Every person deserves a voice. Every individual has a valuable "song" to sing.
Songbird Speech and Family Services, PLLC
Every person deserves a voice. Every individual has a valuable "song" to sing.
Welcome to Songbird -We're so happy you're here!
About Us
Songbird Speech and Family Services, PLLC is a niche, neurodiversity affirming private speech therapy practice that is really so much more. We are led by a mother-daughter duo with a combined over 22 years of experience in special education!
Songbird was born out of a desire for better care, better support, and a mission for every person's "song" to be heard – in any and every communication modality!
We specialize in:
-Affirming, personalized support & advocacy for Autistic and neurodivergent children, teens & adults
-Echolalia/Gestalt Language Processing
-Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC)
- Early childhood bilingual speech and language development (ages 2-5 years)
- Teen and adult affirming & trauma informed social communication therapy
-Total communication approaches incorporating AAC (Alternative and Augmentative Communication)
Meet The Founder
Kierstin M. Barth, M.A., CCC-SLP/L is the Founder, Owner, and Lead Speech-Language Pathologist at Songbird Speech. She is a Speech-Language Pathologist in her 5th year in the field specializing in neurodiversity affirming, client/child-led therapy, trauma informed interventions, gestalt language processing/echolalia, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and early childhood bilingual speech and language. Kierstin’s passion for working with neurodivergent children and individuals can be traced all the way back to her time assisting her mother, who is a Special Education Teacher, in her classrooms during her high school years.
Kierstin has extensive experience in her specialty areas. She is NLA (Natural Language Acquisition) trained through Meaningful Speech, and additionally has training in AAC & GLP. A unique component of Songbird is that Kierstin had the opportunity to work directly for renowned Speech-Language Pathologist Alexandria Zachos in her private practice where she received highly specialized mentorship and coaching in affirming strategies for working with child and adult gestalt language processors and autistic individuals. Additionally, Kierstin currently works part time with the Meaningful Speech team, and full time during the school year as a Bilingual (English/Spanish) Speech Language Pathologist in a preschool setting where she pursues her love for working with the little ones and bilingual families.
Accessibility, inclusivity, lifelong learning and respect for different ways of being are at the forefront of Kierstin’s mission with Songbird. Connect with us today to learn more about how Songbird Speech can help highlight you or your child's individual strengths, while supporting overall communication development and authenticity!
Kierstin's specialized trainings and certifications include:
- Meaningful Speech - NLA Trained Clinician - AAC/GLP Trained Clinician
- Learn Play Thrive - UNMASC - Understanding Needs and Motivations of Autistic Social Communication
-Attuned Speech - Trauma Informed Practice for SLPs
-Infant/Toddler Caregiver and Me Speech & Language Support Groups
-IEP Case Management
Terri A. Barth, M.Ed., LBS1
Terri A. Barth is Kierstin's mother and Co-Director at Songbird Speech. Terri has over 17 years of professional teaching experience in the world of special education and has additionally worked extensively in educational consulting. Terri is trauma informed in her approaches and has extensive experience in supporting children and students with social-emotional learning and regulation. Although Terri has worked in special education nearly her full professional career, she recognizes that the field is ever evolving and prioritizes staying up to date on current best practices and neurodiversity affirming approaches. Terri supports Songbird Speech with client contacts and onboarding, marketing, and IEP/educational support consultations.
Terri's experience and specialized trainings include:
- 16 years of both Resource and Self Contained Classroom teaching & co-teaching
- Specialized training in small group and whole group instruction, Read 180, Dyslexia, Autism, & Social-Emotional and Intellectual disabilities
- IEP Case Management
- Initial Evaluation/3 Year Reevaluation
- Neuropsychological Assessment Review and Interpretation
Our Unique Approach
Songbird is a neurodiversity affirming, trauma informed communication therapy and family services practice which strives to honor and appreciate differences. We are proud to offer a relationship based, client-led approach to communication therapy, instead of the harmful behaviorist or compliance based focus that is often recommended to neurodivergent and autistic individuals.
Parent coaching sessions are highly individualized and teach how to support increasing speech, language and social emotional skills naturally within the home environment through family specific daily routines, play, or interest focused activities.
Services With Songbird
Virtual parent coaching - offered in English and Spanish! - Se ofrecen las consultas para padres en inglés y español
Convenient virtual or in home speech & language therapy services in DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle Illinois & surrounding areas! We come to you!
Convenient virtual or in home speech & language therapy services in DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle Illinois & surrounding areas! We come to you!
Looking for specialized guidance on how to support your child's speech, language, or social communication development?
Need some help in effectively supporting your child through the Natural Language Acquisition stages to true self-generated language without the commitment of weekly therapy sessions?
Need assistance scoring NLA language s
Looking for specialized guidance on how to support your child's speech, language, or social communication development?
Need some help in effectively supporting your child through the Natural Language Acquisition stages to true self-generated language without the commitment of weekly therapy sessions?
Need assistance scoring NLA language samples to determine the primary NLA stage and support needed for your child?
Look no further!! We offer parent coaching in neurodiversity affirming care and education for autistic individuals, gestalt language processing/NLA, AAC, early language development, bilingual/multilingualism and affirming social communication.
We are happy to review home videos, provide NLA language sample analysis and determine appropriate supports within the NLA framework. With Songbird, you will also receive informational handouts and gestalt communication log tracking materials to support your own learning and education as well!
Se ofrecen los servicios de entrenamiento para los padres en espanol!
Convenient virtual or in home speech & language therapy services in DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle Illinois & surrounding areas! We come to you!
Convenient virtual or in home speech & language therapy services in DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle Illinois & surrounding areas! We come to you!
Convenient virtual or in home speech & language therapy services in DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle Illinois & surrounding areas! We come to you!
Direct speech therapy sessions can be provided virtually or in home for early childhood aged children, teens or adults in the DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle IL area and surrounding locations!
NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS FOR FALL 2024 AFTER SCHOOL/EVENING SESSIONS!
Early childhood services (ages 2-5) are able to be offered bilingually in English an
Direct speech therapy sessions can be provided virtually or in home for early childhood aged children, teens or adults in the DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle IL area and surrounding locations!
NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS FOR FALL 2024 AFTER SCHOOL/EVENING SESSIONS!
Early childhood services (ages 2-5) are able to be offered bilingually in English and Spanish. Los servicios directos para los niños de 2- 5 años se ofrecen bilingüe en ingles y español!
Limited openings are available! If interested, please reach out today by email or phone at our contact listed below for a FREE initial consultation to find out if Songbird Speech might be the right fit for you or your child's needs!
School/clinic staff training, clinician coaching, presentation services, and IEP review and support
Convenient virtual or in home speech & language therapy services in DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle Illinois & surrounding areas! We come to you!
School/clinic staff training, clinician coaching, presentation services, and IEP review and support
At Songbird, we are passionate about educating others on neurodiversity affirming best practice! Songbird offers staff training and clinician coaching/consultation in gestalt language processing/NLA, autism, neurodiversity affirming social communication, early childhood speech and language, AAC and bilingualism.
Songbird is proud to additi
At Songbird, we are passionate about educating others on neurodiversity affirming best practice! Songbird offers staff training and clinician coaching/consultation in gestalt language processing/NLA, autism, neurodiversity affirming social communication, early childhood speech and language, AAC and bilingualism.
Songbird is proud to additionally offer IEP review and support. We have extensive school based experience and specific expertise in determining appropriate, neurodiversity affirming goals, interventions and supports within the IEP framework. Our lead SLP can review current IEPs, answer questions, and offer suggestions and recommendations for improvements from an affirming, respectful lens.
We also offer staff trainings/presentations! Reach out to us for information on pricing. In person presentations offered in DeKalb/Sycamore and surrounding areas, and virtual training/presentations are also an option.
Getting Started With Therapy Is As Easy As ...
#1 Initial Consultation
#1 Initial Consultation
#1 Initial Consultation
A 15 minute initial phone call is FREE to consult and determine if speech and language services with Songbird Speech may be the right fit for you or your child's needs.
#2 Evaluation
#1 Initial Consultation
#1 Initial Consultation
We use a holistic, comprehensive assessment including parent/client interview, observation, and informal measures such as language sampling during client/child led and/or play based activities to determine if there may be a need for speech and language support and intervention.
#3 Start Therapy!
#1 Initial Consultation
#3 Start Therapy!
Begin weekly or biweekly summer 2024 therapy sessions, virtually, in home or in the community!
Affiliations and Certifications
