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Our Mission
The mission of Head to Speech is to promote athlete brain health by closing the gap between athletics and communication sciences. We carry this out through four pillars: Bridge the gap between athletics, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists. Connect with community partners for training and awareness. Integrate into athletes' routines. Expand career pathways into brain health through sports careers and sports speech-language pathology.
Our Vision
We envision a world in which the value of audiology and speech-language pathology services are understood and accepted by the athletic community, bridging the gap between the two communities through interprofessional education and collaboration that promote the overall brain health of athletes.
Support What We Do
Head to Speech, Incorporated is the first ever 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization solely dedicated to developing, monitoring and improving upon educational, scientific and charitable initiatives for athlete brain health, sports concussions, and their effects on speech-language, hearing, and cognitive-communication skills. We advocate for speech-language pathologists and audiologists to be included in brain health, cognitive wellness, and sports concussion management protocols, as well as to serve on interprofessional teams throughout student, professional and former athletes' continuum of care and lifetime for post-concussion syndrome and neurodegenerative disorders.
READY, SET, HEAD TO SPEECH!
Let’s start the conversation about the 3.8 million sports concussions that occur every year. After 4 weeks approximately 15% of athletes who have sustained a concussion develop postconcussion syndrome. Athletes who have sustained 3 or more concussions also have a greater risk of experiencing difficulties with attention, concentration, orientation, reaction time, auditory processing, memory, word finding, disorganized thought processing, problem solving, sequencing, organization, planning, or social communication. We must be proactive not reactive. Know the importance of brain health, the role of speech-language pathologists and the cognitive-communication signs and symptoms that they can treat within the athletic community. Help us make an impact in the lives of athletes and their support networks. Get involved today by joining a program!
Our Board of Directors
QUESTIONS? ASK US!
If you are an athlete or a part of their support network, please email us or schedule a call to ask your questions. We will provide you with answers about brain health, sports concussions, and their effects on speech-language, hearing, and cognitive-communication skills.
"I have partnered with Head to Speech regarding opportunities to research and obtain data on athletes of all levels. My staff and I have participated and been a part of the 2023 Head to Speech Summit in creating more awareness in brain health. Being a CEO of a sports therapy business I bring my knowledge of athletes in how they function and move. My understanding of sports at all levels can also help with understanding athletes."
Montiono Whitted, LMT/CPT/CEO, Whitted Wellness, Pro Sports Therapist and Athletic Trainer
Board of Directors
"Athletes are taking a more holistic approach to their health these days, and that includes brain health. This is a positive change for the sports industry and Head to Speech is perfectly positioned to address this need. The challenge is that athletes are unaware of available services and that SLPs can work on cognition."
Lena Masri, SLP, MBA, Speech-Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow, Collegiate and Professional Sports Sales, Corporate Partnerships and Business Analytics
Board of Directors
"Speech-Language Pathologists have a role in working with athletic trainers and coaches to integrate brain health coaching, mindfulness and cognitive-communication tasks into players' sports drills, fitness routines, and daily activities. By doing so we are able to examine their cognitive-communication skills and outcomes in the areas of attention, reaction time, auditory processing, memory, thought organization, word finding, reasoning, problem solving, sequencing, planning, organizing, and social communication."
Tabia Pope, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Founder, Head to Speech, Inc. and Owner of BIA Communications, LLC.
Board of Directors
"I wasn't aware of the concussion and speech-language pathology component until speaking to Dr. Pope. This needs to get more "air time". Especially the "prehab" to expedite the return-to-play and learning portion. Strategic partners in communicating the effectiveness of this method is key."
Monique A.J. Smith, CEO, Seeds of Empowerment, LLC and Significance in Athletics and Sports Magazine™️
Emeritus Board Member
"There are a lot of Head to Speech programs that invest in the well-being, personal advancement, and professional development of the student athlete. All of the issues and service offerings are important to support the student-athlete throughout their athletic journey. The BOD will use our collective resources to break through the barriers of entry to help educate these players. "
Glenn Hames, Founder, My Field Goals
Board of Directors
"I believe one of the most important issues for me is the overall brain health. These conversations are more than just for the athlete, they are for the coaches, parents, and athletic supports. In bringing awareness to the overall brain health will increase conversation, as well as ensure health beyond the organization in that now family and supports can spread the message of brain health. It also ensures that conversations around mental health are being discussed thus increasing awareness of preventive measures for both brain health and mental health."
Dr. JaQuinda Jackson, Trauma Psycho Clinician and Jackson Consultings LLC
Board of Directors
"Head to Speech can continue to promote brain health through community events, continue to teach young athletes about concussion early on through guest lectures at sports camps and sports practices, and equip more professionals to know the signs and symptoms of concussion and next steps through a bigger online presence. I am an African American woman from the South who is very familiar with sports, particularly football due to the huge college football presence in Alabama. I know about health literacy and know how to market information to target populations. Being a Black woman helps me as does my experience on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee at my job."
Dana Bryant, Speech-Language Pathologist, The Neuro SLP (Parker Bryant Consulting, LLC)
Board of Directors
"Developing career pathways to pipeline HBCUs will incorporate a combination of understanding the unique needs of the culture, engaging stakeholders and creating strategic partnerships. As an athletic trainer, we have the same struggle of having programs at HBCUs as SLP. Head to Speech may be able to utilize interprofessional collaborations to increase the awareness of sports concussions and their residual affects."
Dr. Carlitta M. Moore, Assistant Dean for DEIB - College of Nursing & Health Professions; Clinical Education Coordinator/Assistant Professor - Master of Athletic Training, Arkansas State University
Board of Directors
"Overall, and consistent with the strategic priorities are first and foremost "quality, ethical, and research-based services to consumers. As a practicing SLP and a clinical private practitioner, my sense of strategic planning includes attention to professional development on a consistent basis. This PD should include the major areas of clinical practice: knowledge of speech/language/hearing disorders, research advancements, marketing, ethical practices, business management, and consumer rights."
Dr. Deborah A. Finley, Speech-Language Pathologist, Partnerships for Health and Education, Inc.
Board of Directors
"I have years of experience with professional women organization’s fundraisers. Therefore, I have the ability to reach out to Professional Athletes and other professionals affiliated with sport programs. I am an African American female that will enhance Head to Speech Board of Directors because I will bring a wealth of information and experience from working in Corporate America for Fortune 500 companies where diversity is valued. "
Jill Joseph, Speech-Language Pathologist, The Otherside of The Rainbow Speech Therapy Services
Board of Directors
"I consider awareness and education, recruitment and training, and partnerships as the most important issues that should be considered over the next three to five years. I am committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion goals within the board and facilitating them within the broader community. "
Kristina Biscoe, Communications, Community Engagement, Partnerships and Merchandising, Sports Mom & Youth Sports Leagues
Board of Directors
OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Become a partner, sponsor or exhibitor!
Learn more about our signature talks on our program page and schedule a 15-min discovery call today.
AS SEEN ON
Learn more about our sports philanthropy initiatives -- from grassroots community outreach programs to athlete-led campaigns, we're always aiming to improve communities through sports.
THE ASHA LEADER
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Newsmagazine
SLP Starts Nonprofit for Sports TBI, Brain Health
What's happening within your community? We educate the masses on what's happening within the Head to Speech community, as well as the key issues and problems that we can solve together within your community!Â
Listen to our Head to Speech Ambassador Podcast ran by our Ambassadors and Career Pathways program. Invite us to speak on your platform and raise awareness today! Â
LISTEN NOW
BECOME AN AMBASSADOR
Once you complete our ambassador application you will receive an onboarding questionnaire and recurring Ambassador Zoom link for Meet & Greets! Our headquarters are within the Washington, DC area. However, we are a national organization! Our events are hybrid (in-person and online) and have a self-study option. We encourage you to raise awareness and donations within your community! We will send you everything you need to host your Head to Speech events!
SIGN UP
Explore our Brain Workout ProgramÂ
Here at Head to Speech we are PROACTIVE about athlete's cognitive well-being! The Brain Workout Program is perfect for school wellness, physical education programs, intercollegiate athletic programs, sports clinics, camps, leagues, and Corporate Wellness. Contact us today to schedule your 30-min consultation and we will send you our Brain Workout Assessment!
CONTACT US TODAY
Empower other athletes to workout their brain and body!Â
By sharing your story or the story of someone you know provides our community with insight into athletes' lives. Share a testimonial on how our brain workouts are beneficial to completing sports drills and physical fitness exercises, managing nutrition and wellness goals, and/or reducing mental health issues.Â
SHARE YOUR STORY
The Head to Speech Ambassador Box
The Head to Speech Ambassador Box is a seasonal subscription box that helps us sustain our donations and Ambassador engagement! The box is curated by our Interprofessional Task Force made up of Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and Allies for our inclusion in sports concussion management. Our seasonal themed boxes are centered around our brain workout challenges and contain 4-6 health, wellness, fitness, nutrition or sports performance products ranging from books and journals to athleisure clothing, brain healthy workout plans, self-care routines, and recipes! We offer these boxes to our Head to Speech Community and incorporate them as part of our swag given to our program participants.
Concussion Recovery Care Packages
Our Concussion Recovery Care Packages provide athletes and their support networks with FREE cognitive-communication therapeutic resources and materials that support them working out their brain and body, as well as return-to-playing, learning, working, and activities of daily living.
Request a package by indicating if the athlete is a student, professional or former athlete.Â
REQUEST A PACKAGE
Pack with Us!
The items on our Amazon Wish List help us provide Brain Workout Starter Packs and Concussion Recovery Care Packages. We also utilize these items to provide preventative education demonstrations for student, professional and former athletes, and their support systems.
Ways to get involved:
- Purchase items that we need to go inside our packages and boxes!
- Coordinate a care package drive and packing day for us within your community!Â
- Send the packages to your favorite collegiate athlete and let them know you miss them and care about their brain and mental health! Â
- Support our Care Package Drive by starting a Head to Speech fundraiser while working out your brain and body within your community and donate the proceeds using our HTS methods for donations!Â
ANNUAL RETREAT AND AWARDS LUNCHEON
Join our Giving Circle to support exemplary advocates, performers, leaders, and innovators who support our mission. Become a part of a highly vetted community of donors who give at least $84 a month or $1,000 a year to provide ongoing support for Head to Speech programs. Donors receive invitations to exclusive roundtables and serve on the retreat and awards luncheon nominating committee with grantmaking and voting rights.
WAYS TO GIVE
Any donation is appreciated! You will receive a donation acknowledgment letter for donations $250 or more. Checks payable to: Head to Speech Incorporated 3540 Crain Highway Suite 509 Bowie, MD 20716.
"I have brought my knowledge and background in auditory processing disorders to Head to Speech because many of the athletes who have suffered head injuries and concussions, even mild concussions, may have suffered trauma to systems involved in processing auditory information, but there is a lack of awareness and understanding of how such head injuries can affect the athlete's abilities to process and understand what is said to them. This can affect their social lives, education, work, and life in general."
JAY R. LUCKER, Ed.D., CCC-A/SLP, FAAA
Emeritus Board Member
"Head to Speech is a great nonprofit program that provides a much-needed educational service to athletes, families, and those who work with athletes. I have contributed to the concussion prevention and educations work that Head to Speech has done to support those who may experience concussion and those who provide support to athletes."
ALAINA S. DAVIS, Ph.D., CCC-SLP/L, CBIST
Emeritus Board Member
"I served on the Board of Directors of Head to Speech due to the opportunity to be a part of something that is making a huge impact not only in my direct community but I believe will help to educate all facets of the health field. This is to include not only the field of Speech-Language Pathology but all involved in sports such as sports medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health. I have been very excited to aid in making such a groundbreaking change through education within the health field and sports community."
JADAE LAWSON, M.S. CCC-SLP
Emeritus Board Member
"My interest in concussion management is very personal. My father who was an athlete all of his life suffered many concussions. The result being cognitive deficits and affecting his quality of life as an elderly senior. I also have two grandsons who are energetic and curious, and will certainly play sports. Their protection and those of other athletes is my utmost interest."
GISELLE C. THELEMAQUE, R.D.H., B.P.A., M.Ed.
VP of Operations
LATEST EVENTS
Follow us for our latest community events. Some of our community events and fundraisers have included Head to Speech Retreat and Awards Luncheon, Nike Unite Glenarden's In-Store Community Awareness, Tots to Teens Expo, CWall Foundation Media Training, and Panda Express Fundraiser.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Invite Head to Speech to your next community event! We'll be there to raise awareness and fundraise within your community! We proudly invite all community collectives, especially sports parents to get involved!
Register for our 4th Annual Summit
This year’s theme is “The Critical Role of Cognitive Health in Concussion Management for Men & Women Football Players”. The Keynote address will be brought to us by Patrice S Bowman, MBA, who serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the D.C. Divas, which is part of The Women’s Football Alliance (WFA).
PREVIOUS SUMMITÂ SPONSORS & SPEAKERS
VIEW OUR PREVIOUS SUMMIT
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