A New Home for Little Voices
Led by sisters Nicole Raso and Tiffany Love, The Speech Barn grows into a bigger, brighter space offering personalized speech therapy and a welcoming community for South Jersey families.
Nestled in the quaint town of Hammonton, New Jersey, The Speech Barn offers a warm, welcoming haven for all children and families in its new “Little Berries’ Play Space,” as well as speech and language services for those who are navigating the challenges of communication.
Sisters Nicole Raso and Tiffany Love—affectionately known as Miss Nicole and Miss Tiffany—have transformed the private speech-language therapy practice from a one-room barn behind Nicole’s home into a vibrant, community-centered clinic. Now, with a brand-new location and ever-expanding offerings, The Speech Barn is ready to help even more children find their voice.
“Every kid is different, and every case is different,” says Nicole. “We’re here to meet them where they are and help them grow. When kids say their first word, it’s the best feeling ever. It’s a very rewarding job. We had some restrictions when we were located behind our house in a one-person office. Now we can see more clients and offer so much more.”
In June 2025, The Speech Barn moved only a few miles into a larger, purpose-built space that reflects the sisters’ vision for a therapy center that feels more like a second home than a clinic. Complete with a welcoming waiting room styled as a French café, a “party room” for classes and events, and an imaginative indoor play area, the new location has resonated with families.
Nicole, a lifelong Hammonton resident, first dreamed of having her own practice years ago, though for a long time her dream felt out of reach. That changed when her husband suggested turning the barn behind their house into a therapy space. In March 2020, Nicole quit her job to pursue her dream right at the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic hit—the timing was less than ideal, she admits—and she began offering teletherapy and gradually built up a client base.
Both Nicole and Tiffany have master’s degrees in communication sciences and disorders. With Nicole’s background in private practice, schools, and teletherapy, and Tiffany’s earlier experience as a special education teacher, the sisters bring a dynamic blend of skills to their work.
“I was always torn between being in the school setting and something more focused,” Tiffany explains. “I saw what Nicole was doing and loved the idea. Working with her has made this so easy—we’re very similar, and our clients love that we’re sisters. It creates a family feel.”
That family-first philosophy permeates everything The Speech Barn does. The clinic offers one-on-one therapy, group sessions, evaluations, and screenings for children from ages 15 months to 18 years. The team specializes in a wide range of communication challenges, including autism spectrum disorder, childhood apraxia of speech, developmental delays, articulation disorders, fluency disorders, and more. Every child receives an individualized therapy plan grounded in evidence-based methods and infused with fun and play.
“We don’t just look at test scores,” Tiffany adds. “We tailor everything. We’re constantly changing and growing based on each child’s needs.”
One of the most exciting features of the new location is the emphasis on community and creativity. In 2022, The Speech Barn introduced “Mommy and Me” music classes for children ages six months to five years old. Since moving locations, they have added sensory classes, Mini Maker craft classes, holiday-themed events, and social skills groups—all designed to support development in a fun, engaging way.
Many of these offerings take place in the spacious new indoor play space, which is tailored to all kids aged one to six, according to Nicole, but “everyone benefits.” They welcome all children from three months to eight years old. That homey, approachable atmosphere opens its doors to all children and families looking to get out in the community and interact with other children.
For all its charm and warmth, The Speech Barn is serious about results. Initial evaluations are thorough, involving standardized testing, functional assessments, and detailed parent interviews. The sisters believe in treating the whole child and empowering families along the way.
“We want this to be a space where kids can grow and families can feel at home,” Tiffany says. “We build relationships; the parents of the kids we help become like co-workers and friends. That’s how real progress happens.”
Whether it’s a first word, a breakthrough moment in a playgroup, or a shared laugh over a craft project, The Speech Barn is much more than just a therapy clinic. It’s a place where communication blossoms—and families find support every step of the way.
The Speech Barn LLC
897 12th Street, Unit 101
Hammonton, NJ 08037
www.speechbarnllc.com
(609) 878-0892
897 12th Street, Unit 101
Hammonton, NJ 08037
www.speechbarnllc.com
(609) 878-0892
Photo by Alison Dunlap
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, October 2025.
