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When Willa was about one year old, her parents noticed she wasn’t babbling or talking as much as they expected. By age two, they talked with her pediatrician, who suggested a speech assessment at Nationwide Children’s. The family also reached out to Help Me Grow on their own. Both assessments showed that Willa could benefit from speech support. Hearing this was comforting for Jennifer and Jacob. As first-time parents, it helped them understand what was going on and what to do next.

Today, Willa talks all the time. Having words has helped her share her thoughts, feelings, and personality. She tells friends and family “I love you,” shows her silly sense of humor, and even lets everyone know when she has a strong opinion. Being able to communicate has helped her make closer connections with others. Her parents say they really know who she is now, and that means everything to them.

Willa received speech therapy in two ways: private practice sessions and home visits from Karen, her Early Intervention Speech Therapist. Jennifer and Jacob appreciated Karen’s style. Karen explained the big picture without overwhelming them. She also showed them what to practice between visits so Willa could keep improving.

Jennifer, who has a background in mental health, knows progress takes time and practice. With the right tools and support, the family felt confident helping Willa every day.

One of Jacob’s favorite memories was hearing Willa sound out a word while looking at a book. He was deeply moved and proud of how far she had come.

Speech has opened up Willa’s world. She talks about everything she sees, sings along to music at home, and loves to “boss” Mom and Dad around. She has built strong relationships with Karen and others and shares her personality more freely.

This fall, Willa will start preschool. She qualified for speech services through the school so she can keep working on her articulation skills. Her parents are excited to see her make new friends and continue learning.

The Early Intervention team helped the family try new things in the community. They went to a painting party and story time at Art & Clay on Main. They said they might not have tried an activity like that without the invite, but now they know they can.

The family also appreciated how easy the EI process felt. They were concerned that working with multiple agencies might be difficult the coordination worked well for Willa. Their team was responsive, supportive, and met them where they were. They were especially grateful for the guidance they received as Willa prepared to move from Early Intervention to school-based services.