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Essex County

Speech therapy for kids in Windsor

Windsor's free preschool speech program, Talk 2 Me, is run by Connections Early Years Family Centre, and the John McGivney Children's Centre is the Children's Treatment Centre for Windsor-Essex.

In Windsor the pieces are Essex Preschool Speech and Language (Talk 2 Me) (Connections Early Years Family Centre) before school, John McGivney Children's Centre for rehabilitation to age 19, Windsor Regional Hospital for hospital clinics, and the Greater Essex County District School Board and Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board once a child is in school. Windsor is the only major Ontario city where the preschool speech lead is a family centre rather than a treatment centre or hospital, and intake runs through its early years programs.

Speechie plans virtual appointments for Windsor families once CASLPO registration is confirmed. Until then, this page maps what is free today.

Free and public options in Windsor

  1. 1

    Before school: Essex Preschool Speech and Language (Talk 2 Me)

    Run by Connections Early Years Family Centre. Free, parent self-referral, birth to school entry. Call 519-252-0636.

  2. 2

    In school: 2 boards

    Ask the teacher for a referral to the board's speech-language pathologist.

    • Greater Essex County District School Board
    • Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board

    French-language: Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique Providence.

  3. 3

    Any age: John McGivney Children's Centre

    John McGivney Children's Centre serves Essex County to age 19 and is the SmartStart Hub entry point; families refer directly. Windsor Regional Hospital takes physician referrals for specialty clinics, and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit runs early-years programs.

Services finder Full Ontario guide

What is different about Windsor

Windsor's preschool speech program is run by a family centre, Connections Early Years Family Centre, under the name Talk 2 Me. That means intake happens through an organization that also runs EarlyON drop-ins and parent programs, and families often meet the speech team at a play group before they ever refer.

The John McGivney Children's Centre on Matchette Road is the Children's Treatment Centre for Windsor and Essex County and the SmartStart Hub. Greater Essex County District School Board and Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board both employ speech-language pathologists for school-aged children.

Windsor-Essex has a long-standing francophone community served by Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique Providence, so French-language assessment is available for children in those boards. Private rates in Windsor are generally at the lower end of the Ontario range.

Hospital

Windsor Regional Hospital

Free storytimes

Windsor Public Library

French-language boards

Conseil scolaire Viamonde, Conseil scolaire catholique Providence

Private speech therapy in Windsor

OHIP does not cover private clinics in Windsor; typical 2026 rates are roughly $110 to $180 per hour and $300 to $600 for an assessment (often mid-range in Windsor). Verify any clinician on the CASLPO Public Register, then see the cost guide and questions to ask.

Start at home, today

Questions Windsor families ask

How do I get free speech therapy for my child in Windsor?
Before school, parents refer directly to Essex Preschool Speech and Language (Talk 2 Me), run by Connections Early Years Family Centre (519-252-0636): no doctor referral, no diagnosis, no fee. Once in school, ask the Greater Essex County District School Board or Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board for a speech-language referral, or refer to John McGivney Children's Centre directly.
Which hospital in Windsor has a speech-language service for children?
Windsor Regional Hospital is the hospital route in Essex County; specialty clinics such as feeding, cleft or voice need a physician referral. For most speech and language concerns the community program (Connections Early Years Family Centre) or John McGivney Children's Centre is the faster door.
Does OHIP cover private speech therapy in Windsor?
No. OHIP does not pay for private speech-language pathology in Windsor or anywhere in Ontario. Many extended health plans cover part of it, and fees paid to a CASLPO-registered speech-language pathologist qualify for the medical expense tax credit.
Will Speechie offer appointments in Windsor?
Speechie plans virtual appointments for Windsor families once the clinician's CASLPO registration is confirmed. Until then, use Connections Early Years Family Centre and join the waitlist to be notified.

Nearby cities

London

Middlesex County

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Need help now? Ontario has free options.

Children not yet in school can self-refer to the Preschool Speech and Language Program. No doctor, no fee.

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