When your child starts needing specialized medical care, you meet a whole new team of experts. Among the most important are Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). As an SLP and mother of three, Luba Kaplan emphasizes they do much more than help with talking—they help your child swallow, breathe, and look at the whole child’s health.

Luba is the visionary behind Kidology, a private practice celebrating over 10 years of service. She created Kidology to close the gap in accessing therapy without families having to leave their homes. Her latest innovation? The Therapy Bus. This true half-size school bus brings therapy directly to your home, making it perfect for families who lack transportation, are juggling multiple kids, or simply can’t leave.

More Than Speech: Why a Team Approach Matters

“It is more than just what the name sounds like”, Luba notes. SLPs are crucial healthcare team members who act as therapists and counselors.

Luba’s passion for helping people is rooted in her family history, including her personal connection to cancer research in honor of her mother, Angela. This drive fuels Kidology’s philosophy: to give families the profound change they can’t accomplish on their own.

Luba believes strongly in a global approach to therapy. If a provider sees a child who has needs outside their expertise, they should refer out. Kidology embodies this approach, offering a comprehensive suite of services:

•  Speech Therapy (SLP)
   
•  Occupational Therapy (OT)
   
•  Physical Therapy (PT)
   
•  Behavior Services
   

“Don’t be afraid if a place is offering you additional services,” Luba advises. “If nothing else, it will put your child ahead“.

4 Essential Tips for Maximizing Your Child’s Therapy Success

Navigating the healthcare system is a heavy lift for medical parents. Luba offers key insights on how to get the most out of your time with an SLP:

1.  Be Transparent and Share Everything 🗣️: “The more we know, the more we can help,” Luba insists. Build a strong rapport with your provider from the first moment. Tell them about your child’s day-to-day life, even struggles like a meltdown during a shopping trip. A good provider will be invested and ask a lot of questions.
    
    
    
    
    
2.  Ensure Family Alignment 🤝: The entire family—mom, dad, grandma—needs to be on the same page with the goals. If you’re working on introducing a new texture in feeding therapy, for instance, everyone must follow the plan. If you have people doing different things, the therapy “just doesn’t work”.
    
    
    
3.  Trust the Independent Session 🧘‍♀️: While parents are the number one source of support in a traumatic hospital setting , a non-threatening therapy environment is different. Luba and her team often prefer the parent to step back after the first few visits. This space allows the child to develop their own voice and helps the therapist connect for the best results.
    
    
    
    
    
4.  Stay Committed and Act Early 🔑: “Be committed to your therapy,” Luba urges. Don’t drop out because you think they’re “okay”. Also, reject the “old tale” that your child will simply grow out of things. Early intervention is key. Addressing developmental concerns sooner is always better; the worst-case scenario is that your child gets ahead.

Luba’s journey began when she realized the need for multilingual providers as an immigrant. She recognized a cultural tendency to “hush hush” childhood disorders and made it her mission to advocate for families.

Kidology’s success started with changing that mindset : “Get outta the closet and let’s get to work and make your child’s life a possibility”. This advocacy led to growth, which now includes two similar clinics, both featuring a sensory play gym. Luba’s passion is clear: “You’re making their daily life and routine and development better”.

Connect 

You can find Luba and the Kidology team all over social media, where they share what they do and who their amazing providers are.

Support Our Host & Show

Child life specialists are experts who help families navigate the overwhelming and confusing world of healthcare. Now, you can access these valuable tools and resources outside of the hospital setting through the SupportSpot App.

Parents, get empowered! The SupportSpot App provides tools to:

• Understand and explain medical procedures to your child.

• Help your child feel less anxious.

• Feel informed and confident in your child’s healthcare journey

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Child Life Specialists– join the circle. There is a seat here for you to recieve support, professional development, and access to clinical supervision.

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The Child Life On Call Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared in each episode, including stories, discussions, and interviews, is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast. The views and opinions expressed by guests on the Child Life On Call Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Child Life On Call. Child Life On Call does not endorse any specific medical treatments, procedures, or opinions shared in the podcast. If you or your child is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that Child Life On Call and its affiliates are not responsible for any decisions made based on the information provided.