Access Speech

A Rhode Island 501(c)3 nonprofit, Access Speech’s mission is to empower individuals with communication disabilities to meet their greatest potential in school, home, and the community. Through our clinical, advocacy, and education efforts, we ensure underserved populations receive the equitable services and care they deserve.

Founded in 2017 by sister Speech Therapists, Dr. Stephanie (Steph) Izzi and Sarah Hamel, Access Speech was established after the sisters’ experiences working in Rhode Island schools. Steph and Sarah found that many students, especially autistic individuals, were not receiving the education and clinical services they deserve, yet their families did not have the tools to advocate for their needs.

When Access Speech launched, it began solely as a clinic, providing speech language therapy for a wide range of communication needs. The goal was to offer quality therapy for those who otherwise were unable to get it through school or outpatient clinics, especially for those uninsured and underinsured. As a nonprofit, Access Speech prioritizes their patients and utilizes funds raised through individual donations, fundraisers, and grants to cover costs incurred for patients that their insurance would not otherwise cover.

Since its founding, Access Speech has since expanded their focus to encompass several priority areas, including:

• Speech and Language Therapy: Speech Therapists conduct in-depth assessments to determine the need for assistive technology and provide other means of necessary support
• “Autism Included” Training Program: Evidence-based training for teachers and caregivers on how to create the most inclusive environment for autistic language acquisition
• Family Advocacy: Individualized support to help families of students on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) understand the services provided by their child’s school and help advocate for their child’s personal and academic goals
• Clinical Mentorship to Promote Excellence: Mentorship program within the clinic for graduate students to learn how to promote Neurodiverse positive practice