Speech Works by Elissa

08/11/2025

Back to School Sensory-Friendly Tips ✨

The first week of school can be exciting, and exhausting, for neurodivergent children. New schedules, new people, and new environments can cause sensory overload before the day begins.

1. Keep Mornings Low-Stimulation
• Use minimal noise and soft lighting
• Follow the same steps each morning, dress, breakfast, backpack
• Prepare clothes, backpack, and lunch the night before

2. Pack and Layer in Comfort Items
• Bring chewelry, fidgets, or a sensory stone
• Wear soft, familiar fabrics, even under uniforms
• Keep a discreet sensory tool in pocket or desk if allowed

3. Communicate Triggers & Supports to Teaching Staff
• Share sensory supports like music or movement breaks
• Explain triggers such as loud bells or crowded halls
• Provide signs your child needs a break and reset tools

4. Check for Sensory Fatigue
• Watch for covering ears, avoiding eye contact, zoning out
• Give short sensory breaks before overload happens
• Teach a simple signal to request a break

5. Plan for After-School Decompression
• Offer a quiet, low-light space
• Wait to talk about school until they are ready
• Provide a favorite sensory activity like swinging, weighted blanket, or fidget

💬 Parents and professionals, what other strategies or tips help your child or students transition back to school? Share them so we can help each other.

06/13/2025

You’ve tried everything.
You know your child is smart.
You feel there’s more inside them than the world gives them credit for.

But when it comes to getting your child to talk…
It feels like you’re throwing spaghetti at the wall.

“Why isn’t this working?”
“Why won’t anyone give me real answers?”
“Will they ever be able to speak for themselves… live independently?”

I’ve been on the frontlines with families just like yours—
And I promise: There is a way forward.

Here’s what no one told you:
It’s not about just more speech drills.
It’s about understanding how the whole body learns to communicate—
From muscles to movement to motivation.

Once you understand how speech actually develops (and what’s getting in the way)…
You stop guessing.
You start seeing progress.

If you’re passionate about helping your child talk—
But unsure how to get there—

Drop a 💬 or comment “ready.”
You’re not alone.
And there’s a path to speech. I can show you how.

~ Elissa R. Mandel
Speech Works by Elissa

06/11/2025

📣 Is your child meeting their developmental milestones?

Elissa R Mandel is a speech-language pathologist, autism specialist, and founder of Speech Works by Elissa.

She has helped thousands of children say their first words, take their first steps, and even make their first friend — and now we want to help your family too.

We created this Speech-Language Developmental Milestone Checklist to help you track the exact skills that matter most — from birth to 36 months — and give you real tips you can use at home.

✅ Speech & Language
✅ Motor Skills
✅ Social Development
✅ Auditory Awareness

Whether your child is babbling, crawling, or just starting to respond to their name, this tool shows you what to expect and how to support them every step of the way.

💬 Comment “SPEECH” below and we’ll send you more info!

🔗 : www.speechworksbyelissa.com

This is the resource every parent needs — and we can’t wait to help your child thrive.

05/04/2025

04/29/2025

Did you know your child’s brain is most adaptable right now?

Early childhood is a once-in-a-lifetime window where brain plasticity is at its peak — shaping speech, communication, emotional growth, and lifelong learning.

As parents and educators, what we do during these years matters more than ever.

Imagine if you could unlock your child’s full potential by supporting the way their brain naturally learns to connect, communicate, and thrive!

For a limited time, we are offering a FREE 6-month membership to Climb Rx —
where you’ll get access to the full blog on brain plasticity, exclusive resources, and expert guidance to support your child’s journey.

To get the link and claim your free membership, just comment “Climb” below!

04/15/2025

How Do Muscles Coordinate for Speech?

Speech isn’t just about words—it’s a full-body motor act.
It depends on six main muscle groups working in harmony to produce even one clear sound.

⸻

1. Breathing Muscles (Respiratory System)
Speech starts with the breath.
Diaphragm + rib + abdominal muscles = air pressure and control for steady speech.

⸻

2. Vocal Cord Muscles (Phonation)
The vocal folds in the larynx vibrate to create voice.
If they don’t vibrate right, your child might sound breathy, raspy, or even silent.

⸻

3. Jaw Muscles (Stability)
A strong, steady jaw gives support for lips and tongue.
Without it? Speech gets slurred or mumbled.

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4. Lip Muscles
Lips round (for /w/ and /o/) and retract (for /ee/ and /f/).
These shapes are essential for clear vowels and sounds.

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5. Tongue Muscles
The tongue must elevate, retract, flatten, and move side to side.
Each motion helps form different speech sounds like /s/, /l/, /k/, and more.

⸻

6. Soft Palate Muscles
These lift to seal off the nose during most sounds.
If they don’t? You get nasal or muffled speech.

⸻

So what’s the missing piece?
Oral motor placement therapy helps your child gain control over each of these muscle groups—not just practice words, but build the foundation to say them.

⸻

If your therapist isn’t addressing muscle coordination, your child may be missing the most important step.

✅ Learn the full picture.
✅ Ask better questions.
✅ Choose providers who go deeper.
🔖 Save & share with a parent who deserves to know this too.
✍️ Comment “Speech” and I’ll send you a free training to help you understand the muscles behind speech—and how to start helping your child today.

04/10/2025

Meet Our Speaker – Elissa R. Mandel, Speech Pathologist, ASD Clinical Specialist, CEO of Speech Works by Elissa, Expert at The Aspie World & Co-Founder of ClimbRX.

She will be sharing her insights on "The Cost of Masking for Neurodivergent Individuals: A Wake-Up Call for Educators, Therapists & Parents."

At ICAN USA 2025 – April 17-18, 2025 | Omni Orlando Resort, Florida.

Register Now: https://icanconferences.com/register.html

03/14/2025

Everybody's sensory needs are different. Some people need a lot of input, while others find too much overwhelming. And people's sensory needs don’t exist in isolation. So when two people are required to share a space—like a home or a classroom—and they have opposing sensory needs, this is a sensory mismatch.

One child hums softly to focus, but another can’t concentrate with background noise. A student needs to move and fidget to stay regulated, but their movements distract a classmate. One person craves deep pressure and seeks out big bear hugs, while another feels trapped and overstimulated by unexpected touch.

So how do we handle this? How do we support everyone’s sensory needs without forcing someone to suppress what their body requires?

The key isn’t about choosing one person’s comfort over another’s. It’s about problem-solving solutions that work for everyone.

In our latest article, written by The Occuplaytional Therapist, we explore five key principles for navigating sensory mismatch. To make this process easier, we’ve created a free printable Sensory Mismatch Flowchart that helps you work through real-life situations step by step. It walks you through identifying the sensory need, considering escape options, adjusting the environment, and ensuring the solution works for everyone involved.

Check out the full article and the flowchart here: https://climbrx.com/sensory-mismatch/

If you’ve ever struggled to balance different sensory needs in your home, classroom, or therapy space, you’re not alone. Let’s talk—what strategies have worked for you?

03/10/2025

The Ultimate Sensory Giveaway – 50 Winners! 🏆

To celebrate our soft launch, ClimbRx and SensoryRx are giving 50 lucky winners the chance to take home sensory prizes worth over $6,100—all designed to support movement, play, and self-regulation!

🏅 Grand Prize: Swedish Ladder Gym + Foam Blocks
🌀 4 Winners: SensoryRx Swings
🎒 10 Winners: Sensory Backpacks
🌟 35 Winners: One-Year Ad-Free ClimbRx Memberships

✨ Enter now for your chance to win!
📆 Deadline: April 17, 2025
🔗 Sign up here: climbrx.com/contest or visit the link in bio!

Want to be a winner? Complete extra actions for bonus entries & return daily to boost your chances!

📣 Tag friends & share this post to spread the word—because winners lift each other up! ✨

02/17/2025

🚀 Exciting News! ClimbRx® Has Launched! 🚀

We’re thrilled to introduce ClimbRx®, a revolutionary online community designed for neurodivergent individuals, parents, professionals, and allies. This is your space to connect, learn, and grow with others who truly understand the journey.

💡 Inside ClimbRx®, you’ll find:
✅ Expert-led discussions on autism, ADHD, and neurodiversity
✅ Resources to support communication, independence, and vocational skills
✅ A supportive network of like-minded individuals who “get it”
✅ A safe space to ask questions, share experiences, and find encouragement

For a limited time only, we’re offering 16 months FREE membership so you can experience everything ClimbRx® has to offer!

🌟 Don’t miss out—join now and be part of a community that empowers and uplifts. Click the link to sign up now!

🔗 https://climbrx.com/ref/4/

01/05/2025

Unclear speech can hold your child back, but early support makes all the difference!

Imagine your child confidently saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ instead of mispronunciations.

Don’t let speech delays get in their way—know the milestones, understand the signs, and take action early.

Speech clarity matters for confidence, social skills, and learning. By age 2, 50% of your child’s speech should be understandable, increasing to 75% by age 3 and nearly 100% by age 4-5. Late-developing sounds like /r, s, z, th/ may take until age 7, but knowing when to step in is key.

📝 Comment ‘checklist’ to get our FREE guide on speech milestones and when to seek help!