Meet Grace Hanna: Why This SLP Believes in Virtual Speech Therapy in Schools

Grace Hanna has traveled to 50 countries. She's a professional voice actor. She's licensed in seven states. And this fall, she started her fourth school year as a speech-language pathologist with Parallel.

She's also one of our Parallel Ambassadors. That means when district leaders, investors, or new providers want to know what virtual speech therapy in schools really looks like, Grace is often the one they hear from.

We sat down with Grace during a recent all-team meeting. Here's what she shared about the students she serves, the work she loves, and why she believes in telehealth.

Why a teletherapy SLP keeps coming back, year after year

For Grace, it starts with people.

"I really just enjoy the relationships that I've built here at Parallel, as well as with the district. I love seeing the progress the students are making, and I truly believe in the effectiveness of telehealth."

She gets to stay in the school setting she's always loved. And she gets to do it from home, with the flexibility that fits life with a toddler.

Growth matters to her, too. At Parallel, Grace has supervised SLPAs and mentored other speech-language pathologists. She calls it one of her favorite parts of the job.

Every minute goes to the student

In a busy school building, an SLP's day gets chipped away. A quick hallway chat. A schedule shuffle. A late pickup.

"I'm not getting stopped in the hallway by a teacher when I'm trying to pick up a student. That would directly impact those students' minutes. With this, I'm able to provide all of those minutes and make sure the student is getting what they're owed."

Pathway helps, too. Grace says everything she needs is "organized and accessible all in one place," which keeps her focused on students instead of paperwork.

How going virtual made Grace a stronger therapist

Grace didn't plan on teletherapy. She was working in home health when COVID moved her online. Then she saw what it unlocked.

Suddenly she had a whole toolkit at her fingertips: interactive games, digital activity cards, music. She could meet each student at their developmental level and keep them engaged in a positive, productive way.

"It was meaningful therapy."

The screen can even be a gift. Some students walk in tired and asking, why am I in speech today? A fun, language-based game changes the mood fast. And a little distance gives students the space they sometimes need.

She doesn't feel cut off from the school team, either. Grace says she has just as many ways to reach teachers, staff, and students as she would in person.

The facilitator factor

Great school-based teletherapy is a team sport. On-site facilitators help students get settled, stay engaged, and respond during sessions and evaluations.

Grace works with about 15 different facilitators. She gives each one feedback that fits, from timing to setup. When a student kept arriving 10 minutes late, she raised it and worked with the team on a fix. That's how she protects every minute.

Two students, two breakthroughs

Ask Grace about success and she lights up. Here are two moments that stay with her. Details are shared in general terms to protect student privacy.

From two words to full sentences. Grace began working with a young adult in a post-secondary transition program. She mostly communicated in one- or two-word phrases. Over the next several months, she grew to using five or more words in her everyday conversations. Her family shared that she'd made more progress with language in those months than in many years before.

"That really stuck with me. It was a great reminder of why I do what I do and why I love it."

Grace hopes those gains carry her far beyond school, into a life where she can say what she means and be understood.

Finding a voice that was there all along. Another student had been described as working on naming objects and actions. Grace noticed more. The student had a lot to say and limited mobility to say it. So Grace got them set up with an eye-gaze communication device.

The results were stunning. The student could read. They could type. They had been learning all along, waiting for the right tool.

"We have these students that maybe their parents or teachers don't understand that they have these capabilities. You just help meet them where they're at and reach that full communication potential."

For students who use AAC, Grace's approach is simple: know their device inside and out, project it on screen, and coach the teachers and families who support them.

Grace's message to hesitant district leaders

We asked Grace what she'd tell a special education director who's nervous about virtual services. Her answer was clear.

"We are able to do all of the things that a speech pathologist in person might do. We are able to provide effective therapy to the same extent as in person, and it can be more motivating and engaging."

She's candid about the exceptions. A few tasks, like an oral motor assessment, may need a little extra help from someone on site. That's where a strong facilitator shines. Worried about staffing on-site facilitators? Read our facilitator success story.

And her advice? "Give us a week and see what your student thinks."

That trust shows up in the field. A special education director at one of Grace's Texas partner districts recently told our team she could not say enough good things about Grace's work.

Advice for SLPs thinking about teletherapy

Moving from a school building to a virtual setting is a big change. Grace says the providers who thrive tend to be:

• Self-motivated. No one is tapping you on the shoulder.
• Highly organized. You manage your own schedule and stay on top of it.
• Comfortable working independently. You own your day.

"If you enjoy that independence and that flexibility, I think Parallel is a fantastic place to work and thrive."

Virtual speech therapy in schools: quick answers

Is virtual speech therapy as effective as in-person?

Grace's experience says yes. She delivers the same services an in-person SLP would, with a few tasks, like oral motor assessments, supported by an on-site facilitator.

Can teletherapy SLPs support students who use AAC?

Yes. Grace projects each student's device on screen, learns it inside and out, and coaches teachers and families to use it too.

What does a facilitator do in school-based teletherapy?

Facilitators help students log on, stay engaged, and respond during sessions and evaluations. Grace calls them essential.

What makes a teletherapy SLP successful?

Self-motivation, strong organization, and comfort working independently.

Bring a provider like Grace to your students

Grace's story is one of many. Across the country, Parallel providers are helping students with learning differences find their voices, one session at a time.

• District leaders: Talk with our team about virtual speech therapy for your students.
• SLPs: Explore SLP roles at Parallel and see what growth looks like here.
• Everyone: Watch Grace's Day in the Life of a Virtual Provider on our socials.