Stars Align Therapy

10/08/2024

Pediatric speech therapy that embraces your child for who they are? I can help!

Reach out today. Book a free 15-minute consultation on our website (Link in bio).
🥳 NOW ACCEPTING AETNA 🥳

🖥: https://www.starsaligntherapy.com/

🤳: 336-589-5406

📩: [email protected]

10/04/2024

💡Thursday October 17

💡10:00-11:00am

💡FREE but space is limited - reserve your space at arboroempowered.com

💡Led by Laura Shumate, Speech-Language Pathologist

💡Arboro Empowered- 5415 Old Lake Jeanette Road

See you then! ~SIGNUP LINK & Picture descriptions in the captions.

08/25/2024

We love a 5 star review 🤩

Image Description: A light pink background with orange letters that state: “Our son feels very comfortable with Laura and really looks forward to sessions with her every week since she makes the sessions so fun and engaging. We have seen such an improvement in our son’s speech and Laura gives us activities that we can work on with him throughout the week.” - Happy Client. In the bottom right hand corner there is a photo of a Laura stacking toy blocks. The Stars Align logo is located on the bottom of the image.

05/10/2024

Come and join me this July at the SHAPE conference! You can grab tickets at the link, make sure to use my code: STARS10 for $10 dollars off through May 31st.

Picture ID:
Purple bold letters at top of the page show “UPCOMING EVENT.” Underneath there is a green box that has black text: Join me at the Shape conference as I present “Have Fun With It!: Play Based Strategies for Speech, Language, and Literacy” In the left corner there is a pink starburst with black text that says: JULY 21. In the green box, below the presentation name, is a colorful S logo, to the left with the word Shape above in white. To the right of the letter is the website: shapeconference.com/ and location Haw River, NC. At the bottom of the page there is a pink and purple graphic that states PROMO CODE.

05/03/2024

Virtual speech therapy is proven to work! You’d be surprised what you and your child can achieve through telehealth. In virtual therapy this week, I supported families to….
🏡 Set up ways to promote speech and language in their home during daily routines
🎤 Trialed assistive tech devices to help their child explore ways to communicate without using verbal speech
📚 Discussed how to advocate for their child at IEP meetings as they transition to prek/elementary school
🧠 Introduced them to the world of neurodiversity to support their child using a strengths based philosophy
🤩 And much much more!

Picture ID: Pink banner across the top and bottom of the page that has black letters inside that state "now booking". Bold black text located at the center reads "Virtual Speech Therapy"
A purple blob is the background of a cartoon desktop computer with a smiley face and thumbs up located in the top left corner. To the left of the image are three bullet points that read:
- Interactive and engaging
- Emphasis on parent coaching
- Accessible across the state of NC

03/15/2024

We LOVED playing with this sensory bin inspired by . 💧Water play is a fun way to keep kids engaged and encourage them to use their imaginations. Squeezing the pom poms with their hands and the juicer was a fun was to practice those fine motor skills 💫

Picture ID: Two children are leaning over and playing with a sensory bin that consists of pom poms of all sizes floating in the water. One child has both hands submerged feeling the various pom Poms, the child on the left has a green fruit juicer with a few pom poms placed inside.

03/01/2024

Spent the morning doing one of my favorite things: reading to kids about disabilities and neurodiversity. Today, we read “A Day with No Words” by Tiffany Hammond (.and.fries ). The story is about an Autistic child who communicates using a tablet. During and after the storytime, the students got to try out using a communication app on an iPad for themselves! Now when they encounter an individual in the community that uses a speech generating device, or some other form of AAC, they’ll know that individual has something to say! Reading books like this one is a great way to support an inclusive future for our children. Communication is a human right, stay tuned to learn more!



ID: Six children are seated on the floor listening to the story. A white woman sits in a chair holding up a book in one hand while an AAC device rests in her lap. She is reading “A Day with No Words” by Tiffany Hammond aloud to the students.

02/23/2024

“AAC” means Augmentative & Alternative Communication. This includes using picture communication boards, high tech speech generating devices/iPad communication apps, and more! I have extensive experience in evaluating, selecting, and supporting implementation of speech generating devices. Establishing a communication system for yourself or your child takes time and expertise. I would love to come alongside you to encourage the best outcomes. AAC can be a powerful, lifechanging tool when thoughtfully selected and implemented. Stay tuned for common myths that keep families from implementing AAC!

Picture description: Laura, a white woman, is standing up while holding an iPad that features LAMP Words for Life, an AAC application. She is looking down at the communication app. She is wearing a white, purple, and navy, flowery top and a navy blazer. She is standing in front of a white background and her shadow is visible.

02/08/2024

02/08/2024

Hi, I'm Laura, the owner of Stars Align Therapy and your friendly local speech therapist! Nice to meet you!

Picture ID:
Slide 1:
Picture of Laura Shumate, a white woman, sitting on the floor, smiling at the camera with books and blocks around her. Underneath the photo in a pink blob is yellow text "Laura Shumate, M.S. SLP" To the right of picture is purple text that states "Meet the speech therapist." Small green polka dots cover the light pink background. A green arrow point to the right.

Slide 2:
Continuation of light pink background and small green polka dots with purple and pink stars scattered on the page. Top right corner shows a photo of Laura holding balloons. In a purple square white text states: About me:
Owner of Stars Align Therapy
NC native
Attended UNCG and Western Carolina
Experience working with children and young adults
Provided services in public schools, daycares, homes, and private practice

Slide 3: Continued light pink background with green dots. Top left corner shows a picture of a woman blowing bubbles. In the bottom right corner is a green square with white text that states: "As a therapist, I love...."
-Supporting Autistic clients
-Finding communication methods that work
-Empowering families to bring about a positive change for their child

Slide 4:
Continued background theme. Photo in top right corner of Laura stacking blocks. A large pink square is in the bottom left corner that states: Specialties:
Supports for Autism
AAC (speech devices, communication boards, etc.)
Early Intervention (birth to 3)

Slide 5:
Continued background theme. Top left corner is a business professional head shot of Laura with her arms crossed. A blue square is located underneath the picture that states: Contact me
336-589-5406
Email: [email protected]
Instagram & Facebook:

02/02/2024

Did you know there’s scholarships that can pay for speech therapy services? NC families, Apply this month!

Image ID in comments.

01/23/2024

01/22/2024

See you tonight!!

01/18/2024

In honor of National School Choice Week, we’re teaming up with Burbrella Microschool to host an open house event! RSVP at the link in our bio!

Image Description in comments.

01/12/2024

When I started my practice, I noticed that the speech therapy field focuses on “fixing” people to the point of overlooking the strengths and individuality of each client. As I’ve learned more about neurodiversity affirming therapy, the way I approach writing goals and conducting sessions has shifted. Clients have more fun and demonstrate more growth when the therapeutic relationship and connection are put first.

Image Description in comments.

01/09/2024

Happy Tuesday! We have been working hard on our s-blends in speech using paint dotters.

💡 Did you know s-blends should be a part of your child’s vocabulary by age 5?

🌟 Concerned about your child’s speech? Click the link in my bio and we can chat!

Sources: Peña-Brooks, A., & Hegde, M. N. (2015).
Shipley, K. G., & McAfee, J. G. (2016).

Image description in comments.