Hello!
I’m so happy you’re here!
Welcome to Authentic:
your entry into neurodiversity-affirming speech & language therapy!
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” –Audre Lorde
“We do not need to cure neurodiversity. We need to embrace it.”
– Jonathan Mooney
Hannah Sheppard, M.S. CCC-SLP
(she/her)
If you’re looking for inclusive and functional speech therapy to target:
I’m happy to help!
- social communication,
- executive functioning skills,
- self-determination and advocacy,
- articulation,
- receptive and expressive language, or
- speech fluency,
Hi, I’m Hannah!
I’m a speech-language pathologist (SLP) based in Southwestern Illinois. I graduated with my Master’s degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in 2019 and have been a practicing clinician for 4 years. I’ve had the pleasure of working in public and nonprofit schools with students ages 4- to 22-years-old, targeting articulation, receptive and expressive language, social communication, fluency, and executive functioning skills. I am currently a full-time contracted teletherapist for schools around Illinois.
I have experience in many areas, but I have always felt a passion for working with autistic individuals and those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As a neurodivergent individual myself, I have felt the frustration of executive dysfunction and social anxiety that often come with these diagnoses. However, I am grateful for my experiences, because I believe they make me a better and more empathetic clinician for my neurodivergent clients.
The knowledge I have gained in my self-discovery has led to greater understanding of who I authentically am, and this is knowledge that I am so glad to share! I am grateful to be able to provide services for every client I meet, because this gives me the opportunity to experience the vast complexity and uniqueness of humanity. I’m so excited to take this journey with you!
What Do I Do?
I provide fun and engaging neurodiversity-affirming speech and language therapy to clients ages 4 and older (including adults!) in Illinois.
Clients and I work together to target:
- social communication
- executive functioning skills (i.e. planning, organization, problem-solving, etc.)
- self-determination and self-advocacy
- articulation
- receptive/expressive language
- speech fluency
I am here to provide support in whatever areas are needed, but my ultimate goal is for clients to gain independence with these skills. I want you to no longer need me!
I work with my clients to develop their own treatment plan, focusing on what they want most out of therapy.
For school-aged children who already have speech and language goals, I am happy to supplement the treatment that they are already receiving!
Worried about skill regression during summer or winter breaks? I provide services year-round to ensure my clients make and maintain their gains.
What I Don’t Do
- Write “eye contact” goals
- Try to extinguish stims/stimming
- Behavioral compliance training
- Try to make clients appear more “normal” or neurotypical
Embracing our “weird” parts helps us to become more authentic!
How Do I Do It?
I am able to provide in-person, in-home therapy services for clients in the Southwestern Illinois area, including:
- Belleville
- Swansea
- O’Fallon
- Fairview Heights
- Shiloh
- And more! (Please inquire further for in-person radius)
I am also able to meet in public spaces for community generalization practice!
For folks not in the Southwestern Illinois area or those who do not want/are unable to meet in person, I am available for teletherapy via Google Meet. This is a fully HIPAA-compliant service.
We can discuss:
- Areas of Need
- Length of Sessions
- Frequency of Sessions
- Pricing
- Questions, Comments, & Concerns
Hours
Monday-Friday
In-Person: 4:00-6:00 PM
Teletherapy: 3:00-6:00 PM
