Responsibilities
- Conduct individual and group speech-language therapy sessions in outdoor environments, including woods, farms, and equine facilities.
- Assess clients' communication, language, speech, cognitive-linguistic, feeding, and swallowing needs to develop individualized treatment plans.
- Implement evidence-based speech-language interventions to improve communication, social interaction, cognitive-linguistic skills, and functional independence.
- Develop and implement nature-based treatment plans tailored to client needs, utilizing traditional speech-language pathology methods as well as hippotherapy.
- Incorporate techniques such as ecotherapy, animal-assisted therapy, mindfulness, hippotherapy, horticultural activities, and adventure-based learning to support therapeutic goals.
- Collaborate with occupational therapists, physical therapists, mental health professionals, educators, physicians, and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care.
- Maintain accurate client records and documentation in compliance with ethical, legal, and professional standards.
- Educate clients and families about the therapeutic benefits of nature-based interventions and strategies to support communication across environments.
- Facilitate workshops, retreats, and community programs that promote communication, social engagement, and overall wellness through nature-based interventions and speech-language therapy practices.
- Other responsibilities as needed.
- May require Saturday hours
Qualifications
- Education: Master's or Doctoral degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited program. Bachelors or Associate SLPA encouraged to apply
- Licensure: Current Connecticut licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
- Certification: Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) preferred; Clinical Fellowship (CF) candidates are welcome to apply.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in speech-language pathology preferred (new graduates and Clinical Fellows are encouraged to apply).
- Experience working in pediatrics, neurorehabilitation, developmental disabilities, feeding/swallowing disorders, or equine-assisted therapy is a plus.
- Strong understanding of speech, language, social communication, cognitive-linguistic, and feeding/swallowing disorders.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic interdisciplinary environment.
- Passion for helping clients improve communication, participation, and quality of life through innovative therapeutic approaches.
- Training or experience in ecotherapy, adventure therapy, equine-assisted therapy, hippotherapy, or horticultural therapy is a plus.
- Ability and desire to work with clients on horseback as part of hippotherapy sessions.
- Strong understanding of trauma-informed care and mindfulness practices.
- Ability to work in outdoor environments and varying weather conditions.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and family-education skills.
- Passion for integrating nature and experiential learning into speech-language therapy.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Ridgebury Farm, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring, promotion, compensation, training, or any other term or condition of employment on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning disability, physical disability, including blindness, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Ridgebury Farm complies with Connecticut and federal equal employment opportunity laws.