Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Ninic
Hi Danielle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My first career was in early childhood education. I worked mostly in daycares, teaching children from infants through pre-k (spent most of my time in preschool). However, I wanted to do more. I knew I wanted to continue working with children, and that’s when I came across the field of speech-language pathology and was immediately intrigued. While in school I had a friend whose son needed speech therapy and told me she was on a 2 year long waiting list. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so as soon as I graduated with my master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology, I started looking for ways I could see clients on my own. While working other full time jobs in schools and autism facilities, I started seeing clients on the side. Sometimes I would have 3 clients, sometimes I’d be up to 8. At first, I was using an office space at a local church. After COVID and having a baby of my own, I was seeing clients in my basement. The referrals came flowing in after COVID and I quickly moved from part time, to full time, to having a very long waitlist and I was ready to hire and lease my first office space in April 2021. I now have a larger office, and a clinic with 3 therapists, an office manager, and we are currently helping over 80 kids every single week.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No! Being a business owner is the biggest rollercoaster I’ve ever been on. It’s always up and down. There are very high high’s and very low low’s. The biggest hurdles for me have always been how to make the business profitable despite the very low insurance reimbursement rates while also trying to offer competitive and affordable self-pay rates so that we can help more people. I have gone through so many periods where my business was so close to failing and I had to look really deep into what was happening and make adjustments, whether it be ending contracts with insurance companies or how I pay my employees or how productive our schedule is, etc. Another big struggle has always been replacing great SLP’s when they move on to other opportunities. The last thing I want is for our clients to go without services after finally getting a spot, because I’m having a hard time finding someone to hire. While it has not been a smooth road, I am proud of myself every day for still being here.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lake County Pediatric Speech & Language Therapy, LLC?
We are a private practice specializing in speech therapy for the pediatric population. Our core values are what we thrive on, which include: serving with passion and purpose, providing individualized therapy, working as a unit with families, creating a comfortable environment, and using a play-based, child-led method of treatment. Using a play-based, child-led method of therapy ensures we are using the child’s interests to engage them in working on their skills. We typically see children anywhere from around 18 months old through elementary age. We treat a variety of communication disorders, including speech sound disorders, receptive and expressive language delays and disorders, fluency/stuttering, pragmatic/social communication, childhood apraxia of speech, executive functioning, use of AAC/assistive technology, etc. We focus on improving functional communication for our clients. We want them to be able to use their speech and language to be able to get their wants and needs met, communicate their thoughts and ideas, and make friends,
How do you define success?
I define success by measuring if I’m reaching my career goals while also reaching my personal goals. I want to be at a place in my business where I can give myself the time freedom to achieve personal goals and most importantly spend more time with my family (my husband and 2 little kids). If I’m at a place where my business is thriving and I’m also able to have the time freedom to be with my family more, that is success to me. I also feel successful in my work as an SLP when I am helping my clients master their goals and know that I’m making a positive impact in their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lakecountypedspeechtherapy.com
- Instagram: lake county.speech_therapy
- Facebook: lakecountyspeechtherapy
- Other: https://www.creativechatter.co/playwithpurpose
