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Connection First Speech Therapy LLC

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United States
Chester, IL
Connection First Speech Therapy LLC

Hi all! I’m Ashley Eggemeyer and I’ve been a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2014.

07/29/2025

Do you have a child who has an AAC device and not using it? Just something to think about with how you are utilizing the device with the child!

07/25/2025

I’ve spent the last few years really learning and understanding how as SLPs we need to understand our clients sensory needs and differences. Particularly how critical regulation is for connection and therefore communication. Something years ago sadly wasnt even a thought of mine 🫣 , now it’s my primary focus for all my sessions. I love collaborating with OTs/COTAs for my clients, but I dont always have access to their support during my sessions. I also have this “problem” that I need to know everything for myself 😜 and I decided I needed to learn more, so in January I started the USC sensory integration certificate program which was 4 courses with a 100 hours of coursework. I finished the program a few weeks ago and received my certificate of completion 💪🏻 this has given me such a deeper understanding of determining sensory profiles and the WHY and HOW of what we need to do to support our child’s sensory system. I can’t wait to continue to implement all that I’ve learned in this coursework as an SLP in my private practice 👏🏻

07/17/2025

Hi guys! It’s been a busy summer 😅 and it’s almost over 😩 …but has me planning ahead for the change. Come August I will be accepting new clients!
My sessions are child-led, play based and FUUUNNNN! 🤩 I have extensive training and a professional focus for working with Autistic children and I love to embrace and support their differences in language, play, interests, and sensory needs! Please reach out if you want to learn more! I accept BCBS and Cigna but also have private pay options! Let’s talk 😊

06/27/2025

Today I got to go back to SIUC to lecture to the incoming graduate students about Gestalt Language Processing. However, I had to sprinkle in affirming care, meeting sensory needs as an SLP and accepting and supporting play differences, of course! 🤪 It is so great to be able to spread knowledge to future SLPs, so they learn it FIRST instead of having to unlearn it down the road like I did! They all walked out with a better understanding of how to support Autistic children and GLPs! 👏🏻

06/05/2025

I love learning ❤️

What have you unlearned and learned since becoming an SLP? Any that are the same as me? 🙃

05/14/2025

The notion that autistic children are *just* not communicating and need to be forced to use communication is such an outdated idea. Forcing communication, withholding items or using hand over hand to *teach* the child that they HAVE to communicate to get something they want/need, is assuming that the child is somehow choosing to be difficult and refusing to communicate.

This is a compliance based mindset that pushes control by the adult, initially saying to the child that they control how/what/when they should communicate.

Can you imagine the frustration and stress this causes for the child? And it goes without saying, stress and frustration don’t mix to improve communication skills 🙃

Not to mention that it violates body autonomy and teaches the child that they are not in control of their body and communication. 🚫

Instead-
-Let’s validate and accept that they are the ones to choose how and when they communicate- and not worry if that makes it easier on the communication partner because it’s not always about us 🤪
-Let’s model without expectation
-Let’s pursue a multi-modal communication approach
-Let’s consider other factors that may be contributing to their communication difficulties and figure out ways to support them (I.e. sensory needs, motor planning difficulties, etc)

04/02/2025

I was going to make a big long video about myself taking about Autism since it’s World Autism Day. However, I feel like this video is what we all need to see. The beauty in innocence of a child’s perspective, keeping it simple, being autistic means being different. So I’ll keep it short. Check your own bias about what you think Autism is and is not. Be aware of that, then learn by educating yourself on what being Autistic means. Move towards accepting those differences in communication, sensory needs, play and special interests. I work towards advocating for those differences to be accepted, included, embraced and celebrated each and every day. Teach your kids. They are the future. If my 7 and 4 year old kids get it, we all can!

03/23/2025

3 years ago I finished my first NLA/ Gestalt Language Processing course with Meaningful Speech. Not being dramatic, but it legitimately changed my therapist life😂 🤗 I’ve been talking about it basically every day since and have done sooo many more trainings since! 👏🏻 got questions? Reach out! 🙂

03/18/2025

Doing a BIG training next week! 👏🏻
Got exciting hopes and ideas about how to bring something so needed to our rural area! ♾️♾️ Collaboration with other disciplines and professionals loading 🔋👀

01/08/2025

Lining up toys. I’ve heard so many times from parents of autistic children who were told that they needed to stop their child from lining things up because it wasn’t “functional” or “developmentally appropriate” play. 🚫
I’ve even heard that they were told to purposely knock things down or take them out of line so the child “gets used to it.” 🚫
I’ve seen goals written to engage in “age appropriate play.” 🚫
My question is, who are we to judge what play is “supposed” to look it? All play is okay. 👌🏻

What do I do when I see a kid lining things up? Do I intervene? No! Do I try to force myself into the activity? Also, no. I observe, I look, I listen. Which is quite hard to do as an SLP 🤪 There are MANY reasons why a child may line up toys/items. But for the sake of this post, let’s just talk about it being their preferred way to play with items.

One of my favorite things to do, is watch the child. Watch them and how they play and line them up. Listen to them, and all the glimmers of language you may hear 😍
Build the trust and connection with the child so they know that you accept them for who they are and are taking an interest in their interests. Play with them how they want to play. Sometimes that even means that they just want you to watch them play and do nothing else. Share in their joy. Let them know they can trust you to support them.
Connection first, the rest follows ❤️

01/01/2025

2024 was a major year of growth for my business. A few years ago I started with 1 client “on the side.” Today I closed out the last day of the year with an evaluation to make it to 34 families I’m providing services to! With more starting next week! 👏🏻👏🏻 I can’t wait to accomplish my 2025 goals! 🤩🤩 I’ve got some GREAT ideas! 💡 Thanks to everyone who has referred your family and friends to me! I look forward to helping so many more next year! ❤️

12/30/2024

Today I’m talking about a language strategy “withholding” and why I don’t use it anymore. also sorry for all the “umms” clearly that’s something I need to work on 😆🙃

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Chester, IL

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+16186153156

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