Coteau-du-Lac resident Lyne Pelchat is the day-to-day Executive Director of the Regroupement TDL Québec (Trouble développemental du langage). Néomédia met with her, knowing that the head office of the organization representing the whole of Quebec is located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

It was a perfect opportunity to talk to her about the International Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day, held on October 18, and the Semaine québécoise du trouble développemental du langage , which ran from October 20 to 26. “There is a crying need for recognition of this disability, which affects 650,000 Quebecers (over 7%), “ she confirmed.

Here are three of the Regroupement TDL Québec's main objectives:

- The creation of an interdepartmental committee made up of elected officials and TDL experts to coordinate the efforts of the various ministries involved.

- Make representations to the Quebec government to improve lifelong support for people living with LDD.

- Classify SLD as a specific disorder rather than a physical disability like ASD, as is currently the case.

During Quebec's Developmental Language Disorder Week, Quebec was one of the most illuminated places in the world: 41 municipalities and 2 MRCs were lit up with the yellow and mauve colors associated with the TDL movement,” said Lyne Pelchat, ” and even the party leaders at the National Assembly wore the yellow and mauve ribbon. She considers it an important step forward that the government is increasingly aware of the TDL reality.

The Executive Director, who has been in post for 2? years, recounts that “ the organization, which has existed since 1958, has changed its name 4 times: in 1958 it was called audimudité, in 1980 dysphasia, in 2004 primary language disorder, and in 2017 TDL.

“ Currently in Quebec, the Ministry of Health and Social Services covers the needs of people with developmental language disorders up to the age of 5. After that, it depends on the services offered by each Centre de services scolaires, or by families, and the situation is very uneven in this respect," explains Ms. Pelchat. “ It's often an invisible ailment that badly needs to be made visible,” she adds.

“ TDL may be formally diagnosed by a neuro-psychologist only, and indicated in the observations and conclusions of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, and not diagnosed by them as such,” observes Ms. Pelchat. “ The cost of such diagnostic evaluations usually exceeds $2,000, and families can't afford it. It should be the government's role to cover these costs ,” she argues.

According to the Regroupement TDL, which comprises 11 regional associations, 9 of which are members of the main Regroupement in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield : “our No. 1 priority is, above all others, to succeed in creating an interministerial committee, bringing together at least 4 ministries - the MSSS, Education, the Family, Labour and even Higher Education - as well as the professionals who work with TDL, to help move the issue forward,” says the General Manager.

A lot of information can be found on the Regroupement TDL Québec website and on their Facebook page.