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This November, Sarah Baar, MA, CCC-SLP, returned to �������� Michigan University’s College of Health and Human Services to share her insights with current students in the Speech-Language Pathology graduate program. Sarah’s visit also included time with clients and families participating in the Aphasia Communication Enhancement Program, a valuable service offered through the �������� Charles Van Riper Language, Speech and Hearing Clinic where students work with clients, gaining valuable experience-driven learning opportunities.

Sarah, a 2008 graduate of ��������’s Speech-Language Pathology program, initially chose speech-language pathology because she was interested in how it blended science and art - it's both a person-focused and technical field. When Sarah was a junior in college, her dad had a stroke and went through inpatient rehabilitation himself - from that moment on, she was set on working as a medical speech-language pathologist because of her experience from the family perspective. 

"I loved grad school and made lifelong friends who are also speech pathologists. I had no idea at the time that the Aphasia Communication Enhancement (ACE) program lead by Sandy Glista and Robin Pollens would be deeply impactful in my career. They used a Life Participation Approach framework and even supported me and fellow students with Aphasia Advocacy events along with our clients with aphasia. I look back now at these experiences and am deeply grateful for my professors and how they began to shape my clinical thinking," said Sarah. 

Sarah has built a notable career as both a practicing clinician and a social media influencer. Since founding Honeycomb Speech Therapy in 2016, Sarah has dedicated herself to transforming the landscape of speech therapy for adults with neurogenic disorders. Through her website, and online store, she provides evidence-based, functional therapy materials designed to meet the real-world needs of her patients. The inspiration behind this initiative was born from Sarah’s early frustration with therapy tools that often lacked relevance to her clients’ everyday lives.

“I remember a few years into my career, I started hearing patients say, ‘What does this have to do with anything?’ after using the card games, non-functional apps, and worksheets that I was trained to use in therapy,” Sarah recalls. “I realized that these methods weren’t supported by evidence for the neurogenic population, so I decided to create my own functional therapy materials," explained Sarah.

With a clear vision in mind, Sarah used her knowledge and creativity to develop resources that promote person-centered care—a concept now increasingly expected in both clinical practice and by healthcare insurers. This approach tailors therapy to the individual needs, preferences, and values of each patient, making the therapy experience not only more effective but more meaningful.

In addition to her work at Honeycomb Speech Therapy, Sarah has become an influential voice in the field through her social media platforms, where she connects with colleagues and fellow clinicians to share ideas, resources and innovations in therapy. She started her social media presence without any prior experience but quickly grew her following to over 15,000 engaged professionals, highlighting her ability to use digital platforms to advocate for change in the field. In 2023, she received the ASHA Innovator Award from the national organization, due to the creative ideas about person-centered care and wide reach to educate medical SLPs.

Today, Sarah’s impact extends beyond her own practice. She frequently speaks at conferences and events, delivering speaking engagements that focus on the importance of functional, person-centered speech therapy. She also serves as a board member for Aphasia Access and volunteers with the National Aphasia Association, advocating for those living with aphasia and neurogenic communication disorders.

Sarah’s dedication to her patients, her profession and the field of speech-language pathology is evident in her continued pursuit of excellence and innovation. She is not only shaping the future of speech therapy but also making a lasting impact on the lives of those she serves.

We are proud to have Sarah Baar as a graduate of ��������’s College of Health and Human Services and look forward to seeing her continued growth and influence in the field of speech-language pathology.