8-31-2024 4:06am

Back to School: Kristin Park Brings Individualized Speech Therapy on the Magic Speech Bus

Lesley Misko Editor

Ed. This article was developed from an earlier "B Inspired" podcast episode from June 2023. "B Inspired" can be found on your favorite podcast platform.

by Jane Stahl

Kristin’s goal of establishing a private practice as speech therapist has found its home in her Magic Speech Bus that is cheerfully and whimsically decorated in primary colors, featuring rainbows and stars.

The beauty of her mobile office is not just in its looks, however. A sign inside the bus lists the ways Kristin’s services promise to enhance the lives of her clients by building confidence through education and practice to give them the power to speak for themselves, to advocate for themselves—to assure them that what they have to say matters.

“Because I like to talk and find joy in working with children, I had plans to teach, but my grandmother lived next door to a therapist and noted that children came to her home office for sessions,” Kristin explains. “My grandmother offered that private practice would be a great idea for me, and her suggestion made perfect sense and set me on a different path.

“And in today’s world, where family time is at such a premium, I felt that if I were able to bring my practice to a convenient location where I could control the auditory environment, it would benefit everyone."

Currently, the bus operates at Amity Community Park, Berks Nature (in Reading), Boyertown Community Park, and Limerick Community Park.

“I explored physical therapy; but a pivotal moment occurred while working with a veteran who sustained head injuries during a tour in Iraq. Recognizing his struggle to regain language so he could communicate triggered something in me that touches my heart today to want to help people find their voice. It’s so liberating and such a strong need to be able to express yourself in language,” she explains.

"One client—a 70-year-old man with Parkinson’s Disease offers that he doesn’t have a speech problem; his wife has a hearing problem, yet often Parkinson’s patients volume of their speech is often affected by the disease."

“Today, the Magic Speech bus offers speech and language therapy to kids of all ages, but is ideally suited for kids ages 2 through 12. But everyone can benefit from therapy,” she adds. There are different needs—some are cognitive; others are biological, genetic issues. Diagnosing the issue is Job #1.

“Often 2-3 year-olds experience language delays or have disorders creating certain sounds—like they can’t make a hard ‘K’ sound. Or if it’s a process or pattern disorder, they may not be pronouncing final consonants.”

Kristin has worked in school settings working with children who have Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s) and in doctors’ offices with clients of all ages—“I've worked with children under a year old to someone 105 years old.

Therapy runs on a seasonal basis. Families purchase treatment packages (multiple therapy sessions per package) to use throughout a single, 3-month season. Many families choose to supplement their child's school-based speech services with Kristin's private services.

"Some families choose to forego school services altogether in favor of the individualized services offered at The Magic Speech Bus," Kristin explains. "I provide guidance to all families to help them choose the best fit for their child."

Much of Kristin's work is with children who have developmental delays in language processing or speech issues. And while it’s sometimes tempting to suggest that parents give the child a little more time, she encourages therapy as soon as an issue is detected to avoid having to un-learn bad habits and to avoid problem behavior that sometimes surfaces because of the frustration involved in not being able to communicate.

“Much of my work is educating—oral awareness, it’s called. The voice is a muscle, and so many parts of the body, the mouth—and face—are involved in speech. The diaphragm that controls breathing, the tongue, the lips, the teeth all play a part. Bringing in the Big Mouth to show how to properly form words is always a big hit—especially with children. We practice where to place the tongue against the teeth, for example, and then we practice.”

Kristin's specialty areas include articulation/speech sound errors, stuttering, early language development, and Gestalt language processing (GLP) but happily treats other as of speech and language.

Vocalists, eager to sustain healthy vocal cords, benefit from the education. Public speakers, politicians, coaches, teachers benefit from learning proper breathing and speaking techniques to avoid strain and damage. And any encouragement to avoid screaming and yelling is a benefit to the world at large!

To arrange for a consultation, visit Kristin’s website www.magicspeechbus.com. Find her on social media or perhaps at community events where she is currently eager to offer tips and techniques to introduce her services to the community.

Kristin Park, Owner/SLP
The Magic Speech Bus LLC
(484) 366 – 1716
kristin@magicspeechbus.com