Meet Carly Dorfman | Speech Language Pathologist, Mom of 2, and Parent Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carly Dorfman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly, what is the most important factor behind your success?
My success comes from the personal relationships I have with every person who attends the classes and the opportunity the attendees have to form friendships among themselves. I am a mother in the trenches of parenthood dealing with a lot of the same things that my clients are. The difference is, I am a few years ahead of them. The empathy I have for my families comes from a real place of truth and experience. I can be a speech and language development expert but also bring the human aspect and keep it real because I am dealing with juggling parenthood, a business, and keeping it all together.

I would also consider myself a lifelong learner. I am always looking to add to my clinical repertoire to better serve my clients. I love reading new research articles in my field and taking continuing education courses to learn new strategies and techniques. I am constantly asking for client feedback to learn how I can create classes and offerings that my community needs. I will forever continue to learn and grow, which I feel is the key to my success.

What should our readers know about your business?
KIDnection is a boutique pediatric private speech therapy practice offering in home speech therapy and caregiver and me classes throughout Parkland and the surrounding areas. As a pediatric speech language pathologist, I knew I wanted to maintain my clinical services but have some variety in my day. I wanted to provide speech therapy services to my clients in their homes, where they are in their most natural environment. I can come in, use their toys, and teach their caregivers how to support speech and language development using evidence based strategies that really work. I also saw a need in my community for programming for babies and toddlers and thought I could fill that void with caregiver and me classes. The classes incorporate speech strategies into music, movement, story time, and sensory play. I can reach a larger audience through the classes which helps to get my name into the community. When my caseload for private clients is full, I can always offer them to join the class. When a private client could benefit from socialization, I recommend joining a class. And when a family that attends my class needs an SLP, they already have access to me.

Building KIDnection has taught me that dreams are achievable. For a long time I viewed the dream of owning my own business as just that. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears for it to become tangible but my vision has come to life. I am literally living the dream. If there is something you want to do, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would stay at the St. Regis hotel in Bal Harbour, where it is more quiet than the hustle and bustle of South Beach. We would hang out and drink on the beach every day until the sun goes down and do a boat day to Key Biscyane. For lunch we would go to Pura Vida, The Carrot, Neiman Marcus Cafe, and Zuma for brunch. We would go for amazing dinners to Il Gabbiano, Joes, Macchialina, Amara at Pariaso, Carpaccio, Makoto and Mandolin. We would explore the design district and wynwood, and go shopping at the Aventura Mall or Bal Harbour Shops. But most importantly, when I am hanging out with my best friends, we love ordering in, lounging in our sweats, talking for hours, and falling asleep to cheesy rom coms.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shout out to my family. My husband has supported me and all my crazy business ideas from day 1. He is my sounding board, my confidant, and my biggest cheerleader. My children, Ava and Rory, are my source of drive, passion and creativity. They inspire me to be a better mother, provider, and friend. I bring all of this energy into everything I do.

Website: www.kidnection.co

Instagram: kidnectionco

Linkedin: carly dorfman

Facebook: Kidnection, LLC

Image Credits
Photo Credit to The Social Say – Ashley Rivera