Kotoba Support Net Presents Development of 'Pronunciation Checklist' and Collaborative 'Online Language Classroom' Initiative at the 27th Japanese Society of Speech-Language-Hearing Therapy

Our organization presented four topics related to children's speech and pronunciation development and their instructional support.

Presentation Topics

### Poster Presentations (26th)

**Promoting Awareness of Functional Articulation Disorders in Children Using the Educational Poster 'Understanding Articulation Disorders' (Mitsue Nakai):**

We received empathetic feedback as part of grassroots efforts to raise societal awareness of articulation disorders.

**Developmental Support Across Regions and Borders: Report on the Free Online Event 'Kotoba Sukusuku Live' (Tatsuya Matsumoto):**

Our innovative approach to developmental support using online platforms garnered interest, particularly for providing opportunities to engage with native-language finger plays even among Japanese families living abroad.

### Oral Presentations (27th)

**Development of a Checklist and Guidebook for Pronunciation Assessment Support in 5-Year-Old Health Screenings (Yuka Hori):**

We reported on the development of a pronunciation assessment tool designed to enable not only speech-language therapists but also educators to screen the pronunciation of 5-year-olds. During the presentation, we informed attendees that physical copies of the checklist were available at our PR booth. Several participants visited the booth afterward, allowing us to provide detailed explanations about the specifications and practical applications while showing them the actual materials.

**Report on Collaborative Classroom Practices Using Online Video Conferencing Systems in Elementary School Language Disorder Special Support Classes ('Language Classroom') – Part 2 (Nami Nonofuji):**

Following last year's report, we presented our ongoing initiative of remote intervention by speech-language therapists (STs) in elementary school classrooms via online systems, deepening discussions on its effectiveness and challenges for future regional collaboration.

Symposium Participation (26th)

**Chugoku Shimbun Hall** "Building a Collaborative Network to Support Preschool Children's Development: The Role and Future of Speech-Language Therapists in 5-Year-Old Health Screenings"

- Moderator: Seigo Akaishi (Disability Welfare Division, Japanese Society of Speech-Language-Hearing Therapy) - Commentator: Nobuko Nakagawa (Association of Speech Therapists for Child Development) - Presenters: Seigo Akaishi, Kari Nishida, Nami Nonofuji, Rina Shinohara - Proposal: Fumiyuki Ishimaru

- Report 1: Current Status and Challenges of 5-Year-Old Health Screenings Based on Association Survey Results - Report 2: Initiatives by Prefectural Speech Therapy Associations - Report 3: Role of STs in the Private Sector: Focusing on Practical Articulation Screening - Report 4: Role of Public Sector STs: Implementation of 5-Year-Old Health Screenings at Public Health Centers - Proposal: National Policies and Future Outlook: Support Programs for 5-Year-Old Health Screenings - Summary: (Overall Discussion Summary)

※ Report 3, "Role of STs in the Private Sector," was presented by Nami Nonofuji, representative of our organization.

PR Exhibition

Our PR exhibition booth, located adjacent to the poster session area, welcomed many professionals on both days.

We exchanged valuable information regarding the download process for the pronunciation checklist, user feedback, inquiries and suggestions about online lectures and workshops, and everyday clinical challenges.

We were deeply grateful for the opportunity to meet in person with professionals with whom we usually communicate via email or online platforms.

Conclusion

Direct conversations with local professionals enabled us to share initiatives and challenges from various perspectives. Drawing from the many insights gained at this Hiroshima conference, the warm encouragement from attendees, and the heartfelt requests from the field, our organization will continue to dedicate itself to supporting children's language and pronunciation development and advancing regional collaboration.