At Grow Onwords, we offer neuro-affirming, play-based SLP services for children from toddlerhood to age 18 — in-person in Mount Pleasant and virtually across BC. Flexible scheduling and no referral needed.
Registered SLPs · Neuro-Affirming & RASP Listed · In-Person Vancouver + Virtual BC-Wide · English, Vietnamese & Cantonese · Autism Funding & At Home Program Accepted
Registered SLPs · Neuro-Affirming & RASP Listed · In-Person Vancouver + Virtual BC-Wide · English, Vietnamese & Cantonese · Autism Funding & At Home Program Accepted
Our Services
Every family comes to us at a different point — some with a specific concern, others just wanting to check in. Here's a look at the ways we support children, youth, and the families around them. Not sure what you need? Your initial visit is the place to start, and we'll figure it out together.
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A first visit to meet your child, understand your concerns, and observe how they communicate. By the end, we'll share what we found and talk through if your child needs support and what kind of support makes sense. It may be your only visit, and that's completely okay.
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A proactive check-in for children between 12 months and 3 years, to see whether they're on track with their communication milestones, learn what to expect over the months ahead, and pick up strategies to support continued growth. Just as you bring your child to the family doctor for regular check-ups, an SLP check-in is a way to support your child's development early — before there are any concerns.
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A more in-depth look at your child's speech, language, and communication skills, using observation and, where helpful, standardized assessment. Useful for understanding how your child compares to age expectations, and often needed for funding or outside support. Formal assessments include a comprehensive written report, which is often used to access funding and/or support diagnoses. We also offer comprehensive speech and language assessments for children under 6 years of age as part of private autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessments.
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Ongoing, child-led therapy tailored to your child's individual profile — covering speech sounds, language development, literacy, AAC, and more. Available as flexible book as you go sessions or consistent weekly support depending on your child's needs.
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You are your child's most important language partner. We work alongside caregivers — explaining what we're doing, why it matters, and how to keep building skills at home, between sessions and beyond.
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For families already working with a therapy team, organizations or preschools looking for SLP input. We collaborate, consult, and provide training to support consistent, cohesive care.
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For school administrators looking to add a neuro-affirming, collaborative SLP to their team. We partner with schools to provide consistent, values-aligned support that fits into the wider school community.
Available in-person in Vancouver and virtually across BC, in English, Vietnamese, and Cantonese.
How We Schedule
At Grow Onwords, we intentionally designed our schedule to make sure families can access support when they need it — not just when a spot opens up. Whether you need a one-time visit or a consistent weekly spot, we have an option that works for you.
Flexible Booking
Designed for families with less predictable schedules — including those working shift work, who only need occasional visits, or who aren't yet sure how much support their child needs. Flex booking is also a great option for families waiting for a reserved weekly spot — so you have access to an SLP in the meantime, can get a sense of where your child is at, and know what you can do at home to support them right now. Book online whenever it works for you. We recommend booking as far ahead as you know your schedule, as availability cannot be guaranteed.
Reserve Time Booking
For children who need consistent, ongoing support, reserved weekly spots offer the same day and time each week. If you already know your child is looking for regular weekly therapy, we'd love to hear from you before you book — reach out by email and we'll let you know what times are currently available.
Not sure which option is right for your family? Your first visit is a great place to start — we'll help you figure it out together.
Who We Support
Every child communicates differently, and every family comes to us with their own questions and concerns. Here's a sense of who we work with — if you're not sure whether your child fits, get in touch. We're always happy to help you figure out if we're the right fit.
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We support young children who aren’t yet meeting their speech and language milestones, and families who just want to make sure their child is on the right track.
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Not every family comes to us with a clear concern. If you're just not sure, an initial visit is a great place to start. It may be your only visit — and that's completely okay.
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We work with children who are still developing their speech sounds and may be difficult to understand — whether that's for people they've just met, or sometimes even for the people who know them best.
Wondering when children are expected to master certain sounds? See our speech sound guide →
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Our practice is neurodiversity-affirming at its core. We support children whose brains work differently — including autistic children, children with ADHD, and children with other learning differences — through a child-led, play-based approach that honours each child's unique way of communicating and engaging with the world.
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We support children who are already using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools, as well as those who are just beginning to explore them.
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We understand and support children who use echolalia or scripting (delayed echolalia) as a meaningful form of communication. It's not something to be stopped, but something to understand and build from.
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We offer literacy support for school-aged children and youth who are finding reading and writing difficult at their grade level. Becoming a confident reader and writer involves many skills working together — and when one or more of those skills needs extra support, the whole process can feel harder than it should. Our approach is tailored to each child's individual literacy profile, so we focus on building the specific skills that will make the biggest difference for them.
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If your family doctor, pediatrician, or another professional has recommended ongoing SLP support for your child, we can help. We offer consistent weekly therapy for children and youth who need regular support to develop their communication and language skills over time.
We support children and youth from 12 months to 18 years, in-person in Vancouver and virtually across BC. Services are available in English, Vietnamese, and Cantonese.
Our Approach
Our work is guided by a few core values that shape how we show up — for children and families. At Grow Onwords, every SLP on our team shares the same foundation, so whoever your child works with, here's what you can expect.
Before learning can happen, children need to feel safe, regulated, and genuinely connected to the people around them. Building that trust isn't a warmup to therapy — it is the therapy. Every session at Grow Onwords starts here.
CONNECTION COMES FIRST
We believe meaningful learning happens through play. Our therapy is child-led, developmentally respectful, and grounded in curiosity rather than compliance.
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
We practice from a neurodiversity-affirming lens, honouring each child's way of being, communicating, and engaging with the world. Difference is not something to be fixed — it's something to be understood and supported.
NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CARE
Strong, trusting relationships are central to our work. We value collaboration with families and see caregivers as essential partners in the therapeutic process.
RELATIONSHIPS MATTER
Our work is reflective, curious, and intentional. We prioritize evidence-informed care and ongoing learning — so that what we bring to your child reflects the best of what we know.
THOUGHTFUL, GROUNDED PRACTICE
Curious what "child-led," "play-based," or "neurodiversity-affirming" really means in practice? We love talking about it — ask us at your first visit.
Our Space
At Grow Onwords, we see our clinic space as part of the therapy itself. We're proud to call The SPOT Pediatric Centre our home — a neuro-affirming inclusive space where speech-language pathology and occupational therapy come together to provide collaborative, family-centred care.
From abundant natural light and sound-dampening features to fully accessible entrances, elevators, and washrooms, every detail was chosen to help children and families with diverse ways of moving, communicating, and experiencing the world feel welcome, comfortable, and supported.
Children and youth coming to Grow Onwords for speech-language therapy have access to a private therapy room for their session, along with The SPOT’s shared spaces: a sensory gym, pretend play space, quiet sensory room, and outdoor terrace.
This gives us the flexibility to shape each session around your child. We might spend time connecting and learning in their therapy room, then move into another space to practise communication through movement, play, exploration, and everyday interactions.
There’s no one place — or one way — therapy has to happen. We follow your child’s interests, needs, and comfort to create sessions that feel meaningful, engaging, and uniquely theirs.
Growing speech, language, and literacy skills word by word.
Growing speech, language, and literacy skills word by word.
How it Works
Not sure what to expect from your first visit? Here’s how it typically goes.
BOOK AN INITIAL VISIT
Your first visit is a chance for us to meet your child, observe their communication, and understand your family's concerns. No referral needed — you can book directly online or reach out by email if you have questions first.
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WE ASSESS & SHARE WHAT WE FIND
During your visit, we'll assess your child's speech, language, and communication skills. We'll share what we observed — whether your child is meeting age-appropriate milestones, whether further assessment is recommended, and what we think the next steps might look like.
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CHOOSE THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT FITS
Every family's situation is different. Based on what we find, we'll talk through your options together — whether that's a one-time visit, a few sessions, or consistent weekly therapy. There's no pressure, and no one-size-fits-all plan.
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Your first visit may be your only visit — and that's completely okay. We're here to give you the information and support your family needs, whatever that looks like.
Meet the Team
At Grow Onwords, every member of our team shares the same values and approach to care. Whoever your child works with, you can expect the same commitment to thoughtful, child-led, neuro-affirming therapy — and a genuine investment in your family's experience.
DIANA TRAN, MHSc., RSLP, S-LP(C)
Founder & Speech-Language Pathologist
With over 13 years of experience working with children of all ages — first as a therapy assistant and now as an SLP — Diana founded Grow Onwords to offer families the kind of care she truly believes in. Her sessions are child-led, play-based, and evidence-based — always grounded in genuine connection with your child and your family. Diana is on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) in BC and is committed to neurodiversity-affirming practice. She offers services in English and Vietnamese.
RENÉE WONG, MHSc., RSLP, S-LP(C)
Speech-Language Pathologist
Renée completed her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology and her undergraduate degree in Speech Sciences at UBC. She has over 5 years of experience working and volunteering with children of all ages and abilities. Renée brings a warm, genuine approach to every session — building the kind of trusting connections that help children feel comfortable, seen, and motivated. Renée honours each child's unique way of engaging with the world and strives to create a space where children feel safe to explore and learn through play, curiosity, and everyday experiences. She is on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) in BC as a supervised provider. She offers services in English and Cantonese, with working knowledge of French.
FAQs
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No referral needed. You can book your child's first visit directly online, or reach out by email if you'd like to connect with us first.
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Your first visit is a chance for us to meet your child, observe their communication, and understand your family's concerns. By the end of the session, we'll share what we found — whether your child is meeting age-appropriate milestones, whether further assessment is recommended, and what next steps might look like. It may be your only visit, and that's completely okay.
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We support toddlers from 12 months through to youth aged 18 years — in-person in Vancouver and virtually across BC.
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Coverage depends on your extended health insurance plan. Services may be listed under "speech therapy," "speech-language pathology," or "speech-language pathologist" services. We don't offer direct billing, but we'll provide a receipt after each visit that you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement.
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Yes — we are able to directly accept payment from the Autism Funding Unit (AFU) and the At Home Program (AHP), as well as the Variety Children's Charity Grant and the CKNW Kids' Fund. Please let us know before your first visit so we can get the paperwork sorted ahead of time.
See our full FAQ for details on the Variety and CKNW grant process →
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Yes — we are able to work with families accessing funding through Online Learning or Independent School programs. Please get in touch and we'll be happy to discuss how this works for your family.
→ Get in Touch
Come Find Us
Whether you're coming in person or joining from home, we make it easy to get started.
IN-PERSON — VANCOUVER
We see families in our dedicated therapy room at The SPOT Pediatric Centre, a thoughtfully designed, fully accessible space in the heart of Mount Pleasant.
In-person sessions are available Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm on select days.
We're easy to reach by transit — about a 10- to 15-minute walk from Main Street-Science World Station or Olympic Village Station. If you are coming by car, paid street parking is available on many nearby streets. Please note that parking is not available in the building parkade.
VIRTUAL — BC-WIDE
Not able to make the commute, or based outside of Vancouver? We offer virtual SLP sessions to families across British Columbia. Reach out through our contact form and we'll be in touch to get you started.