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Having Our Say provides individualized therapy & family coaching for: Articulation & Speech Sound Disorders, Language Delays & Disorders Childhood, Early Intervention, Apraxia of Speech. Social Skills / Pragmatics, Cognitive Delays​ Having Our Say provides home-based speech and language therapy services to children and their families, which is not only convenient but also allows children to practice and learn skills in their natural environment. With a deep understanding of the role families play in their children’s progress, we work to provide the highest quality therapy and resources to empower parents and caregivers with tools to ensure ongoing success. Serving Northern NJ: Fort Lee, Edgewater, Cliffside Park, Palisades Park, Maplewood, West Orange and South Orange. THERAPY SERVICES Be Seen & Heard® Thearpy Services Our therapy sessions are scheduled for 30-45 minutes and frequency is determined based on the need of each individual and as a team with the family. Therapy is at home and we always invite families to be an active member of the team and therapy sessions. Articulation & Speech Sound Disorders Language Delays and Disorders Early Intervention Social Skills / Pragmatics Cognitive Delays Individualized Therapy & Family Coaching for: Evaluations Comprehensive Evaluations for: Receptive & Expressive Communication Skills Phonological & Articulation Development Social Communication Skills Evaluations include both standardized test measures, as well as parent and client interview, file reviews from previous testing or therapy, screenings, language samples, and home and/or school observations Following the evaluation, you will receive a comprehensive report with the evaluation results, summary, and recommendations. We will use the evaluation to guide the development of a personalized therapy plan, goals, and objectives. Contact Us

At Having Our Say we provide speech and language assessments and intervention for children in the home in the Northern NJ area. We also collaborate with other professionals, including care providers and teachers, to provide training and continuing education. Contact Us: 347.559.1517 BE SEEN & HEARD® SPEECH & LANGUAGE SERVICES info@havingoursay.org WELCOME TO HAVING OUR SAY Having Our Say was built out of the understanding that life is busy and quality therapy can be hard to come by. We provide home-based speech and language therapy services to families, which is not only convenient, but also allows children to practice and learn skills in their natural environment! We understand and appreciate the role families play in their children’s progress. Our goal is to provide quality resources that equip parents and caregivers with tools to ensure ongoing success. In addition to therapy services, I offer workshops to professionals, caregivers, and families on a variety of topics related to speech and language development and literacy. Liam's First Cut is a celebration of family, community, and neurodiversity as Liam, an autistic Black boy, uses support to manage his expectations and process sensory information as he prepares for his first visit to the barbershop. The Season of Yes! is a jubilant tribute to the author's youth and spending summer in the city with her Mom! Order a copy today! PURCHASE HERE PURCHASE HERE Joni, CA "I'm so excited to incorporate all the things you trained on. I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and know it will make a huge difference for my students." JG, NJ "Shontaye has been such a blessing to our family. Our child is talking so much now! It's like a switch turned on since she began working with our family!" Lisa, MD My students LOVE your books and "Liam's First Cut" helped my son prepare for his first trip to the barber at 5! Please write more! JOIN OUR MAILING LIST S U B S C R I B E WE SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH A VARIETY OF NEEDS LEARN MORE CHECK OUT MY INCLUSIVE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS AND DIVERSIFY YOUR LIBRARY. SEE THE LIST Visit the Having Our Say BLOG The Power of Food to Bring Us Together: Exploring Community, Culture, and Kindness 9 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Teaching Kids about Voting Through Picture Books 18 10 comments 10 Post not marked as liked Liam's First Cut Turns 4! Celebrating Representation and Neurodiversity 45 6 comments 6 Post not marked as liked

Having Our Say provides individualized therapy & family coaching for: Articulation & Speech Sound Disorders, Language Delays & Disorders Childhood, Early Intervention, Apraxia of Speech. Social Skills / Pragmatics, Cognitive Delays​ PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Be Seen & Heard® Our founder Shontaye offers a variety of in person or virtual presentations for parents, caregivers, and professionals. Presentations and courses are customized to meet the needs of your audience. Please read below to see how Having Our Say can be a resource to your organization. PARENT COACHING Having Our Say is dedicated to providing resources and education to help parents and caregivers enhance language skills in their children. Our parent workshops provide opportunities to discuss topics such as language acquisition, language milestones, recognizing the signs of communication delays, choosing the right toys and books to build language. Parent workshops are a great opportunity for parents/ parent groups to come together and learn strategies that can be implemented at home, as well as to ask questions. We can also assist with understanding the special education process, understanding your rights, and advocating for appropriate school services. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT To date, Shontaye has presented to over 30,000 parents and professionals across North America. Course offerings for speech language pathologist, educators, and other professionals are available. Preschool and daycare trainings are designed to provide teachers and staff with an understanding of language development. We also outline how to identify signs of communication disorders to help educators recognize when to make appropriate referrals. CONTACT US FOR PRICING WHAT ORGANIZERS SAY "Shontaye is not only an amazing SLP but a talented presenter and author. I was able to recently collaborate with Shontaye for an online conference, SLP Summit. From the beginning, Shontaye's communication style, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines was very much appreciated. Shontaye currently has approximately 20,000 people enrolled in her SLP Summit course, who on average have about 65 students on their caseloads. Therefore, she is directly and positively impacting about 1.3 million children as a result of this one presentation. I highly recommend Shontaye and am looking forward to collaborating with her on future projects!" — Lisa K, Co-Founder SLP Toolkit

The holidays will look different for our family this year and probably for many others who have experienced the loss of a loved one recently. I'm still not sure what this season will look like, but food will certainly be involved. Food has an incredible ability to bring people together. This holiday season, countless families across the globe will gather around tables to share meals, honor traditions, and create lifelong memories. The act of sharing food with others offers far more than simple nourishment—it builds bonds, promotes open communication, and fosters a deep sense of community. Regardless of beliefs, backgrounds, or traditions, the shared experience of breaking bread transcends differences, reminding us of the universal connections we all hold. Celebrating Community Through Story time For young readers, books can beautifully capture the joy of coming together over food, as well as the kindness and generosity it can represent. If you’re looking to explore this theme further, consider these picture books that spotlight the importance of community and family gatherings: 1. Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora – This story follows a grandmother, Omu, who prepares a delicious stew that she selflessly shares with her neighbors. It’s a wonderful introduction to themes of sharing and community, with beautiful, collage-style illustrations. 2. Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell – A charming story that follows a family as they shop, cook, and prepare a meal for ten people, emphasizing the togetherness that food preparation can bring. This book also introduces basic counting and teamwork concepts for younger readers. 3. Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed – A story that centers around Bilal, a young boy who shares his favorite meal, daal, with friends for the first time. This book introduces cultural diversity and the joy of sharing one’s heritage, as Bilal’s friends discover the deliciousness of trying something new. These stories are perfect for sparking discussions about family, friendship, generosity, and the many ways food can bring people closer together. A Classroom Activity: Crafting a Meal for Community To extend the theme of food and togetherness into a classroom activity, here’s an interactive project that can help students develop math, language, and problem-solving skills. This "meal-planning" exercise encourages students to work together to plan a menu, using critical thinking to decide how many guests they will invite, select ingredients, and stay within a set budget. 1. **Work within a Budget:** Students are given a fixed budget for their shopping. This task introduces a much needed life skill while practicing basic math and financial literacy. They’ll need to consider prices as they "shop" for ingredients. 2. **Choose the menu:** In small groups, students discuss what to include in their meal, thinking about nutrition, preferences, and cost. 3. **Plan for Guests:** How many people are invited? Learn about scaling up and making adjustments as you go. At the end of the project, students can share their "meal plans" and discuss how they collaborated to make decisions, reinforcing teamwork and communication skills.This hands-on activity will not only engage students academically but also cultivate empathy and teamwork as they design a meal to be enjoyed by others. Food, after all, is one of our most powerful tools for connection. Students will discover how nourishing one another goes beyond the physical—it helps create a space where everyone feels welcome at the table. By blending literature, collaboration, and problem-solving, this resource brings the themes of community and food to life, creating lasting lessons in kindness, inclusion, and joy.

As we approach election day, it’s essential to instill in our children an understanding of the democratic process and the significance of their future participation. One way to achieve this is through picture books that tackle themes of voting and civic engagement. Not only do these books entertain, but they also serve as valuable tools for nurturing informed and responsible citizens. **Civic Awareness** Picture books are an engaging way to introduce kids to the democratic process. They can learn about the importance of voting and how their participation shapes their communities, preparing them to engage as responsible citizens as they grow older. **Critical Thinking** Discussing the narratives and issues presented in these books encourages children to think critically. They can explore various candidates’ perspectives, the implications of policies, and how these elements affect their lives. This early practice in evaluating information will serve them well as they become voters. **Empowerment** Even though young children can’t vote yet, picture books can help them realize that their voices matter. Stories about civic participation empower kids to believe that their opinions and choices are important, fostering a sense of agency. Conversations that stem from these stories can emphasize the importance of making informed decisions and understanding the impact of those decisions on society. **Encouragement of Dialogue** Engaging with picture books on political themes can normalize discussions about differing opinions and respectful debate. This practice lays the groundwork for children to navigate complex conversations about governance and community involvement as they grow. **Inspiration for Future Participation** By learning about the electoral process through captivating narratives, children are more likely to develop a lasting interest in politics. This early engagement can inspire them to become informed voters in the future, fostering a lifelong commitment to civic participation. To get started, check out my curated list of picture books that can spark these vital conversations with your kids: [Civic Engagement & Social Justice Books] (https://www.havingoursay.org/civic-engagment-social-justice-books) . Let’s empower the next generation to use their voices and be the change we want to see!

I didn’t love my name as a kid. I was a girl in a class full of Jennifers, Lisas and Traceys. No one in my class had a name like mine- and no one had skin like mine. I remember wanting to go by my middle name, but that was not an option. I also remember finding a stocking at my grandparents' house one Christmas. The stocking read “Chanté” and I instantly preferred that spelling. I think I felt at least that spelling would make my name special and fancy. Then, my mom told me the story of how I was named. She told me my name has a French origin and about the song that inspired her selection. It was sung by Dinah Shore and when she heard it, my mom did some more research and decided Shontaye would be my name. 🎶Chantez, Chantez sing a little Paris song. Let’s all sing when any little thing goes wrong.” My mother would sing the tune and frequently reminded me that my name means to sing and be happy. And with that I slowly ( very slowly) started to embrace Shontaye- spelling and all. I first read “The Name Jar” as an adult and it instantly reminded me of my love/ hate relationship with my name. The picture book tells a story of a Korean girl who is new to America and worries how her unusual name will be received at her new school. After being teased on the school bus, she decides not to reveal her Korean name in fear of facing more ridicule from her new American classmates. I won’t spoil the ending, but it is a heartwarming reminder of how diversity in children's literature is needed. Not only does this children's book normalize a family's immigration to a new country, but it also normalizes differences in languages, foods, customs, and traditions. To all of the kids (big and little) with "unusual"names, please correct them every time. Make them speak and spell your name correctly. Your name is your first gift from your family and carries cultural, ethnic, linguistic and familial significance.  And if you are an adult working with kids, please say your students names correctly.  If you are unsure how to speak their names, just ask! Chronic mispronunciation can lead to feeling not accepted  and undervalued and can be experienced as a racial microaggression. Name microaggressions can present as names being mispronounced, misspelled, misunderstood, misgendered, shortened or mocked. Honoring student names creates an equitable  classroom where students feel safe, seen, and valued.  If you are not sure where to begin, start by sharing picture books that focus on the importance of names. This helps children to honor their names and embrace names they may not be familiar with.   At its core, The Name Jar is a lesson in humanity and a reminder of how instead of trying to fit in, the best choice is always to just be you. The lessons in diversity and inclusion are an added bonus!

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