I’m So Glad You Are Here! If We Haven’t Met

Hi, I’m Laura

I’m a speech-language pathologist with over 17 years of experience supporting AAC users across both school and medical settings—and I’m deeply passionate about helping teams move beyond compliance-based approaches toward communication that is meaningful, accessible, and truly neuro-affirming.

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to “get AAC to work,” you’re not alone. My goal is to help you rethink what success looks like—and give you practical, real-world strategies to support communication in ways that actually honor the individual.

My Approach

I specialize in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with a focus on:

  • Neuro-affirming practices

  • Gestalt language processing (GLP) and AAC

  • Supporting regulation, autonomy, and authentic communication

My work is grounded in the belief that communication is more than requesting—it’s connection, identity, and self-expression.

PLACES YOU MAY HAVE SEEN OR HEARD ME

Podcast cover image for 'AAC and Gestalt Language Processing' featuring Laura Hayes, with colorful abstract icons and a photo of Laura.
Logo for Lomah special needs podcast featuring stylized text and graphic design.
A smiling young woman in headphones sitting in front of a microphone, with colorful leaves and abstract design elements in the background. Text on the image reads 'Speechie Side Up' and 'Hosted by Jency M.A. CCC-SLP'.
Logo for The Autism Helper podcast featuring a smiling girl with long blonde hair, sitting at a desk with a laptop, and text indicating it is with Sasha Long, M.A., BCBA.
A graphic with a speech bubble containing the text '# Talking AAC' in white and blue letters on a turquoise background.
Cover of a podcast episode titled 'Episode 146: AAC for GLPs with SLP Laura Hayes,' featuring a woman smiling and holding foam pool noodles, with a smaller picture of a smiling woman. The topic is autism.
Screenshot of digital materials for the AAC Assessment Hub, including a website page, online communication tools, and informational documents with a smiling woman, social media icons, and text about online community and assessment processes.
Logo of the Assistive Technology Industry Association with the acronym ATIA and full name.
Promotional graphic for episode 160 of a podcast, titled "SLP Coffee Talk," featuring Laura Hayes discussing AAC and coffee. The graphic has a purple border, with photos of Laura Hayes and another woman, along with episode and guest information.
Graphic with a white cloud containing the letters 'AAC' in black, and the words 'in the cloud' below the cloud, on a blue background.
Cover slide of a presentation titled 'Talking with Tech' by Laura Hayes, about how to shape and support AAC 'stimming'.
Logo for the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) with text and a graduation cap symbol.

Little More About Me

  • I adore drinking coffee…and could talk about it all day alongside anything AAC.

  • I love HATS & have over 40 you may see on my Instagram videos.

  • I am blessed to have grown up with a sister with a disability who has made me a fierce advocate to support giving every person I meet a VOICE.

  • I am a mother to four amazing kids and have an amazing husband who supports my passion projects.

A woman with long dark hair wearing a baseball cap and a t-shirt with text is working on a laptop at a cluttered desk. There are books, papers, a coffee mug, and various supplies on the desk, and a doorway is visible in the background.
A family sitting on an outdoor sofa in a backyard, smiling at the camera. There are six children and two adults, with greenery in the background.

Have Questions or Interested In Bringing a Training to your team?

Let’s Talk

Send me a quick note and let’s figure things out together—I’m excited to help you reach your learning goals.