Masonic Children’s Clinic holds open house

Masonic Children’s Clinic for Communication Disorders in Duluth held an open house Thursday to give the community a better look at what the clinic offers.

Eric Neetenbeek, President and CEO of Minnesota Mason Charities, said the clinic has a myriad of free programs to help children and families struggling with communication issues.

“There’s no shortage of need and so we’re very pleased that this clinic is available on a free a basis for children from basically birth to age nine,” said Neetenbeek. “We can help a lot of kids here and we have for a long time.”

Since 1990, Neetenbeek says the clinic has helped more than 2,300 children.

Erin Labat says her son Gus has been through several programs at the clinic and that they’ve made a huge impact.

"The first year we were here, we did one on one with Natalie, our amazing speech therapist and by the time we were towards the ends of that he was able to do 8-step directions and retell a story which is something he never had been able to do before,” said Labat. “Mason Children’s clinic has just changed his life.”

More information on the clinic and its programs offered can be found here.