About Us
Founded by two pediatric speech language pathologists with a combined 30 years of experience, The Play Connection serves as a place for children and their families to come together, build and strengthen speech and communication skills, and connect with each other.
At the heart of The Play Connection's approach is a commitment to celebrating the unique strengths and abilities of each child. Therapists work closely with families to create personalized treatment plans that honor the individuality of every client. Therapy sessions are centered around building on strengths and finding creative ways to support communication development. Through play-based interventions, children engage in activities that are both enjoyable and therapeutic.
The Play Connection offers group programs and events that promote social interaction and family support. Families are encouraged to connect with one another, forming a community of understanding and empathy.
Above all, The Play Connection is guided by the belief that every child has the right to be seen, heard, and valued for who they are. By embracing neurodiversity and celebrating the unique gifts of each child, The Play Connection is a place where all children can feel accepted, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Meet the Team
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Jessi Hannig received her bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from West Virginia University in 1999 and her master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science from The Ohio State University in 2001. While at Ohio State, Jessi worked at the Nisonger Center Autism Clinic as a Leadership Education Excellence in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Trainee, where she received specialized instruction in parent/child interactions and social language. While Jessi has experience working with clients from birth into adulthood, the majority of her 23 years of experience as a speech language pathologist have been spent working with children and their families in early intervention and preschool settings. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the areas of speech sound disorders, language delays, social language/pragmatic difficulties, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Jessi loves incorporating creative and child-led play into her sessions to make learning fun and engaging.
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Tisha McCoy attended Miami University where she received her bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 2009. After graduating college, she obtained an Autism Intervention Specialist Certificate from Kent State University. After several years of working with autistic children, Tisha attended graduate school and obtained her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2017. She has since worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist with preschool through high school students, with a majority of time spent in the preschool setting. Tisha is passionate about Early Intervention and the evidence behind child-led, play-based learning. She considers herself to be a lifelong learner where she regularly participates in opportunities to gain knowledge and expertise in the most up-to-date evidence-based practices. Tisha specializes in speech sounds, expressive language, receptive language, social/pragmatic language, and Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC) in early childhood and school-age students.
Our mission is to foster a love of learning in your little ones, through creative play.
“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.”
— Fred Rogers
