Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Waddington.
Hi Emily, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Ever since receiving my degree in speech-language pathology, it has been my dream to open my own private practice.
Following graduation from my Master’s program, I accepted a position in a private school in Washington, D.C. specifically geared toward supporting D/deaf and hard-of-hearing children. My focus was on providing early intervention supports in a toddler classroom alongside a certified Teacher of the Deaf. Working with this population has always been my passion, as my love for American Sign Language is what originally introduced me to the field. Due to personal circumstances, I resigned in 2022 to move to Florida, where I secured a position working for the public school system.
While working in the school system, I worked with children with varying diagnoses, such as: autism, speech sound disorders, language delays/disorders, and many more. I absolutely fell in love with working with these populations, in addition to my already established passion of working with the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing population. I began exploring neurodiversity-affirming care and child-led therapy, which completely changed my approach to therapy and significantly increased the success of intervention for my clients. In particular, I thoroughly enjoyed the connection I was able to make with my kids, and even the small amount of caregiver coaching and education I was able to provide in the school system. I craved so much more of this.
But I was bogged down by high caseloads, large therapy groups, mundane laws that slowed down progress and access to services, and limited interactions with families. I was missing therapy sessions for meetings, spending large chunks of my day completing paperwork, and ultimately became stuck in a loop of questioning the quality and consistency of care my kids were receiving. I cared SO deeply for my students and wanted to do all that I could to help them succeed, but felt limited by the system. It was out of my hands.
Having had experience offering home visits in the past, I knew that this feeling wasn’t right. I had so much more to offer families, and I felt that my knowledge and gift of parent coaching was being underutilized. I didn’t believe I was making the difference I felt so passionate about when I entered this field. I craved deeper connections with the kids and their families, and my current impact felt so limited.
In 2023 I opened my private practice, Little Ears and Voices, as a part-time service to fill the desire to feel deeply fulfilled by my work again. I learned quickly that every time I left a family’s house, I felt an extreme sense of calm and fulfillment. One that I had been searching so desperately for.
My private practice caseload quickly began to grow. I couldn’t say no to families reaching out to me who were in a desperate search for support. Most of the families who reached out to me had been added to 6–12 month waiting lists at other practices in the area. It was then that I realized my services weren’t just fulfilling, they were needed in the community. Before I knew it, I was working 12-hour days to maintain my full-time job while also providing in-home services to children and their families in the community.
Making the decision to pursue my private practice full-time was scary. There are a lot of unknowns that come with running your own business, an overwhelming amount to learn, and a lot of self-doubt that creeps in. However, when I realized that I could fulfill an essential need within my community while doing what I absolutely loved, it felt like a no-brainer.
A big part of what gave me the confidence to move forward was the support of my husband. He continuously encouraged me to trust in my abilities and reminded me of the value I bring to the families I serve. His belief in me, especially in the moments I doubted myself, was instrumental in grounding me in the clarity and confidence I needed to take the next step.
I decided it was time to take the leap and jump into my mobile private practice full-time!
I’m incredibly excited that I am now able to expand my services to reach more children and families in need of support. It has been an honor and a humbling experience to earn the trust of each family who has allowed me to be part of their journey, and I look forward to developing these same connections with even more families. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me and my clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I laugh now thinking about how carefully I tried to map it all out.
When I was first considering the leap into private practice full-time, I did what any planner would do. I reached out to a ton of other therapists who had done it before me. I asked all the questions: What steps should I take? What should I avoid? What do you wish you had known? I was trying to gather every bit of insight I could, hoping to map out the perfect path and wait for all the stars to align before making my move.
I’m definitely not a risk-taker by nature. I like checklists, structure, and predictability. I knew the financial risks, and I wanted to be sure I had all my ducks in a row. The plan was to stay in the school system for one more full year while slowly building up my private caseload. I even planned to start evaluations during the final months of that school year to make the transition as seamless, and risk-free, as possible. I really thought I had it all figured out.
But of course, life had other plans.
Just a few weeks before the school year ended, an unexpected opportunity popped up. One that felt impossible to turn down. Cue the internal chaos: But this isn’t the plan! I’m not ready! What about the finances? What about the timeline?!
Even though I tried to frame it as a question to myself, deep down, I knew it wasn’t really a choice. This was the moment I had been waiting for…I just hadn’t expected it to show up so soon. I realized that at some point, you have to stop planning and just take the leap. So I did.
And once I made the decision, everything started falling into place. Opportunities came out of nowhere, and it felt like the universe was telling me, “Yes. This is it.”
So, has the road been bumpy? Not exactly. But it has been uncertain. Unplanned. Definitely scary… and yet, I just chose to do it scared.
To answer your question more directly: no, it hasn’t been rough. In fact, it’s felt like one of the most natural steps I’ve ever taken, because it feels right. I know there will undoubtedly be challenges ahead, but so far, every step has felt aligned and deeply fulfilling.
As you know, we’re big fans of Little Ears and Voices, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a certified pediatric speech-language pathologist serving children birth through 17 years of age in their homes, daycares, preschools, private schools, or other community settings. Through my private practice, Little Ears and Voices, I offer individualized speech and language therapy using a play-based, child-led therapy model following the child’s strengths and interests. My services encompass direct therapy as well as a strong focus on caregiver coaching. I prioritize empowering caregivers to confidently implement strategies while also understanding the reasoning behind them, both of which are essential to supporting a child’s communicative development.
I specialize in working with children who are D/deaf or hard of hearing, autistic, late talkers, early communicators, gestalt language processors, and children with speech sound disorders or other speech-language delays. My approach is highly individualized, rooted in the latest research, and always centered around connection, collaboration, and accessibility.
What truly sets my practice apart is the lens through which I view communication. I take a neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based approach, prioritizing connection over compliance and honoring all forms of communication as meaningful and valid. My sessions are grounded in a relationship-based model, where trust and connection are honored as the foundation for communication growth.
Rather than trying to “fix” or change a child, I focus on amplifying what already makes them strong. I use their unique interests, strengths, and ways of engaging with the world as a pathway to supporting their communication development.
For my D/deaf and hard-of-hearing clients, I take a language-first approach, ensuring every child has access to robust, accessible language from the very beginning. I do this by supporting the use of sign language, spoken language, or bilingual bimodalism, depending on the child and family’s unique circumstances and goals. Language deprivation is a real and serious risk for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, and my work is centered around protecting and prioritizing their right to language.
Therapy with me might look different from what most people picture when they think of speech therapy. No desks, no flashcards, no mundane activities. Instead, you’ll find connection, play, and real-life interactions that make communication meaningful. I also work closely with families to ensure that what we practice in sessions can carry over into daily routines and relationships.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported in a way that honors who they are.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If there is one thing I’ve learned throughout this journey, it’s that meaningful progress happens when families feel truly empowered, not just included. If you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed, unsure of where to start, or like no one’s listening, please know you’re not alone. You don’t have to navigate this journey without support. There are professionals, like myself, who are here to listen, guide, and stand beside you.
I’m also always looking to connect with fellow professionals, providers, and organizations who share a passion for supporting children and families. Whether it’s through events, parent workshops, or simply exchanging ideas, I believe that real impact happens through community care, and I’m so excited and grateful to be part of that!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littleearsandvoices.com
- Instagram: @littleearsandvoices
- Facebook: Little Ears & Voices
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-waddington-m-s-ccc-slp-822b4bb6/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/littleearsandvoicesslp
