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Show M$dml slmll Beam tfo speak Michael Murray is three and one-half vi-ai's old. He can name and match-up all the primary colors. He can tell you iln' names of most farm animals anil v hat they say. This may not sound : 1'iiiarkahle, but for Michael it is. .Michael has a profound hearing loss. His parents, Mike and Rosie Murray i . edit "A Child Shall Speak i oimdation," in Provo for Michael's in ogress. Michael and his mother li.ivel to f'ruvo every week. They ir ually stay from Tuesday to Friday lui therapy and preschool at the I oundatiun Clinic, where Michael is une ol 7.") children with communicative disorders. I'he Foundation, which was started l.y a group of parents of children with communicative disorders in Utah County, helps children with hearing I'jss, cleft palate, delayed speech and language and other disorders that may uslrain a child from reaching his iieatest growth potential. It is patterned alter a program started in Denver and is one of three such clinics in Ihe inlermountain west. Michael has been chosen to represent the Foundation in the United Way of I t.ih County campaign for 1982. His picture will appear on posters throughout thecounty. He has also been a part of several demonstrations presented by the clinic to demonstrate what is possible for a deaf child. "Your child has as much chance as Michael," the Foundation slresses. Michael's parents were told that he would never learn to speak and would have to read lips and use sign language to communicate with others. "I couldn't accept tliat," Mrs. Murray says. When his parents heard of the Foundation, Michael was only two years old. They took him to the clinic and were impressed with the program which claimcs, "No sign language, no lip reading." "They would teach him to speak!" Michael was interviewed and accepted. The clinic has three therapists and two pre-school teachers. Parents become deeply involved in the program. "Drilling Michael is a part of our lives," says Mrs. Murray. Rosie and Mike Murray drill Michael with flash cards, pictures and objects every day. "Right now we are working on the letter T at the beginning, the middle and the end of words," she explained. "We're also helping Michael put nouns and verbs together with pictures, such as 'girl sleep', 'boy walk' and 'dog jump'." "We have learned to insist that Michael ask for what he wants,' so he must verbalize," says Mrs. Murray. Right now the clinic and his parents are preparing Michael to enter kindergarten in public school by age five. "The Foundation has a computer printout which tells about Michael's progress and where he needs help." "By the time Michael is five, we will know if he will be able to communicate with others verbally or will have to use sign language. Michael is going to make it," Mrs. Murray added. Michael wears hearing aids in both ears, which if worn by someone with normal hearing would magnify walking to sound like a herd of elephants. The Foundation also helps parents to accept a child's handicap and shows parents ways to discipline positively. "The Foundation program is a very positive one, says Rosie. According to Rosie Murray, there are six or eight children with hearing losses in Uintah County who could benefit from a clinic. If a clinic could be organized in Vernal to help these children, not only would it save the expense of the trip to Provo or elsewhere, but it would help each child involved achieve his full potential, says Mrs. Murray. "I would be happy to talk to anyone who has a child with hearing problems and learning disabilities," said Rose, whose phone number if 789-4506. 789-4506. She would like to see the Foundation be able to meet the needs of more children with communicative disorders. "If the funding and facilities were available," Mrs Murray said, "it would be possible to start a clinic right here in Vernal." I v .... -'' - A- j. T 'L,y ... I " J IM POSING FOR his picture to be taken is Michael Murray. J If .if w b1 . -l V -Slh. MICHEAL ENJOYS himself on his three wheeler just like other little boys. S C-3 il ' -Ci v f - - - , ) MIKE, MICHAEL, and Rosie are together as a family. ) f., i " 1 , ( - I r - -.1-7' ... y j , y MICHAEL MATCHES the animal with the picture, says what it is and makes the sound it makes. W ' W-W! i' II' ' 'I" Wliii i i, t - ' i - v' ' l - . f " . . - - ' ROSIE DRILLS Michael on his colors. He repeats the color name after Rosie and puts the crayon on the right color. i |