Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In Fresno, you can get a free speech evaluation. Early Start helps if your child is under 3, and your public school district helps from age 3. Below you’ll find who to call, what happens next and simple ways to practice at home while you wait.
If something on this list worries you, you don’t need to wait and see. You can ask for a free evaluation right away.
An evaluation is a check of how your child talks and understands words. It usually happens through play, often with a speech therapist.
Early Start is California’s early intervention program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. In Fresno County, Central Valley Regional Center (CVRC) runs it. You can call CVRC yourself.
The school district evaluates children for free from age 3, even before they start school. Your district depends on your home address. In Fresno Unified, call the special education office.
The Fresno State-Scottish Rite Speech and Language Clinic offers speech evaluations and therapy. Graduate students work with your child, supervised by qualified professionals. Call to ask about fees and the wait.
These services are run independently of Speech Blubs.
Watch and respond together.Getting an appointment can take time. Speech Blubs gives you short activities to do together: your child watches other kids say words and make sounds, then tries too.
Pick a topic your child loves, like animals or snacks.
Watch together and pause. Give your child time to look, point or say a word.
Use the word later, at snack time or in a book.
LezlieMom of a toddlerHe looks forward to it every day because we get to take a fun picture.
AnaMom of a 2-year-oldIt's definitely one of my favorite apps right now for my little one.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
NoelleMom, sister of a speech therapistMy sister is an SLP, and she actually told us to download this app for my kid.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
MikeDad of a toddlerGail responds really well to seeing kids his age or a little bit older doing things that he's doing.
Father of a 23-month-oldWhen I tell her it's time to play her game, she runs and gets up on the couch to play.
ChristinaMom of EdenWe aren't completely there, but we're closer than we ever have been.
If your child sees a therapist, ask which activities fit.
The app content is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Czech, Swedish, Polish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Lithuanian and Romanian. You can switch the language in the app menu. Read the language FAQ.
Use a walk, a book, or a snack as a reason to talk together. Follow what interests your child.
At Roeding Park, let your child pick one thing to look at, like a tree or a path. Say two words, like “big tree.” Then wait for a look, a sound or a word. Any park near you works just as well.
Mosqueda Library is at 4670 E. Butler in southeast Fresno. Choose a picture book together. Name what your child points at, then pause so they can try. West Fresno, Sunnyside, Gillis and Woodward Park have branches too.
Hold up two snacks or toys and name each one. Wait a few seconds so your child can look, point or say a word. Then name what they chose. You can find the same words later in a Speech Blubs activity.
Opening hours change, so check the website before you go.
Short answers about free help, costs and the app.
The evaluation is free: through Early Start under age 3, or through your public school district from age 3. School speech services are free if your child qualifies. Early Start therapy may be billed to Medi-Cal or your health insurance. Find free help.
Medi-Cal covers medically necessary speech therapy for children. Private plans differ, so call the number on your insurance card and ask about pediatric speech therapy. Find free help.
Not for Early Start or the school district: you can contact them yourself. Medi-Cal and many insurance plans may ask for a referral from your child’s doctor. Find free help.
Many 2-year-olds put two words together, like “more milk.” If your child doesn’t yet, it’s a good time to ask Early Start for a free evaluation. You don’t need to wait and see. Find free help.
No. It gives you short activities to practice together at home. A speech therapist evaluates your child and plans the therapy. See how the app works.
Speech Blubs is available in English and Spanish, plus 11 more languages. You can switch the language in the app menu. See how the app works.
Speech Blubs is a subscription. You’ll see the current price and any trial in the quiz before you pay. Choose your child’s age.
Start with the quiz to learn about the app for your child.
In Fresno, help with your child’s speech can start close to home. Ask for a free evaluation, then add short talks at a park, a library or the kitchen table.
Fresno has library branches in many parts of the city. West Fresno is on E. California, Mosqueda on E. Butler and Sunnyside on E. Kings Canyon. Gillis is on W. Dakota, and Woodward Park is on E. Perrin. Pick one close to home from the branch list.
The downtown Central Library is closed for now, so choose another branch. Read the library’s update on Central. At home, read a favorite picture book many times. Children often start to join in once they know the words.
Source: Fresno County library: all branches, Fresno County library: Central Library update
Fresno has big parks like Roeding Park and Woodward Park, plus neighborhood community centers across the city. Dickey Youth Development Center is downtown, and Mosqueda Community Center is in southeast Fresno. Pinedale Community Center is in the north, and Frank H. Ball is in southwest Fresno. Find one near you on the city’s parks page.
Keep a park visit short. Find one thing that moves, like a bird or a bike, and talk about it. Say a short phrase, like “bike goes fast,” then wait for your child to answer. One happy moment is enough.
The Fresno State-Scottish Rite Speech and Language Clinic offers speech evaluations and therapy. Graduate students work with your child, supervised by qualified professionals. To join the waiting list, you fill in a form about your child’s history. Call the clinic to ask about fees and how long the wait is.
Medi-Cal covers medically necessary speech therapy for children. Your child’s doctor can talk with you about speech and write a referral. If your child already sees a speech therapist, ask which activities to practice at home.
Source: Fresno State-Scottish Rite Speech and Language Clinic
From age 3, your public school district can evaluate your child for free. Your district depends on your home address. If you’re in Fresno Unified, start with its special education office.
Write a short request for a speech and language evaluation. Mention your child’s age, what worries you and the languages you speak at home. The district then sends you a plan for the evaluation within 15 days. If your child gets Early Start help, ask your service coordinator about the move to school before age 3.
We last checked these details in October 2026.
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