UNSPOKEN THOUGHTS, LLC

BIO

Professional Consulting and Instruction for Students with Special Needs

Whether a student is at a public, private, or home school setting, we assess a students current ability to learn and demonstrate their understanding. Then, we set incremental goals to increase learning tolerance, ability to purposefully respond, and communication complexity. 

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For students with motor impairments, limited functional speech, and autism, we have found that developing the skills for reliable communication provides a way for students to mitigate frustration and helps students distinguish between challenges associated with a special need and challenges associated with being a sibling, son/daughter, or member of the community.​

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Since 2013 we have been cultivating students who are successful in the classroom, at home, and in the community because they have the academic foundation, social support, and clear vision of the therapists at Unspoken Thoughts at their disposal. Unspoken Thoughts provides support for families and students wherever they are through private and group tutoring, in-class support, student-specific educator training, and consulting for home school and co-op programs.

1-ON-1 INSTRUCTION

Sessions are scheduled for 30, 45, or 60 minutes in our center depending on the student. Home sessions can be scheduled for 1 to 3 hours depending on the student, goals, and location.

SMALL GROUPS

These sessions provide students an opportunity to interact and converse about engaging and provoking topics while working on skills appropriate in a small group setting (2 to 6 students). We build groups around curriculum or skill goals. Ask about our current openings!

BOOK GROUPS

Each book group meets once a month to discuss the assigned book. We match our students by age, skill, and interest so if we do not have a group already set up for your student we can try to form a new one! We currently have a DC Young Adult Group, a VA Young Adult Group, and a VA Middle School Group. 

SUMMER/WINTER CAMPS

We offer multiple camps for students aged 8 through young adult. Each group has a different emphasis including community engagement, higher education, and functional classes.

2020 registration will open in April! Email us for more information or complete our registration form below!

CO-OP

We lead daily group sessions for local home school students during the school year at our center in Tyson's Corner and at a gym in Manassas. Our current students are bridging into High School, however, we do have middle school and college level courses available. Our HS aged students are encouraged to obtain internships to gain valuable work experience with the support of our trained job coaches. 

We also lead co-op groups for specific subjects for local home school students and can provide trained and supervised instructors for in-home school programs.

EDUCATIONAL CONSULTATION

We supervise home school programs and work closely with schools and work placements to coordinate skills and goals for students. 

We communicate with specific teachers, administrators, or school staff to provide suggestions to increase independence and expressive language in the academic setting. We also offer in-class support, student-specific training for educators, lesson reviews, video consultation, student advocacy during school meetings, and student support during evaluations and testing.

Shannon is the Founder and Director of Unspoken Thoughts. Shannon earned her M.A. in Applied Developmental Psychology from George Mason University and a B.A. in Psychology from Arcadia University. 

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Shannon began her career working for a variety of non-profits and therapy centers throughout the Philadelphia and Northern Virginia areas. Certifications and trainings include: RDI, TEACCH, and DIR/Floor time, ABA, and RPM (should complete Soma internship in August, 2019)

Instructor, MA Speech Langauge Pathology

Natalie is a senior instructur and has been with Unspoken Thoughts since 2015. She completed her M.A. in Speech and Language Pathology from George Washington University in 2018 and is currently pursing her national license as an SLP. Previously, she received a B.S. in Community Health Sciences from Texas A&M University.

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Certifications and training include: RPM, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD), and PECS Level I.

Assistant Instructor, BA Psychology

Emily has been an Assistant Instructor at Unspoken Thoughts since 2017. She earned her BA in Psychology from George Mason University and will be pursuing her MSW and licensure beginning in 2019. 

MEREDITH BARTHOLEMEW

Assistant Instructor

Meredith is the instructor for one of our academic home-school programs, but also instructs  individual students in the home on academic subjects.

"Unspoken Thoughts gave my son a voice when he needed to communicate. We now have a different relationship with him with the board, and he grows stronger every day with this communication."

"Shannon and her staff are fantastic. Well trained, professional, kind, inspiring and are changing lives daily! So grateful to have found them!"

"Shannon and her team are unquestionably the finest in the region for taking on the challenge of teaching communication skills to children and young adults on the spectrum."