Today we’d like to introduce you to Adanna Burrell.
Hi Adanna, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Hello, my name is Adanna Burrell, a licensed speech-language pathologist and the owner of Speak It Therapy Solutions, PLLC. I was born and raised in Plano, Texas, and graduated with my Bachelor’s (2005) and Master’s (2008) degree from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I come from a long line of educators on both sides of my family, so working with children has been a part of me for a long time. I started my degree program in Elementary Education but realized that I wanted more, so the summer before my junior year in college, I began to research other careers in the educational and medical fields, and I found Speech-Language Pathology. I had opportunity to work with children with special needs through the Plano Parks and Recreation Center, which was a blessing as I was able to shadow a Speech Pathologist as she worked with several of the students at the camp. I also was able to shadow another Speech Pathologist who worked closely with my mother in the schools prior to returning back to campus, which provided me a first-hand look into the field. After discussing the degree change with my parents, I set up a time to meet with the department chair when I returned on campus. Little did I know that after the discussion with the department chair, I would qualify for a Grant that was established to increase the number of Black Speech-Language Pathologists, covered my tuition books, and provided an opportunity to attend the National Black Speech-Language and Hearing Association Conference as an undergraduate student. I immediately fell in love with this field through the support from my professors, clinical experiences, and upon graduating with my master’s degree, I knew I wanted to move back home to provide speech therapy in the community that gave me the initial experience. I began working in the public schools as an SLP in Richardson ISD (2008) providing speech therapy at the elementary school level; I had the opportunity supervise graduate students and then transitioned to the Autism Assessment Team within the district. I also worked PRN at a pediatric Home Health agency to expand on my medical speech therapy knowledge and experience (feeding and cognitive deficits) and worked as a graduate supervisor during the summer (2010/2011) at UTDallas.
During my time while working in the schools, I had the opportunity of a lifetime (2011) as I partnered with a Non-Profit organization called CLASP International (Connecting Link Among Speech-Language Pathologists) where I was able to travel to Zambia, Africa with a team of Speech Pathologists, Audiologists, Nurses, and Special Educators provided training, therapy, and education to the natives of that country. I provided training on Autism, Speech-Language development and provided therapy tools and training to the families to use in their home and community. We also partnered with the University of Zambia to begin its very own Speech-Pathology Program.
My love for autistic students grew tremendously, and I transitioned from the schools to a private practice (2015) and worked collaboratively alongside BCBAs, which allowed me the opportunity to see the behavioral side of therapy from a different lens. I was able to provide therapy, supervise Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants, provide consulting, training, and presentations within the community. I then transitioned back to the schools briefly as a contractor where I supervised Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants, evaluations, and consulting.
I loved the supervisory role and being able to train and support future and current Speech-Language Pathologists. In 2017 I joined Children’s Health as Speech Therapy Team Leader where I supervised and led a team of over 15 therapists and rehabilitation aides at one of the outpatient medical clinics. This position helped me grow both professionally and personally, and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I knew I needed a change, and Speak It Therapy Solutions, PLLC, was re-birthed. I say re-birthed because I originally started my company in 2012, where I was seeing a small number of clients in the community at my local library, but I knew at this time I was ready to go All In! In 2021 I officially opened my private practice, and in September 2022, I officially resigned from my Team Leader role and pursued the entrepreneurial dream full-time.
My journey has been just that, a journey, and I would not trade a thing. I thank God for everything, and I am looking forward to what is to come.
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?
Many obstacles and challenges have come my way in every step of my journey from college to career. I am proud of the work and accomplishments that I have made, but one thing I can say is that through situations of challenging administrators, colleagues, direct reports, fielding the micoagressions, and sometimes just feeling isolated as a minority in this field, one thing that has never wavered is my perseverance. I believe that Representation Matters, and when you think of the field of Speech-Language Pathology, where only 3.5% are identified as Black, you can only imagine what obstacles or challenges have come my way. I never let any of those challenges or obstacles defeat me because knew I had a vision to be the best Speech-Language Pathologist, a dream to enhance communication of children, and a goal to inspire the future generations of Speech-Language Pathologists to come.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Speak It Therapy Solutions, LLC is a clinician-owned private practice located in DFW Metroplex. Our mission is to provide child-directed pediatric speech-language and feeding therapy services that are individually tailored to meet the needs of each client. In addition to providing skilled intervention to our patients, we work to provide educational resources tailored to meet the specific needs of parents and caregivers, and the community. What sets us apart is that we deliver a wholly unique approach to treatment for communication and speech-related disorders. We achieve this by implementing a client-focused treatment program designed and provided by a licensed speech therapist. We elevate the development of children through private therapy services, supporting fellow speech-language pathologists, and leadership development and contract therapy services. We combine decades of experience as a clinician, supervisor, and diversity and inclusion trainer to create an impact on our community.
We provide services to schools, consulting, speaking events, and I partner with my sister’s Non-Profit organization (Alisha Burrell- Roots To Wellness), where we provide social-emotional learning paired with YOGA, we host Spring Break Camps and Summer Speech and SEL groups!
Outside of the business, I am active with the Texas Speech-Language and Hearing Association (TSHA), where I am the current Diversity Co-chair and Strand Chair, President of the National Black Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NBASLH) NBASLH DFW Affiliate, and an ASHA (American Speech-Language and Hearing Association) mentor.
I design program-specific professional development workshops and trainings to meet the requested needs and interests of individuals.
If you are not sure where to start feel free to contact our team via email or schedule a free consultation, book a screening, or schedule a “Pick My Brain” session.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The most important qualities that are important to my success is my humility, adaptability, patience, optimism, and drive. I feel that these qualities have propelled me into various business ventures, collaboration with other educators and SLPs, and allowed opportunities for me to connect with people from around the globe in their respective fields.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.speakittherapy.com
- Instagram: @speakittherapy
- Facebook: @speakittherapy
- Twitter: @speakittherapy
- Other: https://calendly.com/speakittherapy
