Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tanya Caines. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tanya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
I hope to build a legacy of helping others’ who are interested in the field of speech pathology; especially those who look like me. There are 4.9% of African American speech pathologists, so representation matters. I hope that my former students and coworkers can say I challenged their perceptions of what a speech pathologist looks like and that I brought my unique experiences and storytelling to the table every time!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have been a speech pathologist for over 17 years. I stumbled into speech pathology after a high school friend’s little sister was diagnosed with a cleft palate. I remember being fascinated and wondering how she would suck and swallow her milk from a bottle. I also remember learning about what speech pathologists did with NICU babies, and shadowing the amazing Genie Rogers sealed the deal for me! I wanted to be just like her and learn as much as I could!
I work within the Department of Education, but I also have worked within Early Intervention with an emphasis on Medically Fragile and Behavioral Feeding cases. I also have worked for two major educational institutions within the NYC area as an adjunct supervisor and lecturer.
My business is called Kit Language and Literacy because it encompasses all that I do. From my training as a speech pathologist, and now with my training as a Classroom Educator for Orton Gillingham, I really see the complexities of literacy and how speech impacts the foundation of it all. I provide consulting for speech language pathologists who need assistance with complex cases, organizational help, therapeutic ideas, or just plain old support.
I also provide products such as The Effective SLP Planner, to assist with organization and time management skills.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
I really think my former students have been great for growing my business. I reached out to them and asked them to share with me things I have told them. The response really blew me away. I had no recollection of half the things I said, but what I realized is that I’m a natural encourager. I want to see people win. I like to encourage and motivate others with the knowledge I have. It may seem insignificant, but former students have really put the word out for me and it has helped propel new business my way!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My parents are from the beautiful twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. I am the first generation born in the United States. My parents both did not go to college, but they instilled the importance of education within me. The fact that I have an advanced degree is a testament to my parents’ sacrifice for myself and my siblings. I did not have a roadmap on how to get through college, but my parents’ determination to always keep pushing has helped me.
As a parent, I have to show my son how to be resilient within his life. I make sure to have conversations with him, reminding him that when things get tough, you have to persevere and keep moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitlanguageandliteracy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KitLanguageAndLiteracy
- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kitlanguageandliteracy
Image Credits
NYC Department of Education