SLP Private Practice in Color
"Let's Grow Together"
About
SLP Private Practice in Color began as a Facebook Group to create a safe space for clinicians of color to connect, network, and mentor as practitioners who have or are seeking to establish his or her own Private Practice. The data shows that only 7.9% of ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologist constituents identify as a minority. Our journey has quickly expanded to include actively advocating for increased diversity and dismantling of racial inequities that allow for disparities within our field. Please embark with us upon this journey towards Equity for all. Let's Grow Together.
Meet the Founder & Administrators
The Faces of Our Organization
Tamala H. Close MS, CCC-SLP
SLP Private Practice in Color, Founder
Tamala H. Close is the founder of SLP Private Practice in Color. She is a Dallas Texas native who received her undergraduate degree in CSD from the University of Houston, and a graduate degree from the illustrious Southern University A & M's Speech-Language Pathology Program. Upon graduation, she moved to Tallahassee Florida where she worked at a skilled nursing facility, and it was at the end of my SNF tenure that I decided to go PRN to launch her own Private Practice. She then formed her private practice Close to Perfection Speech Therapy Services, LLC in May 2018. It was because of the mentorship of two African American SLP PP owner’s willingness to disseminate their knowledge that gave her the idea to found SLP Private Practice in Color Facebook Group to provide a safe space for resources, networking, and mentorship for clinicians of color who decided to step out on faith and form their own practice. She has recently relocated back to Dallas, Texas, formed Close to Perfection Therapy Services, PLLC, and am contracted with a charter her locally. She urges us all to utilize this platform and be a stepping stone and constant resource for each other. She believes there is undoubtedly enough space for us all to grow and flourish as independent contractors and PP owners. Let's grow together.
Tailyr McAlpin, MS CCC-SLP
SLP Private Practice in Color, Administrator
Tailyr McAlpin is an administrator of SLP Private Practice in Color; and the owner of Tailored Speech & Feeding Therapy LLC in Baton Rouge, LA. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, La. and then completed her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Southern University. Tailyr is an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified speech-language pathologist. She has specialized training in working with children with developmental disabilities, swallowing/feeding disorders, and autism spectrum disorders including Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) and Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk. She previously worked in the school system, where she served students of all ages and served alongside a team of specialists that were put together to revamp the structure of services offered for students with autism within the parish. Tailyr provides specialized therapy and evaluation services for children with all developmental backgrounds and communicative deficits and is very passionate and committed to working with her families of children with communicative and feeding disorders. Tailyr believes that networking and mentorship positively impacts the growth of an SLP.
Britney Desir, MS, CCC-SLP
SLP Private Practice in Color, Administrator
Britney Desir is an SLP Private Practice in Color Administrator. She is the Owner of Therapeutic Endeavors, LLC in Tallahassee, Fl. Britney started her career at the age of 21 practicing speech therapy in the school system for 5 years. She moved on from the school system to provide skilled speech-language service in a skilled nursing/rehabilitation facility, private practice, and home health.
She graduated from Florida State University Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders shortly thereafter.
Britney Desir is married with two amazing little boys, one who inspired her interest in early intervention due to his premature birth. She has personal and work experience overcoming challenges caused by developmental delays. Not only does Britney have a special interest in early intervention, but she also has a passion for geriatrics and adults that may suffer from consequences of strokes, traumatic brain injuries, dysphagia, or other debilitating disorders. She has mentored SLPs on their journey to becoming private practice owners including the SLP PPIC Founder, Tamala H. Close. She feels that it is imperative that we all reach back and bring others with us on our journey towards sucess in the field.
SLPS Empowering Communities Conference 2020
Dr. J. Jackson, PH.D. CCC-SLP
Dr. Jackson is president of Speaking Strategies Inc. and a clinical service provider for Dekalb County School District in Georgia. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she contributed to development of the Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation (DELV) non-biased assessments. She has presented research on African American English and non-biased assessment nationally and internationally. Her research has been published in a variety of peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, Developmental Psychology, Studies in Theoretical Psycholinguistic, and Topics in Language Disorders.
Dorothy Gaspard, MS CCC-SLP
Dorothy Gaspard-St. Cyr is a Haitian-American speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience providing speech therapy services to pediatric and adult populations in school, and private practice settings. She has extensive experience treating a variety of language disorders including apraxia, ASD, DLD, fluency, and cognitive impairments. As a Director of Clinical Operations for private practice, Dorothy mentored and supervised graduate students and new clinicians in their clinical fellow year. Currently, she is a faculty clinical instructor at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington DC where she teaches, and supervisors graduate student clinicians in preparation for the field of speech pathology.
Jordyn Carroll, MS, CCC-SLP
Jordyn Carroll, M.S., CCC-SLP is a school-based speech-language pathologist specializing in child language development, culturally-responsive therapy, and advocating for BIPOC both in and outside of the field. She owns a small business, JRC the SLP, that entails providing courses and learning opportunities related to cultural responsiveness, creating diverse therapy materials, consulting, selling meaningful apparel, and servicing private clients. Jordyn uses her social media platform to continue advocating for BIPOC—especially Black children, push for diversity, and emphasize “being the person you needed when you were younger.”
Christina Navas, MS CCC-SLP
Christina Navas is a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist from the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from San Francisco State University. She has worked in public education and has worked with students from preschool to high school, as well as per diem at a skilled nursing facility and in early intervention. Christina started SLPs of Color as an online community back in February 2019 after being inspired by conversations she and friends had regarding the racial disparities within our profession. In June of this year she and the team at SLPs of Color were able to file for nonprofit status. The mission of the nonprofit is to connect, support and empower the community and recruit diverse students and clinicians to enter our field. She believes in being a life long learner, she values authentic connections, and she’s passionate about helping others.
"The Work"
Equity for All
Legal Talk
Esquire Candice Haley, Keynote Speaker
Legal Rights and Risk Management as a Private Practice Owner including malpractice lawsuits, contracts, etc..
Call to Action
SLP Private Practice in Color hosted a Virtual Town Hall with Dr. Valerie Johnson, SLPs of Color, SISTAs INC., SLPs for Juvenile Justice, and Black Speech Pathologist Group to discuss racial disparities and plan for racial equity in relation to Black SLPs and the Black Communities we service.
Thursday Night Live
SLP Private Practice in Color monthly game night with fellow SLPs to network, mingle, and have fun.
Race & The Workplace
SLP Private Practice in Color had an open discussion with Carrie "The SLP Solution" Clark, Owner/ Founder of The SLP Solution, regarding whether or not racial issues had a place in the workplace and business practices.