Connection Kickstart™
An Evidence-Aligned Parent Coaching Framework
Connection Kickstart™ is a structured, strengths-based, neurodivergent-affirming program designed to support parents of non-speaking, minimally speaking children through simple, effective, everyday strategies rooted in early interaction. The program can also support children who are verbal but experience challenges in back and forth interaction or conversation.
Based on over 30 years of clinical experience and aligned with current best practices in parent-mediated early intervention, the program empowers caregivers to create more meaningful back-and-forth communication opportunities.
A key component is ParentPower Playback™, a self-video reflection tool that enables parents to record their interactions, reflect using guided questions, and build insight into their child’s communicative cues. This approach draws on growing evidence that video-supported reflection boosts parental confidence, enhances strategy use, and can be effective with and without real-time SLT feedback (Meadan et al., 2022; Ousley et al., 2022).
While the program is currently offered via 1:1 coaching, a self-paced course with online group Q&A access is in development. Connection Kickstart™ aims to complement, not replace, traditional services, offering a practical, evidence-informed starter package for families to take meaningful action, even well before formal diagnosis.
Carolyn is currently accepting referrals. If you are thinking of referring a family and would like to know more, feel free to reach out to Carolyn at thespeechgrove@gmail.com. Alternatively, families can register themselves using the link on our homepage.