates, families, planners, and teams who shared their lived experiences and insights to optimize the design of our new center, as well as the hundreds of individuals, organizations, companies, and foundations that showed their support for neurodiverse patients by making our new home possible. This space is a testament to a community that cares — a community that celebrates neurodiversity and supports individuals of all abilities. We’re so glad to celebrate this World Autism Awareness Day with you in our new home!

04/04/2026

Could it be DLD?

Some signs to look for:
🔹 Difficulty understanding instructions
🔹 Trouble expressing thoughts clearly
🔹 Struggles with storytelling or conversation
🔹 Challenges with reading and writing
🔹 Limited vocabulary compared to peers
🔹 Difficulty following or remembering verbal information

DLD is not caused by hearing loss or intelligence differences. It’s a language disorder with no obvious cause.

Early support makes a big difference. For more information about DLD and resources go to DLDandMe.org

Share to spread awareness 💬

04/03/2026

Calling all STL-area SLPs and alum! We're hosting our ZOU BASH social hour at MSHA in St. Charles and we'd love for you to come!

Tuesday, April 28 5-7pm
Bar Louie St. Charles
All are welcome - no need to be attending MSHA!

RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/ZouBash26

11/19/2025

It's ASHA Conference week! Our very own Dr. Beth Kelley will be presenting not one, not two, but THREE times on Friday with her collaborators! Be sure to catch her if you're going to DC - especially if you're interested in school-based SLP research 🧑‍🏫 Find out more about her presentations in the link below!

https://plan.core-apps.com/asha2025/speaker/61dd5880d03f4a67a046a75412dfe73e

09/14/2025

09/14/2025

09/14/2025

Many people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) mask or camouflage their struggles just to get by.

They might smile and nod when some asks 'do you understand?'
They might wait for others to move and then do what they do.
They might laugh when others laugh in conversations, without getting the joke.

This makes things easier in the moment, but it is REALLY hard to maintain. And this is very stressful for children and adults with DLD.

It is also another reason why DLD is hard to spot. Because people presume when someone nods and smiles it means they understand.

We are working hard to change this. You can join us. By working together we can make a difference for people with DLD.

is Friday October 17th 2025. Theme: you can't see DLD.
radld.org

08/27/2025

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a difficulty with understanding and using words and sentences.

Getting words into sentences is harder for people with DLD. And so is understanding conversations.

That might seem like a small issue to you, but to people with DLD this can be a huge barrier. And the biggest barrier of all is NEXT TO NO ONE HAS HEARD OF DLD.

Help us to change that!

Like and share or posts. Or leave a comment too.
Find out about DLD: https://radld.org/about/dld/dld-fact-sheet/ which are available in multiple languages
Tell someone about DLD: your neighbour, your friends or a teacher
Get involved in raising awareness of DLD at radld.org

Friday October 17th is DLD day with the theme 'you can't see DLD' Join us in making DLD visible!
radld.org