Each May, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month highlights the powerful impact of communication and the professionals who help restore it. Within speech-language pathology, rehabilitative therapy plays a critical role in supporting individuals as they recover skills affected by injury, illness, or neurological change.
Behind every therapy session is a deeper story of clinical expertise, compassion, and a commitment to helping people reconnect with their community. Speech-language pathologists don’t just treat symptoms; they walk alongside individuals and families through some of the most challenging moments of recovery, helping rebuild confidence, independence, and everyday communication.
To better understand this work, we’re sharing the perspective of an SLP who has dedicated their career to rehabilitative care. Kristen Jackson, SLP, has been with Minds Matter since June 2021. In the following piece, she reflects on her journey into the field, the experiences that shaped her approach, and what continues to inspire their work each day.
“My journey to being a speech therapist is an unglamorous one that started the first semester of my junior year at KSU when I told myself that I could not continue in college as a senior if I didn’t have a major.
All those many years ago, freshman received a large book with the majors and classes in their college (Arts and Sciences). I started reading majors as I flipped through the book, knowing I loved words (but didn’t want to teach English) and reading (but didn’t want to be a writer). I made it all the way to ‘SP’ and stumbled across speech language pathology. Since I was almost out of the alphabet, I enrolled into an intro to speech therapy course for the next semester and found that it was a great fit!
Looking back, I see two people who shaped my life to point me in this direction. My mom’s cousin who had Down’s syndrome would come to visit us during holidays with her parents and they talked about where she lived and worked and I thought she was just the same as her siblings, but just didn’t talk very much.
I also had a classmate who, sadly, passed away in high school from a degenerative disease, but I remember how the teacher had us all patiently wait as he used alphabet magnet letters to spell answers to the quiz. It was so natural that his way of participating changed so that he could be included despite his declining health. So when I started studying speech therapy, I discovered that I could use my love of words in a way to help others achieve their best in life. It was also the start of explaining that speech therapists do so much more than help people say their words correctly.
Communication is a fundamental way that we connect with others around us. When the bridge to communication is not working, frustration and isolation often follow. Whether the communication is with your own voice or with assistive technology such as a choice board or device, connecting people is the goal. But speech therapy is also about using your memory, attention, and thinking skills to think through conversation, make decisions and then share them, and listening and explaining what you mean or want. Then we put our knowledge of the anatomy of the head and neck to work in working on swallowing, oral motor movements for eating and talking, and helping with people being more connected during meals and being understood. Brain injuries can impact off of these areas. The impact of this significant change in a person’s ability to remember, process information, and speak often means they are no longer in control, can’t communicate about what they do know/want, and then when friends and family visit, the words that kept you connected no longer flow.
Therapy in the home offers speech therapists an opportunity to help with rebuilding those connections. I love exploring creative ways to communicate within activities that fit their style with consumers. I like to try and challenge myself to try and find a creative way to work on our goals in almost any activity. This had lead me to participating in many difference activities with consumers such as putting up a dog pen, painting a room, food art, determining the best way to make a chili dog, drying flowers in a book in the microwave, cooking crab legs, exploring the night sky, and many other activities. Once consumer and I even listened to all the different ways that doves coo because she found it to be beautiful. And I know way too much about the Chiefs, fantasy football, and cryptocurrency.
One recent new idea is junk journaling. It involved recycling, words, and messiness is encouraged.
But each time a consumer connects with their family or friends or feels successful about what they have done, I celebrate with them as the journey is not easy. But hopefully together they feel a little less alone.”
As we recognize National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, therapists like Kristen highlight the profound impact of rehabilitative care within speech-language pathology. They remind us that progress is often built through persistence, partnership, and personalized support. Whether you’re exploring services, supporting a loved one, or working in the field, continued awareness and advocacy help ensure more individuals have access to the care they need to communicate, connect, and live more independently. To learn more about available speech therapy services and how to get started, be sure to visit our webpage for additional information and resources.
