Today we’d like to introduce you to Selina Fowler-Patrick
Hi Selina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a speech-language pathologist in the field almost 20 years, I came to the painful realization over the last few years that there are so many more children that need our services than there are therapists to serve them. There are many theories in the field that try to answer the question of why the need for speech-language therapy has skyrocketed in recent years, but that doesn’t offer us a solution. I also started to see that it became more and more difficult to get kids qualified for services through insurance, and even when they did qualify they were forced to be dismissed long before I thought they were ready due to the strict criteria for eligibility. There were also those little ones who fell into that “DNQ gap” as I like to call it, whose deficits weren’t quite severe enough to qualify for services, but perhaps they could benefit from just a little boost to their slightly below average speech and language skills. I felt there had to be something we could offer those children that would help keep them from falling further behind. There is also a continuous and large number of children on a wait list for speech services. Every problem a solution. I knew there had to be a way to get services out to more children and empower parents to facilitate their child’s communication. That’s when I had the idea for Sprinkle of Speech – a weekly, literacy-based speech and language lesson that is offered as an enrichment opportunity in childcare centers, private schools, and early childhood programs in our area. We address speech sounds, language, vocabulary, grammar, social skills, phonological awareness, and much more. Children do not need to qualify or have any diagnosis from a pediatrician to participate, parents may enroll their children in the program just as would soccer or dance. Families receive a weekly newsletter detailing our communication targets for the week and simple ways to work on them at home. The program is not a replacement for traditional speech therapy, but many families have shared that without my program, their child would not be receiving any services at all due to the financial strain and the burden of transporting their child in the middle of the workday to a speech therapy clinic. Since the program is literacy-based with a focus on retelling and sequencing stories, as well as phonological awareness, many parents also enroll their children as a prep for the now rigorous kindergarten curriculum.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The main struggle I’ve faced is the uniqueness of the idea, as there’s nothing else like Sprinkle of Speech! There’s no other program I could reference when originally trying to get partnerships with childcare centers or when I first tried to explain the concept to families. Many childcare center directors were not able to fully understand the benefits of what the program could bring to their little ones, and many did not think parents would be interested in the service. I’m not a salesperson. I’m just a speech therapist with a heart for serving kids who need me. When you have a unique idea that you know can change the course of a child’s future, you expect your vision to sell itself. So, it was hard for me to accept that rejection, as well as encounter many people who just weren’t going to be able to understand the value of Sprinkle of Speech. My goal for my first year of business was to have 10 partners, and I’m thrilled that I have 11! I now know that I just needed patience to wait for the right partners, as the directors and staff of my service locations are amazing educators who understand the need for early childhood intervention and the value to their children that Sprinkle of Speech brings. They support me in whatever ways they can and encourage families to utilize my services when needed. I’m thrilled about my most recent partnership with the city of Pearland, with Sprinkle of Speech being offered through the Pearland Parks and Recreation Department. as an early childhood program for residents of our community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What makes me most proud in my work is when I can see in a child’s face that “lightbulb” moment of understanding. Whether it’s how to make a speech sound, being able to express a new language concept, retelling the story we’ve just read, or being fully understood by their peers when sharing something, instilling that sense of pride and accomplishment is what brings light and purpose to my work. When families share their child’s small victories, “He can say his sister’s name now!” or “We went to a family reunion this weekend and everyone could understand her!” these are the moments I know that I made the right decision to take this path and follow my heart. It’s scary to leave your stable, salaried position mid-life to pursue your passion, but these moments remind me of why I chose to do just that. And you ask what sets Sprinkle of Speech apart? Everything, there’s no other program out there like it!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important thing I’ve learned is to let go of my tendency to over plan every moment and expect everything to go just as I had imagined it. Whether it be a Sprinkle of Speech lesson I’ve planned, the number of children I’d expected to serve my first year, a snow day that required make up lessons, not being the right fit for every parent, technical problems, etc. I’ve had to become more flexible. I’ve learned to embrace every challenge as an opportunity for growth. In those moments I remember that just a year ago Sprinkle of Speech was only a dream, and that I’ve overcome every challenge I’ve faced thus far – I’ll make it through this one too. There are peaks and valleys in all we experience in life, entrepreneurship is no different. But, I stay true to my vision and my purpose – serving kids and their families to make a brighter future for our community.
Pricing:
- $70/month
- ($20/per lesson)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sprinkleofspeech.com
