Above and Beyond Speech Therapy LLC

10/15/2025

Well this is perfect timing since October is AAC Awareness Month!! There is a character on Sesame Street that uses a talker, and here is another one. I love it!!

PBS Kids’ Carl the Collector is making history again by introducing Paolo, a new character with autism who communicates using a speech tablet. Paolo, voiced by Odin Frost, represents non-speaking individuals and brings more representation in children’s television. Watch Paolo’s debut in the episode “A New Friend,” airing October 13.

10/07/2025

I wasn’t invited 🤣🤣but check out this local resource!!

✨ Join us for our first-ever Accessibility Resource Fair! Come to learn more about local and state disability resources, hear from guest speakers, participate in games, and more!

📅 Wednesday, October 22
🕐 3:00–5:00 PM
📍 Schlow Library, 211 South Allen Street, State College

Hope to see you there!

09/25/2025

Yesterday I read a Pete the Cat book with one of my autistic clients. He’s becoming more and more talkative, and is an earlier language learner, but I still support his communication with his AAC device. It’s an extra visual and using AAC can lead to kids talking more. That’s definitely the case with this kiddo.

I was modeling on my device when we were reading and I was engaging with him and the story. I was working on “AND” and describing words. We were laughing and having fun. Then he says this on his device.

See what he did there? See the picture he is looking at?

His brain is so cool 😎 pretty smart kid if you ask me ⭐️

09/23/2025

I’m not sure about you all, but I am having some big feelings about yesterday‘s news coming out of the White House.  I’ll keep it professional here on this page.

As a speech/language pathologist who regularly works with autistic kids, the news yesterday was not surprising at all. He had to find something by the end of September - and he did. He found a big fat lie. Multiple studies over decades and in mulple countries has shown that this is not true. And the timeline doesn’t even match up with the first diagnosed autistic person and when acetaminophen came out. This is unfounded information - and comes out of the mouth of someone who is supposed to be qualifed and can correctly say acetaminophen ‼️To me, this is not surprising AT ALL but it just makes moms feel even more like 💩 .

To those moms out there who have a neurodiverse kid, I see you. I support you and your kid. And you and your kid are amazing ⭐️

09/22/2025

⭐️ Another AMAZING addition to a local park!!! If you see it before I do, let me know what you think! ⭐️

09/08/2025

I work with some amazing SLPs! Melina, thank you for the birthday decorations when I came to the office today. It was unexpected and such a fun surprise! 💜💜

09/07/2025

⭐️ We are a Centre County favorite!!! ⭐️ Thank you so much to everyone that voted! We are a group of hard working women who want to help as many kids as we can in the time that we have. We are so lucky to work with such great kids and their families!!

Customer Service

08/27/2025

Well that was an unexpected, positive surprise! Thank you for this recognition of all of the hard work that I put into my business - and that my SLPs put into their clients each and every day!

The Quality Business Awards recognizes businesses that achieve an average quality score of 95% or greater over the previous 12 months. To learn more about our selection criteria, please click here.

08/22/2025

It's back-to-school time - and there are some great activities in the area that are starting up and you can check out. Harminis is one of those wonderful groups that all kids love to join. I personally have gone to many performances and there isn't a dry eye in the house! It's the absolute best time. Check out their info! It will also be on the board in clinic.

08/06/2025

Did you know that State College just opened an all abilities playground? It's quite amazing!!! Whitehall Road Regional Park is open and available for everyone to make memories!

CRPR has hit some delays as it puts the finishing touches on a project that’s been in the works for two decades.

07/31/2025

We're hiring! Looking for a speech therapist/ SLP (no CFs) for a K-8 in-person school position in State College for the 2025-2026 school year. Paid for direct and indirect time - both completed during the school day. VERY reasonable caseload and responsibilities.

Requirements:
PA teaching certificate
PA state license
ASHA C’s
All clearances

Please email Emily at emily@aboveandbeyondspeechtherapy.com with your resume. Thank you!

**Please share with any other SLPs that may be interested. Thank you!! **

07/25/2025

⭐️ Did you know that there is an indoor play space opening in State College in the fall? It’s called Little Lions Play Den and it will be located where Kid to Kid was previously. It’s very exciting! ⭐️

I have reached out to the owners to see how I can help to make it as inclusive as possible for all kids with all types of skills and gifts! I have suggested the following: Trampolines, crash pads, swings from the ceiling, tunnels, and yoga balls are some big gross motor things that would be great. Anything with textures or lights or vibrations would be great too. I personally also love blocks, the big cardboard ones and regular wooden littler ones, Duplo Legos, balls, cars, car ramps, bubbles, chalkboard/chalk, doll houses and pieces, and books!!!

🌺🌺What else would you include?🌺🌺

I’m also encouraging them to put up a large AAC board like this one ⬇️ for kids who might be minimally speaking as it can be hard to take an AAC device to a playspace like this. It will be good for other kids and families to be see this and be aware of what it can do for kids. We’ll see what happens! But it’s very exciting to have this new small business in our town!