Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Badger McGloine.
Laura, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always been a social butterfly with a knack for helping others. As I teen I was the organizer, the group planner and a dedicated gymnast who spent time volunteering and babysitting for family friends. I grew up in a little bubble of upstate NY, and didn’t really know which direction I wanted to go in. I fell in love with Ithaca College and landed in their ‘Exploratory’ freshman program where I took a smorgasbord of classes ranging from graphic design to black and white photography to communication disorders and phonology. I sort of fell into Speech-Language Pathology after caregiving for a few families of children with special needs, and after a solid push from my parents and the professor of the communication disorders 101 course. I had so many wonderful professors at Ithaca, but one in particular really jived with me– Tina Caswell. She had so much energy, she saw the greatest potential in every client and student and her passion for her work just exploded from her body. I wanted to be her! She taught my Augmentative-Alternative Communication class (the use high tech and low tech tools to express your thoughts) and then supervised me with several clients who used these types of technologies to communicate. It was fascinating, and an area of the field that was really exploding (a relative term for 2008, or “pre-iPad era). I ended up completing my Master’s at IC, and really found my love in working with children with multiple, complex disabilities and the fascinating area of AAC and technology. After traveling around Europe for the summer, I returned back to the States, and I randomly ended up in Arlington after my mom saw how cute the town looked from HGTV’s House Hunters! I took my first job for my Clinical Fellowship year at a collaborative school in Billerica. I’ve lived in Arlington since 2010, and my husband and I purchased our first home here in Arlington last year.
My parents own their own business, and I’ve always admired their hard work. I have my Dad to thank for my work ethic and social personality (he’s practically Mr. Mayor of our small town), and my mom for organization and business mind set. They don’t know how to sit still either, and if you ask my husband and friends– I’ve inherited that as well. I have specialized in augmentative-alternative communication by attending every course, workshop or reading blogs and following groups to keep me on top of my game in this field. I wanted to be the expert, and have done so in this niche of SLP. I want to have the latest knowledge of what is available for my clients and help give children and adults a voice. When my school day was done at 3PM, I was still craving more. I started treating a few clients after school privately, and loved working in-homes directly with families. It was real-life language therapy, where I felt I was making and seeing a huge impact. There is a real need for treatment and parent training on how to implement high tech communication technology, especially in the Boston area. Many families seek AAC evaluations from local hospitals, and are sent home with new excitement and hope for their children who may finally have a voice. However, they need further intervention and explicit training on how to implement this technology with their loved ones. I quickly discovered many families to not have the time or ability to travel to an office for outpatient therapy, and I decided to start coming to them to provide these services. I officially started Badger Speech Therapy in August 2012, and have grown each year ever since. I am grateful for the referrals from local colleagues, especially Boston Children’s Hospital and the ongoing collegial relationships I have made through collaboration in and around Greater Boston.
Has it been a smooth road?
My main challenges are maintaining a work-life balance. I am an over-achiever and when it comes to working with people and having the opportunity to give someone a voice– I just can’t say no. My business is my hobby and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to impact the lives of so many people.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Badger Speech Therapy is a private speech-language/communication therapy business that provides therapy within your home or community environment. This means that I come into your home and work with your child or family member while training and teaching your family and caregivers how to facilitate speech and language with their loved ones. I specialize in AAC, however I treat people with a host of communication disorders including articulation, phonological disorders, and have a ton of experience working with those with Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, stroke and complex communication needs. I travel to clients within a 30-minute drive of Arlington– Burlington, Woburn, Winchester, Medford, Arlington, Lexington, Belmont, Somerville and parts of Cambridge and Boston– particularly the North End and Charlestown. I am different from other therapists because I go the extra mile for my clients. I facilitate collaboration between home, schools and other therapies to create wraparound, cohesive therapeutic intervention. I specialize in augmentative-alternative communication (AAC) and often am the bridge between clinical evaluations, home and school environments. I’m proud of my reputation and my response rate and communication with my families. I listen to some of the frustrations my clients have within the special education and medical world, and try to alleviate them through the way I handle my business.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Boston is an amazing city for the latest research and support in the area of special education and Speech-Language Pathology, particularly in AAC. Boston Children’s Hospital at Waltham and the Augmentative Communication Program does a tremendous job completing evaluations for children and adults with complex needs, and provide the latest in the field. I feel extremely lucky to be living here and supported in a city of innovation and research. My husband, Daniel and I love to travel the world, but always love to come back to this wonderful city we call home.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.badgerspeechtherapy.com
- Email: laura@badgerspeechtherapy.com
Image Credit:
Maggie King’s Tobii i12 Speech Generating Device
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