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Letter from the CEO
Dear Member of the SpeechEasy Community:
Welcome to the fourth issue of "Let's Talk," the newsletter dedicated to the interests of the SpeechEasy community, designed to help you learn more about fluency as well as issues affecting people who stutter. Whether you are new to SpeechEasy or consider yourself a "veteran," we thank you for taking an interest in our company and our product. Please take a moment to review our newsletter, which covers a variety of topics.
This issue features a compelling article by John M. Williams, a person whose unique perspective about stuttering spans more than 53 years. John takes us through the experience of growing up with a stutter by highlighting the lives of three young men, all of whom are now increasing their fluency with the use of SpeechEasy. John's article originally appeared in Exceptional Parent magazine.
We are also pleased to announce that as of February 15, 2006, all orders of the SpeechEasy device include the second memory option as a standard feature.
As a result, we can now eliminate the 2nd memory option cost of $200 - this is just one example of our continuing effort to make SpeechEasy as effective and affordable as possible.
Another important article in this edition details our exciting relationship with Healthcare Reimbursement Solutions (HRSI). HRSI is working with Janus to assist SpeechEasy users with possible reimbursements from their private insurance companies for their SpeechEasy device, both before and after purchases of the device have been made. As a part of that process, HRSI has been educating local and regional insurance payers about SpeechEasy's effectiveness, as well as identifying what would be a reasonable and customary reimbursement amount. To apply, go to: http://www.speecheasy.com/healthcare_reimbursement_solutions.pdf.
In this issue we also have two inspirational articles from two SpeechEasy users: Anthony Johns, the 22-year-old from Georgia who was featured on the NBC program, "Three Wishes," and Pamela James, a 37-year-old from New Jersey who was so determined to get a SpeechEasy that she called all around the country until she found a way to get a device that was paid for by Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Read more about their stories, which we feel certain you will enjoy.
We have developed an official SpeechEasy Media Statement to ensure consistency and accuracy of message. We are including the statement in this issue to share with you how we answer very specific questions about SpeechEasy. We think you will find the SpeechEasy Media Statement, as well as our list of most Frequently Asked Questions, excellent resources when sharing information about the device with other people.
We've also added in this issue a list of clinical principles which we think will provide added insight to SpeechEasy fluency devices and their significance to those who stutter.
As a part of our annual calendar, we are now getting closer to selecting final candidates for the 2006 Sean Anderson Memorial Scholarship. Sean Anderson was a member of the SpeechEasy community who sadly passed away in February 2004. The scholarship annually awards one Florida youth (between the ages of 8 and 15) a SpeechEasy device and related fitting costs. We will announce the recipient later this year.
Janus' senior management will also begin experiencing some changes in the coming months. Darwin Richards, our President and COO who has served at Janus since the inception of the company, is preparing to change roles. In the next 3-6 months, he will be announcing his retirement and will act as a Senior Advisor instead of day-to-day management of the company. We know this will be an exciting time for Darwin and his family, and although we will be sad not to see him on a day-to-day basis, we are pleased that he will still be providing wise counsel that will continue to guide and shape the growth of Janus and SpeechEasy.
Here at Janus Development Group, we love nothing more than to hear from our clients, Speech Language Pathologists and others who have questions about our product. We continue to search for ways to grow and improve and we recognize that the SpeechEasy community is ever changing and has a significant role in our process. We encourage the development of ongoing efficacy studies, customer feedback research and design.
Thank you for your continued support and input.
We promise to keep you informed and connected to the SpeechEasy Community. Please contact us directly should you have concerns, ideas or if you simply want more information. We'd love to hear from you - Let's Talk!
Best regards,
The SpeechEasy Team,
Janus Development Group
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