Welcome to My Speech Blend!

'My Speech Blend' originated from my love of coffee, professional collaboration, and celebration of diversity. Of course, it’s also a play on words since we all know about those pesky speech blends.

Ultimately, I was inspired by the definition of a coffee blend I found on the blog of a super cute café in the UK:

“A coffee blend is a coffee that is made up of coffee beans originating from more than one place. “Place” here does not mean just different countries. This can mean a very micro-level division of place such as varying altitudes on the same producing farm, or it can mean different regions of the same country or different small areas within the same producing region.” (North Star Coffee Roasters)

I thought “what a great way to describe coffee!” but also what a wonderful new way to think about society, diversity, and human connection in general. Many of us seem to be coming from the same “place” but at that “micro-level”, who are we really?

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I started thinking about what my blend would look like. Every iteration of my blend included my profession- my vocation, as a Speech Language Pathologist. I wondered how our very own unique point of view and our individual experiences can shape and inform the way we do our jobs… and that is how ‘My Speech Blend’ was born.

My goal is to create a space for professionals (SLPs, Teachers, School Psychologists, OTs, PTs, Behavior Specialists, etc.) to hang-out, collaborate, commiserate, and share knowledge, ideas, but most importantly share our diverse lived experiences. Much like we would do if we were able to go out for a cup of coffee!

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Thank you for stopping by and reading this far!

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I am Ingrid Owens-Gonzalez. I am a first-generation Mexican-American woman (My pronouns are: she/her). I have been married to my wonderful husband since 2011, together we are raising two strong daughters. I have been an SLP since the Fall of 2011. I have worked in the SNF setting occasionally, Early Intervention on an “as-needed” basis, but my true passion is in the School setting. I love working with the K-5 population and have experience with Preschool and Middle school. I am the co-founder of The Bold SLP Collective, co-host of The Bold SLP Podcast, and Lead Mentor for The BEAM SLP Program. In 2022 I launched My Speech Place LLC.

I am still learning, I am bilingual, I am outspoken, I am a daughter, an older sister, I love to read, I wish I were more of a runner, I love to dance, I love to cook, I love to eat new foods, and when I am stressed, I enjoy some junk food and reality TV.

That is my blend,

What is yours?