For two decades, Nancy Theofrastous has been helping children and adolescents improve their communication skills. She started in a large office in Beachwood and a tiny office on Chardon Square. By 2014, Nancy had moved all of her private-practice services to Chardon and settled into a large suite in the “big pink building” next to Heinen’s. With this move, WRSLP increased the number of families it was able to serve in Geauga and surrounding counties.

WRSLP, like many small businesses in Ohio, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the nature of speech-language therapy (i.e., close face-to-face interactions), speech-language pathologists in all disciplines had to reinvent how to deliver effective therapy services. Nancy Theofrastous is happy to report that WRSLP SLPs and front office staff rolled up their sleeves and, within days of the school closings in March 2020, figured out how to provide engaging therapy services while strictly complying with the ever-changing health and safety guidelines. Because staff perceived each bump in the road as an opportunity to be creative and innovative, services got better and better as the pandemic wore on.

WRSLP has emerged from the pandemic a different practice. We have simplified the staffing structure and are in the process of moving to less of a medical model and more of an educational one. WRSLP, again like many small businesses in Ohio, used the experiences of the pandemic to make important changes to its business model and, in turn, set itself up to serve the community in better ways for years to come.