Ali Hay - Speech & Language Therapist

09/06/2026

My brother Sam Whitley created this poster as part of his teacher training to become a high school teacher, and I’m honestly so proud of him. 💜

He chose to focus on Developmental Language Disorder because teens with DLD are still so often misunderstood and awareness in schools is still so low!

DLD does not disappear when children get older. In high school, it can show up in ways that are easy to misread: trouble following complex directions, difficulty keeping up with fast conversations, anxiety when speaking in class, challenges with reading comprehension, struggles with word problems, or difficulty organizing written work.

But this poster does something really important.

It does not just show the challenges. It shows strategies.

Breaking information into chunks. Asking for repetition. Using cue cards. Highlighting key ideas. Making outlines. Checking writing with a list. Asking what someone meant.

These are not “extra help” strategies. These are access strategies.

When students understand their own needs, and when teachers understand what DLD can look like, we create classrooms where students are less likely to be labelled as careless, quiet, lazy, rude, or not trying.

Awareness matters because understanding changes the support.

And teens with DLD deserve recognition, respect, and practical tools that help them participate more fully in school and daily life.

So proud of you, Sam, and so glad future high school students will have teachers who are learning to see beneath the surface. 💜

Note: There is a PDF version in the files section of our private group (free to join) called Developmental Language Disorder Community

31/05/2026

29/05/2026

Finishing the day off with some tin can target practice!! Practising speech sounds is boooooring! 🥱

So we like to switch things up a bit and make it into a game. We tried using the ball poppers but they didn’t do the trick so we got the beanbags out to knock those cans over and say the words that were attached to each one.

29/05/2026

A lovely session of modelling AAC with a little boy today. He has a current interest in numbers so while he was exploring, matching and sorting, I modelled the language on our Talker, on which I have set up a page for numbers 1-10.

There was no requirement for him to imitate me or press the buttons for himself, but he engaged, he showed an interest and he watched what I was doing.

Modelling is an essential step in the AAC journey. It doesn’t take any effort, you simply press the buttons that represent what the child is doing in the moment, to add language to their play.

Whether a child has a paper-based communication system or an electronic device, it is crucial that they are exposed to modelling ALL THE TIME!!

28/05/2026

Building a connection with a child is the most important part of therapy. Nala and I are still quite new to each other but yesterday we bonded over our mutual love of Peppa Pig! (Ok so I had to fake it a bit, I find Peppa Pig somewhat irritating!) 🩷

24/05/2026

22/05/2026

I challenge any Speech and Language Therapist to come on holiday to Spain and go home without any new toys from Ale-Hop! Cute little chunky wind-up toys for cause and effect, Attention Autism and Intensive Interaction therapy sessions!

22/05/2026

Is your child struggling with their communication development?

Scarborough Communication Club is a FREE and INCLUSIVE space for non-speaking, or minimally-speaking, children to come and explore some fun play-based activities, enhanced with visual communication supports.

Come and discover Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems in a safe and welcoming environment.

Each activity will be supplemented with low-tech laminated core boards to support vocabulary development, expressing choices and making requests.

Additionally, children will be able to explore mid-tech equipment, such as voice-recording buttons and switches, which play pre-recorded messages or operate toys with the touch of a button.

I will also have my iPad with me to demonstrate electronic means of communication via an AAC app.

Anybody who is interested in AAC for their child is more than welcome to come along. It’s a very informal stay-and-play session where we can chat about how you can best support your child’s communication skills to develop.

Please message me if you have any questions.

21/05/2026

For any families in the Ryedale/Pickering area…this will be a great session! Get in touch with Tom for more information.

19/05/2026

I’m running the Scarborough Communication Club on Tuesday afternoon during the half term holiday. This is for children who are using - or who are considering using - Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods.

It’s a really informal session, with many communication opportunities and a range of play activities set out for the children. Families will be able to ask questions, look at resources and explore many options for introducing AAC to their child to support their developing communication skills.

This is a free session, open to anyone, and I know that all new families will be made very welcome by our existing families who attend.

Please feel free to message me if you have any questions about the session.