Speech Start is owned and operated by the mother/daughter duo – Dr. Bernadette Mullen, CCC-SLPD/SLS and Shaylyn Stilwell, M.S. Ed., CCC-SLP/SLS. Speech Start offers cutting edge individual and group speech, language, academic, feeding, social skills, and occupational therapy services to pediatric populations ages 0-21+. We believe in individualized approaches, continuity of care between home and school, and we do this in a compassionate and nurturing environment. Speech Start has locations in both Fair Haven and Hazlet, New Jersey.
Speech Start provides children with a safe, supportive and compassionate environment where they can learn and apply the fundamentals of speech, language, academics, and life skills efficiently. Our experienced clinicians create opportunities for children to cultivate natural language and other developmental, social, and occupational skills. Through beneficial, caring, and hands-on experience, we employ a variety of strategies and teaching modalities as we work with the child and their family.
Our therapists develop and tailor programs that meet the developmental requirements of children with special needs and those of their typical peers. We work to provide therapies and services to children with diagnoses such as childhood apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorder, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, voice disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, social pragmatic communication disorders, fine motor delays and sensory processing difficulties.
Speech Start also provides services such as parent coaching and IEP review and development as well as professional education courses and private preschool screenings. Our extensive experience and commitment to continuing education aids us in helping your child develop their superpower! Contact us today with questions or to set up your child’s evaluation!
Speech Start’s centers are equipped with custom sensory gyms with state of the art equipment in order to meet the individual needs of each child.
Speech Start’s speech-language pathologists possess certifications in motor speech evaluation and treatment including PROMPT (Certified- Level 4 Mastery) and DTTC as well as language approaches including Natural Language Acquisition/Gestalt Language Processing and DIR. Our occupational therapists have completed certifications in Reflex Integration, Handwriting Without Tears, and Torticollis and Plagiocephaly. In addition, Speech Start’s clinicians are specialists in behavioral/sensory feeding interventions such as SOS and AEIOU and have extensive experience in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) evaluation and treatment.
Dr. Bernadette Mullen, CCC-SLPD/SLS and Shaylyn Stilwell, M.S. Ed., CCC-SLP/SLS, PC were voted as two of NJ’s Favorite Kids Docs 2024 and were named by Monmouth Magazine as two of the Monmouth Women to Watch 2024. , the Sensory Certificate for Speech-Language Pathologists. Both Dr. Bernadette and Shaylyn aim to ensure that both their clients and staff always feel like they are part of their family.
Dr. Bernadette Mullen possesses a doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology and Special Education Teaching Certificate. She is also fluent in American Sign Language and has completed trainings such as as Sensory Processing for Speech-Language Pathologists, AEIOU Feeding, and PROMPT (Levels 1 and 2). Furthermore, she presented at TedX Talk on previously created/owned social avatar software, SiLAS in 2016. She has made her mission to help children with speech and language disorders, with particular interest in the evaluation, treatment and parent education related to social-pragmatic communication deficits and language-literacy disorders.
Shaylyn Stilwell possesses a master’s level education in Speech-Language Pathology with a concentration in Special Education. She is a PROMPT Certified (Mastered all 4 training levels) and DTTC trained clinician who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of motor speech disorders such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Shaylyn also has extensive experience in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) evaluation and treatment as well as implementation of systems such as TouchChat and LAMP. She was awarded ASHA’s ACE Award for Continuing Education in 2020, 2022, and 2024 and was recognized as one of ASHA’s Distinguished Early Career Professionals in 2023. She is passionate about continuing education and strives to provide the best quality of care to her clients and their families.
Dr. Bernadette and Shaylyn hope to continue to grow the practice to include all related services with Physical Therapy coming soon! They also hope to partner with other similar businesses in the community in order to provide the best quality of care they can to their parents. Furthermore, they hope to continue to offer training, advocacy, IEP development, and support groups to parents and families of the children that they service.
Our extensive experience and commitment to continuing education aids us in helping your child develop their superpower! Contact us today with questions or to set up your child’s evaluation!
Helping your child develop their superpower!
