About Coastal Play & Progress
Coastal Play & Progress provides pediatric speech therapy services rooted in connection, respect, and individualized care. Therapy is designed to meet each child where they are, honoring their unique communication style while supporting meaningful, functional communication across everyday environments.
Speech therapy services are child-led, play-based, and neurodiversity-affirming. Rather than focusing on compliance or performance, therapy emphasizes regulation, engagement, and building trusting relationships. By following each child’s interests and supporting readiness for communication through movement and play, meaningful progress can occur naturally.
Coastal Play & Progress supports children with a wide range of communication needs, including speech sound disorders, language delays, stuttering, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental differences. Specialized experience includes supporting gestalt language processors and children who are nonspeaking or who benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), with individualized strategies that honor each child’s unique learning style.
AAC is a core area of focus at Coastal Play & Progress. We believe that all children deserve access to a voice and provide support using a variety of AAC systems, including speech-generating devices and eye-gaze access methods, to ensure communication is accessible, functional, and empowering.
Family collaboration is an essential part of therapy. Caregivers are valued as key partners, and support is designed to carry over into daily routines, home life, and natural interactions beyond therapy sessions.
Coastal Play & Progress is committed to providing compassionate, individualized pediatric speech therapy that builds confidence, connection, and lifelong communication skills.
Services
Call us today for a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your child’s communication needs, ask questions, and determine next steps. No pressure, just support.
Speech Therapy Evaluation
A comprehensive speech and language evaluation designed to understand your child’s unique communication strengths, needs, and goals. Through play-based interaction and caregiver input, we create a personalized therapy plan that supports meaningful communication and connection.
Speech Therapy Session
Individualized 60-minute speech therapy sessions rooted in connection, play, and child-led interests. Therapy focuses on building communication skills in a way that feels safe, engaging, and meaningful for your child.
AAC Consultation/Treatment
AAC evaluations and therapy support children who benefit from alternative ways to communicate, including speech-generating devices and picture-based systems. Our approach prioritizes connection, autonomy, and functional communication across daily routines.
Meet Your Therapist
The heart and founder of Coastal Play & Progress
Nichole Burns, M.S., CCC-SLP
Founder & Speech-Language Pathologist
Hi! I’m Nichole, a licensed speech-language pathologist and the founder of Coastal Play & Progress. I believe children learn and communicate best when they feel safe, supported, and truly understood. My approach is rooted in connection, play, and honoring each child’s individual strengths.
I have experience supporting children with a wide range of communication needs, including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and language delays. Therapy sessions are child-led and often include movement and play to support regulation, engagement, and meaningful communication.
I am especially passionate about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and have experience with a variety of systems, including high-tech devices and eye-gaze access. Providing access to communication for every child is at the core of my work.
I founded Coastal Play & Progress to create a space where therapy is truly individualized, where children are supported at their own pace, and families feel heard, valued, and respected.
It is an honor to partner with families and support each child’s communication journey.
Get Started
2
Complete Intake & Attend the Evaluation
You’ll receive intake forms to complete ahead of time. During the in-person evaluation, your child will be supported through a play-based, comfortable assessment to better understand their communication strengths and needs.
3
Receive a Personalized Plan
After the evaluation, recommendations will be shared and therapy scheduling will be discussed based on your child’s individual needs, goals, and family priorities.
Contact Us
Clinic Location:
2032 El Jobean Rd, Unit 4
Port Charlotte, FL 33949
Telehealth services available for families across the state of Florida, as appropriate.
941-237-0017