Thanks & Good Fortune!

Yesterday was my friend Holly's birthday, and we went out this weekend to celebrate! She is an SLP as well, and she and I met through trivia and our dogs, Daisy and Lady. Her family has Gypsy blood, and they do tarot and palm readings. Well, for her birthday we went to a local place, and I got my fortune told via crystal ball (!). The woman immediately asked about my new business venture- wow! She told me that it would be very successful, and not to worry about the bumps in the road coming up in these early months.

Well if you are a frequent flier to this website, you'll know that my website has been down for 2 days because of some mistakes I made with the billing! Weebly and Namecheap were great though, and restored all my content, thank GOODNESS.  I am also managing a re-fax situation with BCBS: I didn't include some pages of the whole application and it got rejected! Even the non-application portions need to be returned, for anyone trying to apply as a provider!

Despite the little hiccups though, there has been an awful lot to be thankful for! I am working alongside some excellent companies and people who are supportive and great role models for me as I start up! 

Executive Function Skills Coach (EFS Coach), run my Lisa, referred by Alex at Social Butterfly, Inc. 
http://efscoach.com/about/
http://www.sbspeechtherapy.com

Lisa is an amazing resource and was a very early advocate for Executive Function in the area. She does not to therapy, but is a former teacher who COACHES kids. She has some AMAZING products, too- I think she said these are the result of 15 years of work with Executive Function. 

Alex was my first contact who offered to help me work through some of those start-up moments as a private speech therapist. She was the first to tell me that this field is so needed, that I should be proud of myself and that in this business world, we collaborate instead of compete! What a great message from someone who has been working for years now, and started in the school system like I did! Alex provides social groups for kids including several integrated philosophies, including the style of Michelle Garcia-Winner. 

The Auditory Connection, run by Donna Turetgen, a community connection!
http://www.auditoryconnection.com

Donna is a fellow product of Rush University Medical Center and an Audiologist in the area! She met with me VERY early on in October and is not only a very like-minded, supportive colleague, but a great cheerleader and new friend. Donna has experience with students who have Auditory Processing Disorders, among others, and notices a real need for work with Executive Function! 

Lakeview Speech and Language Clinic, run by Tracy Trumbell., a former Northwestern classmate of mine!
http://lakeviewspeech.com

Tracy reached out to me during my open houses, and she and I are working together in the Oak Park area (and surrounding suburbs!). She is so smart, positive, and collaborative with everyone in the area- I am inspired by her and hope my business grows alongside hers to help everyone who needs services in our local community!

I also have been cheered on by my former employer at the Center for Speech and Language Disorders (CSLD), and all the amazing people I worked with there, too!
www.csld.org

Yesterday was Giving Tuesday, and if you have the time and extra money, a little goes a long way to help kids who do not have the means get the therapy they need. CSLD is a non-profit speech clinic, and provides programs for social communication and literacy intervention, and can provide a variety of speech services in a 1:1 environment as well!

Of COURSE I couldn't do any of it without my amazing individual supporters- Leelaa, Lara, Linda/Nani, my friends and supporters on facebook for spreading the word, my family, my partner (who helps me with all my technical and internet things when he is not working his full time job!), my D&D buds who are flexible with my open houses, my Doobs (in the UK!), my trivia team, my WAKA kickball friends, one my my rocks Gina and the SugarBeet Co-op in Oak Park (https://sugarbeetcoop.squarespace.com). I am sure I am missing someone or somewhere, but I feel so lucky for all the support and generosity in my life right now. 

Happy Holidays, however you spend them! I hope to hear from you soon and I look forward to meeting you!
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