Our Purpose

A young child with short dark hair, wearing a white shirt with the words 'sparkle when I sleep,' is sitting on a blue striped surface, holding a orange ball with holes. An adult wearing a yellow shirt is partially visible, holding several colorful balls in front of the child. The background is a bright indoor setting with natural light.

First Words Forward was created by Michelle Naguit Hileman, M.S., CCC-SLP after nearly two decades of supporting families through her private practice, Napa Valley Speech Therapy, Inc.

Through her work at Napa Valley Speech Therapy, Michelle saw firsthand how powerful parent involvement can be, and how deeply children benefit when parents understand what to do between and beyond therapy sessions. She also recognized a growing challenge across the system: many families wait months for services to begin and struggle to find trustworthy, practical guidance while they wait.

First Words Forward was created to fill that gap. The goal is simple: help parents take confident, effective action during the moments that matter most — at home, in daily routines, and long before or between therapy sessions.

Meet Michelle

Why Families Turn to First Words Forward

Many families reach out when:

  • Waitlists feel endless. Evaluation and treatment can take six months or longer to begin — time that is critical for building communication skills and preventing developmental gaps from widening.

  • Therapy leaves parents on the sidelines. In many private and school-based programs, parents rarely observe sessions or receive training on what to do at home. Even well-intentioned systems often leave parents unsure of how to reinforce progress between visits.

  • They need a clear, trusted perspective. Parents sometimes seek a second opinion on IEPs or treatment plans, or simply want unbiased guidance and reliable tools to better understand their child’s needs.

A father and son playing with wooden blocks and toy vehicles on the floor of a room, with a small tent in the background.

How First Words Forward Can Help

Two people, a woman with curly blonde hair and glasses, and a man with dark hair, beard, and glasses, smiling as they look at a laptop together in an office setting.

First Words Forward offers family-centered consultation sessions focused entirely on parent education and coaching — not direct therapy. Each session provides parents with:

  • A clear understanding of their child’s current communication skills and next steps

  • Personalized, easy-to-follow strategies to use at home

  • Practical resources for play, daily routines, and ongoing growth

  • Confidence in how to partner with therapists and advocate for their child

The result: families feel empowered, informed, and supported — helping their children thrive every day, from the very first words forward.

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