Meet the Therapists
Kelly Shay, M.A., CCC-SLP
Hi, I’m Kelly! I am a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist practicing since May 2017. After completing my Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Georgia and my Master's in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Florida, my partner and I moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where I completed my clinical fellowship year and subsequent 2 years in the field. In 2019, we settled in the mountains of western North Carolina and are so proud to call this area home.
I knew in high school that I wanted to be a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist. My younger brother was diagnosed and treated for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) when he was about 3 years old. I was the only one who understood his “baby talk” so I went to a few of his therapy sessions to “translate.” I was amazed that someone’s whole job was playing with children. I knew from then on that was what I wanted to do. I now know that this career is more than just playing games and blowing bubbles, but I’ve never looked back.
While I enjoy treating a variety of speech and language disorders, my specific passions lie in treating early language delays, Autism, stuttering and cluttering disorders, and working with dyslexia and dysgraphia.
When I’m not treating patients, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our dog, Bentley! Bentley gets us outside and enjoying the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. I also love to read and explore the restaurants and breweries around Asheville!
Abbey Alden, MS, CCC-SLP
Hello, my name is Abbey! I have been a speech language pathologist working in outpatient pediatrics since 2019. I completed my bachelors in English with a specialty in professional writing, as well as a bachelors and masters of science in communication sciences and disorders through Western Carolina University. I hold my certification from American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and my license in the state of North Carolina.
Throughout my career, I have worked with children with a wide range of needs, including language and phonological (speech sound) disorders, with both English and Spanish speaking populations. I am especially passionate about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), where I help families trial and implement speech-generating devices or alternative methods of communication to give every child a way to communicate. Additionally, I specialize in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, ensuring mealtime is safe and successful.
My passion for speech-language pathology is rooted in a value instilled in me from a young age: that communication is the key to connection. My path to this field was inspired by my mother’s time at the Atlanta School for the Deaf, where I first learned how transformative the right support can be for a child. This early exposure fostered my love for both languages and alternative communication methods. Today, my goal is to empower my patients, whether they are speaking English, Spanish, or using another way to communicate, to express themselves confidently and authentically.
I live in Western North Carolina with my husband, and our dog, Hank, and our cat, Bo. We love taking advantage of the mountains, whether we’re out hiking, finding a spot by the water, or heading out on my longboard. When I’m not being active outdoors, I enjoy unwinding with a good book, playing video games, or catching up on my favorite anime and manga. I also have a big love for music and enjoy spending my free time practicing the guitar and ukulele.
About All Voices
The name All Voices comes from wanting all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, and ability level, to find their voice. This, of course, could be a metaphorical voice as some people communicate through spoken language, nonverbal language, sign language, and/or an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device.
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All Voices is dedicated to the children and families of Haywood County, North Carolina. After working in the area for 4+ years, Kelly noticed a lack of speech therapy provider options for families in the area, and a huge missed patient group - children with dyslexia. After getting denied by insurance companies for dyslexia being considered too "academic" or being turned away from other speech therapy clinics due to no dyslexia trained therapists, many families resort to receiving school-based reading services, which can be limited. All Voices wants to be the speech therapy provider that families trust and are confident in to treat their children with dyslexia as well as any other speech and language difficulties.