SmallTalk Speech & Language Therapy

04/03/2026

Im going to listen while Im on the rowing machine later!

Part 1 of a 3-part series on evidence-based practice and its role in supporting non-speakers and gestalt language processors.

03/03/2026

This is really good!

The Untypical Parent™ Podcast · Episode

03/03/2026

This doesnt surprise me!

03/03/2026

I’d love to open up a constructive conversation about early speech and language support.

Recently, a parent shared their experience with me. Their child was diagnosed with speech and language delay early on. They attended a clinic session, were given a worksheet to work through at home… and that was the end of the SLT involvement.

They left feeling lost.

Not because the advice was wrong.
Not because the therapist didn’t care.
But because they didn’t yet understand the bigger picture.

They didn’t know:
• What exactly was delayed
• What progress should look like
• What to prioritise
• How worried to be
• Where to find other families
• Whether they’d see anyone again

For professionals, it can feel like we’ve provided strategies.
For parents, it can feel like being handed responsibility for something huge, without a map.

And here’s the important part: most services are working under enormous pressure. Caseloads are high. Resources are stretched. Waiting lists are long. Clinicians are doing their absolute best within tight systems.

So this isn’t about blame.

It’s about asking: how can we make that first contact more containing, more collaborative, more empowering?

Small changes can make a big difference:
✨ Being explicit about what the diagnosis means (and what it doesn’t mean)
✨ Naming the emotional impact for families
✨ Demonstrating strategies in the room, not just describing them
✨ Agreeing 1–2 clear priorities
✨ Offering a planned review point, even if brief
✨ Signposting to peer support

Parents don’t just need advice.
They need partnership.

Communication underpins behaviour, learning, relationships, regulation, and self-esteem. When we get early support right, we don’t just help a child say more words, we strengthen a whole family system.

If you’re a parent who felt lost after an appointment, your experience matters.

If you’re a professional navigating impossible capacity demands, your experience matters too.

Let’s talk about how we bridge that gap together.

03/03/2026

A really interesting discussion about speech and language delay with Rishi from The Speech Heroes Available on all the usual podcast hosts or here

Libby interviews Rishi Kaushal who has created

02/03/2026

Absolutely!!!

Watch our new video and share it to help us raise awareness of this lifelong condition.

02/03/2026

Absolutely thrilled to present at the Apraxia Kids Conference in Pittsburgh from the 9-11th July 2026. The title of my talk will be 'Do Clinicians Feel Equipped to Treat CAS? Evidence, Gaps, and Practical Implications'.

02/03/2026

THIS IS ALARMING.

Some Local Authorities and schools are starting to talk about the Schools White Paper as though it is already in force.

It isn’t.

➡️ The White Paper is a consultation document.
❌It is not law.
❌Nothing has changed legally for your child.

Right now:

☀️ EHCP legal duties are exactly the same
☀️ The Children and Families Act still stands
☀️ The SEND Code of Practice is still in force
☀️ Your child’s rights have not been removed

If anyone is suggesting support can be reduced, delayed or refused because of “the White Paper”, that is not lawful.

🚨Consultation does not equal implementation.🚨

We know this is noisy. We know it feels unsettling. That is exactly why now is the time to get informed, not intimidated.

☀️ Parents need to know their rights
☀️ Teachers need confidence in the law
☀️ Schools need clarity, not assumptions

Knowledge is protection.

💛 Sign up to Week of 'SEND' to ensure your knowledge of the law protects your children. Our knowledge is power - and we have never needed this more than now - https://sunshineacademy.sunshine-support.org/course/week-of-send-26

✅Please share this.
✅Tag a friend.
✅Tag a teacher.
✅Send it to your WhatsApp group.

Misinformation spreads quickly.
But calm, accurate knowledge is powerful.🥰

We will continue to break this down clearly and responsibly so you know exactly where you stand.

02/03/2026

Part 1 of a 3-part series on evidence-based practice and its role in supporting non-speakers and gestalt language processors.

02/03/2026

Well worth reading

A new original research article on gestalt language processing was just published that we wanted to share with our community, especially because it is written by gestalt language processor, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks ()

One line that stood out to us when reading the article:

“Gestalts were not obstacles to ‘real’ language, but the language itself.”

This perspective aligns exactly with what we teach here at Meaningful Speech. That echolalia is not a barrier to language development, it is language development.

Most importantly, this article centers the lived experience of a gestalt language processor.

Comment “ARTICLE” and we’ll send you a link to download the article! 👇🏼

02/03/2026

Learning mentor wanted for one of our lovely families