LANGUAGE DIVERSITY
Language is not just a means of communication – it carries identity, memory, culture, community knowledge, tradition, and worldview.
Yet despite Indigenous populations being the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, most speech therapy materials have been developed without meaningful consideration of the linguistic diversity found within Indigenous languages and dialects. As a result, critical gaps remain in how our professional field understands, supports, and serves Indigenous language speakers and culturally-diverse learners.
Recognizing the limitations of standardized assessment tools—which often misinterpret language differences as deficits—our team uses responsive and inclusive screening protocols that reflect the linguistic backgrounds of the communities we support. Our goal is to understand the sound systems and dialectical features unique to each language. This helps us recognize language influences on English speech patterns—ensuring our screens and interventions are accurate and responsive to linguistic diversity.
NVSS is deeply committed to the revitalization of First Nations languages and intentionally integrates key linguistic elements into our therapy programs and materials. We engage in partnerships with translators and language keepers to co-develop materials in a way that is community-directed, culturally-safe, and respectful of knowledge sovereignty.
We honor each community’s right to protect how their language is shared, used, and represented; language and cultural content is never extracted or reinterpreted. Instead, it is shaped in partnership through consent, trust, and cultural guidance. This ensures our resources reflect local insight - not outside assumptions - so that communities remain the leaders and voices behind their own language knowledge.
LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
We believe speech-language pathology has a vital role to play in advancing language revitalization. As communication specialists, our responsibility extends beyond supporting students with speech disorders—it’s about helping speakers connect with the full cultural-linguistic richness of their language. NVSS is reimagining a model of speech therapy that doesn’t just correct sounds—it elevates voices.
Through partnerships with community translators, we’ve begun building a growing Language Library housed within our NVSS TeachSpeech app. This library features community-specific resources designed to support children’s acquisition of their local languages while strengthening speech development in both Indigenous languages and English.
One of the most innovative features currently in development is our Animated Articulation tool—a cutting-edge, interactive visual model that demonstrates how individual sounds are formed in the mouth across different languages and dialects. Developed in collaboration with Elsevier, one of the world’s leading academic and medical publishers, this tool offers x-ray-style motion animations that illustrate the anatomical movements involved in sound production across entire language systems—including Indigenous dialects that have not been represented in conventional speech therapy materials.
NVSS is proud to be at the forefront of innovation in speech-language pathology, advancing tools and practices that honour linguistic diversity and support language revitalization.
We are honoured to be leading these efforts, setting a precedent for how speech therapy can evolve to reflect the voices, languages, and values of the communities it serves and represents.
This work would not be possible without the knowledge, time, and care shared by the translators and language keepers we are privileged to collaborate with. Their guidance ensures that the materials we create are not only linguistically accurate, but also respectful of each community’s values, teachings, and protocols.
LED BY THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
To every language keeper and translator who has contributed to this vision:
thank you for your work, your wisdom, and your voice.
We acknowledge the trust placed in us and are committed to co-creating resources in a way that protects the integrity of each language, honours community governance, and uplifts local expertise. These individuals are the heart of our language revitalization efforts—and we are grateful for their leadership and partnership.
TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY
At NVSS, we are attempting to advance the field of speech-language pathology by developing cutting-edge tools and forward-thinking technology.
Our goal is to create accessible technology that enhances how services are delivered - bridging gaps, creating efficiencies for clinicians, and supporting individuals with communication difficulties in meaningful, culturally-responsive ways.
From AI-integrated apps to automated support systems and community-created resources, our tools are designed to meet the evolving needs of the field with impact and intention.
NVSS TEACHSPEECH APP
The NVSS TeachSpeech App reimagines how speech therapy can be supported—placing accessible, innovative resources directly in the hands of those who work closest with children. Designed for families, educators, and speech therapists, the app ensures individuals with speech difficulties receive consistent, meaningful practice - beyond therapy sessions.
TeachSpeech features step-by-step training videos, interactive games, and printable activities—all created to help children master speech sounds in fun and engaging ways, while also educating and guiding adults to confidently support speech development.
Powered by NVSS’s proprietary ArticulateAI technology, the app analyzes each speech attempt in real time, offering nuanced feedback tailored to the child’s needs—bringing a new level of responsiveness to home and school-based speech practice. The app also includes our Animated Articulation tool, developed in collaboration with Elsevier, one of the world’s leading medical and academic publishers. This feature provides 3D motion animations that visually demonstrate how speech sounds are formed—making speech visible, understandable, and teachable like never before!
Recognizing the importance of representation in speech resources, the Language Library was designed as a collaborative and evolving space where community language knowledge and professional tools come together to support early vocabulary development. Built to include as many languages and dialects as possible, the portal continues to grow through partnerships with translators and language keepers committed to preserving, promoting, and revitalizing underrepresented languages worldwide.
SLP SUPPORT SYSTEM
The SLP Support System (SSS) is an advanced back-end system designed exclusively for speech-language pathologists working in school and private settings. Created to significantly reduce administrative overload, the SSS streamlines and simplifies every stage of speech therapy workflow—without compromising professional control or clinical judgment.
Built with flexibility in mind, the system automates time-consuming tasks like report writing, therapy planning, and progress tracking, while still allowing SLPs to customize every detail. By targeting the most prevalent communication difficulties in early education—articulation and phonological speech sound disorders—the SSS helps clinicians manage the bulk of their workload more efficiently, so they can dedicate more time to students and clients with complex or high-needs profiles.
KEY FEATURES:
SMART SCREENING INTEGRATION
Speech screening forms automatically populate the system with student profiles.
ONE-CLICK PARENT REPORTS
Instantly generate clear, personalized reports based on screening results. These reports link directly to the NVSS TeachSpeech App, so families can begin guided home-based support right away.
AUTOMATED SCHOOL / CLINIC SUMMARIES
System-generated reports outline assessment findings across classrooms or clinics, helping identify students who may require further assessment or targeted intervention.
THERAPY PLAN GENERATOR
Individualized therapy plans are automatically generated - tailored to each child’s screening results and age (plans are developed using a structured approach adapted by NVSS from the foundational principles of the Hodson Cycles framework).
PROGRESS SCREENING + REPORTS
Monitor student progress with tools that compare outcomes across multiple screening periods and auto-generate professional progress updates.
MEETING DOCUMENTATION
Built-in monthly meeting forms make it easy to document school team/family check-ins, track student outcomes, and support organized case management.
SLP SUPPORT SYSTEM
The SLP Support System (SSS) is an advanced back-end system designed exclusively for speech-language pathologists working in school and private settings. Created to significantly reduce administrative overload, the SSS streamlines and simplifies every stage of speech therapy workflow—without compromising professional control or clinical judgment.
Built with flexibility in mind, the system automates time-consuming tasks like report writing, therapy planning, and progress tracking, while still allowing SLPs to customize every detail. By targeting the most prevalent communication difficulties in early education—articulation and phonological speech sound disorders—the SSS helps clinicians manage the bulk of their workload more efficiently, so they can dedicate more time to students and clients with complex or high-needs profiles.
KEY FEATURES:
SMART SCREENING INTEGRATION
Speech screening forms automatically populate the system with student profiles.
Individualized therapy plans tailored to each student’s unique needs and goals.
Extensive staff training to build the skills and confidence needed to effectively support students.
All necessary materials and resources to deliver structured, evidence-based intervention.
Home-programming to provide families with tools and guidance to support speech development beyond the classroom.
On-going staff support to ensure long-term success.