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Women's History Month: SWFL therapist enjoys connecting with kiddos

March is Women’s History Month – a time to recognize the many achievements women have made throughout the course of American history in a variety of ways.

There are countless influential women throughout Southwest Florida making a difference in their community. In this Q&A series, we highlight five of them who are making strides in their respective fields, one each weekday this week.

Ashley Hancock is the owner of Play on Words Pediatric Therapy located in Naples.
Ashley Hancock is the owner of Play on Words Pediatric Therapy located in Naples.

Ashley Hancock

Hancock, 37, of Naples, is a speech-language pathologist and owner of Play on Words Pediatric Therapy. Here is what she says about her background in the industry:

"I have been a speech-language pathologist for the past 14 years. I have worked primarily with the pediatric population for the last 10 years.

"I dreamed of one day opening my own private practice specializing in pediatrics, and these plans were kicked into high gear during the COVID Pandemic. With several schools and therapy clinics closing their doors, a multitude of children were left without necessary therapy services. I aimed to provide these children with the services they needed to thrive within our community.

"I opened Play on Words Pediatric Therapy in 2020 and began to see clients one-on-one. Since then, Play on Words has expanded and developed into a comprehensive pediatric clinic, offering speech, occupational, feeding, and teletherapy services. The teletherapy branch of the clinic allows my therapists to not only serve children in the Naples community, but also the pediatric population throughout the entire state of Florida.

Q. What do you like most about what you do? 

Hancock: Let’s be honest, kids are awesome. They’re funny, unique, challenging and resilient. There is nothing I love more than advocating for children and enabling them to communicate their wants and needs. I love the relationships I have built with children and their families during the therapy process and knowing I have changed a child’s life is truly humbling.

Q. What advice do you have for a young woman interested in working in your industry? 

Hancock: I recommend volunteering in a variety of settings (schools, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, etc) in order to gain a better understanding of the various environments you can work in as a speech-language pathologist. Choose a job that allows you to collaborate as an interdisciplinary team. The best work I have ever done has been along-side occupational therapists, physical therapists and teachers.

Q. How do you handle adversity? 

Hancock: When it comes to my profession, I am tenacious because my business is my passion. I have defined goals in mind when it comes to both short-term success and long-term growth. Unfortunately, the road to accomplishment isn’t always an easy path, but targeting clear objectives allows me to overcome the challenges I may face along the way.

Q. Is there a woman throughout history who inspires you? Why? 

Hancock: Lucille Ball has taught me to find humor in my day-to-day life, including life’s strangest and most challenging situations. She also proved that you can move on from situations that no longer serve you, invest in yourself and your business, reinvent yourself, and come out on top.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant in Southwest Florida? Why? 

Hancock: My favorite brunch spot is Downtown Coffee & Wine Company in Bonita Springs. Their coffee is divine, their small plate menu is delicious, and their outdoor seating is perfect during this time of the year. My favorite dinner location is The Cave in Naples. The space is unique, their cocktails are hand-crafted and their food is unlike anything I’ve had in SWFL.

Q.  If you could go back and give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be?

Hancock:  I would tell myself: You can do hard things. The journey to becoming a speech-language pathologist was long and arduous. The windy road (and a global pandemic) that ultimately led to opening Play on Words Therapy was stressful and taxing. But I never quit and, ultimately, I am the happiest I have ever been.

Website: https://www.playonwordspediatrics.com/

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Women's History Month in Naples: Highlighting Ashley Hancock