https://www.connectgroupal.com/home daily 1.0 2020-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1607976028182-2LNI1QY4GB67GSWQVE3E/bhamspeechtherapy.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1606539393388-WFTGX5YZ3OW5KMXQBKIE/connectkidsspeechtherapy.jpg Home - We’re excited, too! All of the speech therapists at Connect have a masters degree, as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. We are also each licensed by the Alabama Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology. We have extensive experience working with children with a variety of speech and language challenges. https://www.connectgroupal.com/faq daily 0.75 2020-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1606623740011-9R4A321W1GG3FTR0ZRKE/dragos-gontariu-JgEkrsLQd_w-unsplash.jpg FAQ identifythesigns.org asha.org teachmetotalk.com praacticalaac.org speechandlanguageathome.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1606540802146-JZZGW4G8DXWEPE9W563N/shutterstock_777897493.jpg FAQ https://www.connectgroupal.com/about daily 0.75 2024-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1606619131895-HT67M869AQL0OBQ7B5VK/birminghampediatric.jpg About - And at Home Parental involvement is highly encouraged, and we help with implementing modeling strategies and coaching for conducting practice of skills at home. It is extremely important that the skills your children learn in speech therapy at Connect carry over to their every day lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1606365894133-JOC94DN10D0WQ844L16R/speechtherapykids.jpg About - What to Expect At Connect, all assessment and treatment sessions are conducted by licensed and certified speech-language pathologists. We use research-based methods to implement lasting change and find true joy in each child’s progress and success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1606365852549-207XZE5AC947EJEG1BPQ/bhamspeechtherapy.jpg About - At the Clinic Most often, speech therapy sessions are scheduled weekly, but other options are available to fit the needs of the client and family. Specific goals are set and data is kept, recorded and analyzed so that progress can be monitored and shared. During a session, the therapist will work one-on-one with the child in a variety of play and skill-based activities. Sessions are fun and individualized to meet the child’s developmental level and specific needs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1606613654215-VNXZ7NNU3U3DKJFXEPTA/connectspeechtherapy.jpg About - Insurance Blue Cross and Blue Shield AllKids Medicaid Private Pay options *We do not currently accept secondary insurance policies outside of those listed above. We are happy to provide a superbill for client submission. https://www.connectgroupal.com/team daily 0.75 2025-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/b9114736-fdae-49a4-a078-6a39adb02b1b/court.png Team Courtney Hamilton, MS, CCC-SLP Founder + Director Courtney is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. She graduated from The University of Alabama in 2008, and she received her Master of Science degree for Communication Disorders at The University of Montevallo, where she graduated with highest honors. Courtney is LAMP certified, received specialized training in Hanen’s It Takes Two To Talk approach in New York, and is a member of the Apraxia Kids directory of SLPs. She has worked in a variety of settings including preschools, public schools, a multi-disciplinary pediatric clinic, a diagnostic center, and hospitals. Courtney has experience working with children of all ages with communication delays and disorders. She is passionate about providing individualized, meaningful care for all clients, while making therapy fun and enjoyable. Email Courtney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/8ed8058a-de09-4b4d-bf1e-f4bb3c05fe55/emma.png Team - Emma Walker, MS, CCC-SLP Emma is so excited to be a part of the Connect team! She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders, and her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Alabama. Emma has worked in a variety of settings including early intervention, private practice, and a multi-disciplinary pediatric clinic. She has experience working with children of all ages with an array of speech and language delays and disorders. These include speech-sound disorders, language delay, fluency disorders, and speech-language disorders resulting from autism spectrum disorder. Emma enjoys working with families to help their children feel confident communicating and expressing themselves to their loved ones. Email Emma https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/49e5b22a-b4f7-42be-91ac-2b9d7755cfbe/emmalie.png Team - Emmalie Aldag, MS, CCC-SLP Emmalie received her Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders from the University of Alabama. She graduated with highest honors and received her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of South Alabama. Emmalie spent her final semester of graduate school working with and getting to know the families here at Connect. She has treated pediatric patients with feeding, fluency, speech/language delays and disorders subsequent to developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, among others. She has experience in diverse settings such as hospitals, multidisciplinary pediatric clinics, and public schools. Emmalie’s interest in the field of Speech-Language Pathology is based on her passion to meaningfully impact the lives of children and families affected by communication deficits. She strives to provide an encouraging, fun and safe environment to increase confidence to communicate and to support families through the process. Email Emmalie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/80440163-b32a-42bc-9b80-39d9f1f27af4/kassidy.png Team - Kassidy Locke, MS, CCC-SLP Kassidy received her Bachelor of Science in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences from Auburn University, and her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Montevallo. She has clinical experience working in multi-disciplinary pediatric settings, public schools, skilled nursing facilities, and pediatric private practice. Kassidy has a proficiency in the Spanish language after taking over 6 years of Spanish in school! She has treated children of all ages with a variety of speech and language disorders including speech-sound disorders, language delay, fluency, childhood apraxia of speech, speech-language disorders resulting from autism spectrum disorder, and speech-language disorders secondary to a variety of genetic disorders. She is passionate about patient advocacy as well as caregiver education to give every child a voice! Email Kassidy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/6f13d6c5-85f4-4159-a7e7-cc869f16685e/8467898d-f2b4-4eff-adcf-cbaedf79bbca.png Team - Maddie Harris, MS, CF-SLP Maddie is thrilled to begin her professional career here at Connect! She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Kentucky. During her graduate studies, she gained valuable hands-on experience in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, public schools, and pediatric private practice. Maddie has worked with children presenting with a wide range of communication and developmental needs, including speech and language delays, communication disorders resulting from autism spectrum disorder and various genetic disorders, social communication difficulties, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and pediatric feeding difficulties. Maddie is committed to creating a positive, engaging, and supportive environment that fosters growth, confidence, and progress in communication and development. She is passionate about supporting and guiding families every step of the way! Email Maddie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/024527c1-2f88-4852-a546-ec1aeb55e6e7/526caece-9571-40f0-8941-184b69fe17cd.png Team Valerie B. Chavers, MS, CCC-SLP Valerie is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. She received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from The University of Alabama in 2011. While teaching third grade, Valerie encountered and worked with many children with speech and language disorders. Feeling called to pursue a career in speech pathology, she returned to school. She received a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Alabama in 2016. Valerie has worked in a variety of settings including preschool, early intervention, hospital, and a multi-disciplinary pediatric clinic. During her time as a speech pathologist she has been blessed to have had the opportunity to work with many children with various speech and language disorders. These include childhood apraxia of speech, fluency disorders, speech-sound disorders, language delay, and speech-language disorders resulting from autism spectrum disorder, Rhett syndrome, Hunter syndrome, and Down syndrome, among others. Valerie's specialties include language development and speech sound disorders. She is very excited to be here at Connect, following her passion of helping children reach their full potential and families reach their goals! Email Valerie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/7cbdf53c-1fe6-486c-82cd-0b0344b6204d/sarah.png Team Sarah H. Brooks, MCD, CCC-SLP Sarah is thrilled to be part of the Connect team! She is a licensed and certified speech language pathologist with the state of Alabama and Georgia and the American Speech and Hearing Association. She is a graduate of Auburn University where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree, Master of Science Degree and a Master of Communication Disorders. She has worked with children of all ages in both the public school and private practice settings. Her specialties include articulation, phonology, pragmatics, language and fluency disorders. She has experience working with autism spectrum disorders as well as developmental speech and language delays. She is passionate about helping children communicate so they can make their voices heard! Email Sarah https://www.connectgroupal.com/services daily 0.75 2025-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610666437526-A0XW40QQSD8MD4WMPDNN/artic.png Services - Articulation and Phonology The production of speech sounds. When a child has difficulty producing specific sounds, speech intelligibility decreases, and the listener may not understand the child’s intended message. Phonological processes are patterns of sound errors that typically developing children use to simplify speech as they are learning to talk. These processes are considered normal unless they persist beyond the age when most typically developing children have stopped using them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610641303788-2X79Z931L6MJFXGT8EEF/image-asset.png Services - Executive Function Involves the cognitive skills needed for task initiation, impulse control, focus, time management, working memory, accepting change, task completion, organization, and self-regulation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610666501286-81K1VMBS0HV1H9N26S5A/tele.png Services - Stuttering Stuttering involves repeating parts of words, stretching a sound out for a long time , or having a hard time getting a word out. Stuttering also may include tension and negative feelings about talking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610641064897-S71PAZPGDAJ029NB1KHW/image-asset.png Services - Language Delay This occurs when a child is having trouble using language in some way, shape, or form. Each child with this diagnosis looks very different. Some have difficulty putting words together to form sentences. Some have difficulty using the correct vocabulary and words. Others have difficulty sequencing information together into a logical manner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610641360763-S04DLME27IGSU9BI03S4/Untitled+design.png Services - AAC Augmentative and alternative communication involves all the ways people share their ideas and feelings without talking. AAC can include gestures, signs, picture symbols, and high-tech voice output systems. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610640937343-91VFK1J3WG4DOW58L6JN/image-asset.png Services - Receptive Language The ability to listen and understand speech. This includes understanding sentences, following directions, understanding a story, or basic concepts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1612219599945-5HYL4XH60QKZTPMPRK6Y/apraxia.png Services - Apraxia A motor speech disorder that affects the way the body is able to produce speech. Motor speech disorders are neurological in nature, meaning a child’s brain has difficulty coordinating the different body parts needed to produce speech. As a result of these struggles, children with apraxia can be difficult to understand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610641005553-DG2FB133NM54P79VZBLO/image-asset.png Services - Expressive Language The ability to express thoughts and ideas. It includes using sounds, gestures, and words. It also involves grammar, content of the message, and vocabulary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610641707314-9B9Y6I7ODDGP1UB3EZ83/image-asset.png Services - Social Language The language skills we use in our daily interactions. This includes what we say, how we say it, and our body language. It also includes the ability to judge what is expected in different situations and changing our language based on the needs of the listener and situation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610639176460-0LG89YQ3DHH1NP6OGAAV/speechkidsbham.jpg Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610639248130-EFW84VMOU656EWEBQFDA/data.png Services - Data How do we know if our clients are making adequate progress in therapy? Data will tell us if our interventions are working! At Connect, our therapists dynamically collect data throughout sessions and track this data over time to measure change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbeeaaef9866f3fd2c8dede/1610639319274-A73E9702TKWLVM2GH31V/parent.png Services - Home Program Each child that receives therapy from Connect will also receive home practice to be completed with parents and caregivers. Parents play an essential role in their children’s progress. Parents have more opportunities throughout the day to experience, interact, and communicate during meaningful, everyday situations. It is important to implement home programs to ensure new skills are generalized and carried over to new environments. https://www.connectgroupal.com/connect daily 0.75 2025-08-25