Dr. Elizabeth Straka Speech Associates

Dr. Elizabeth Straka’s journey in becoming the leading speech pathology provider in Colorado Springs, and now Castle Rock was one of luck, as “Ms. Betsy” would put it. As a professional, she is referred to in the disabled community as the best. As one of the parents that has trusted her for nine years to provide my special needs son his weekly speech therapy, I personally think she is the best.

My son was not speaking by the time he was two and a half. After some searching, I found Dr. Straka and began taking my son to Michelle Croom, one of the therapists at Straka Speech Associates. She quickly recognized that my son had autism and tried to explain it to me. Although it took a while for me to accept, and for my son to make progress, when my son could finally tell me that he loves me, I credited Ms. Betsy and her staff. Ms. Betsy says that helping parents understand their children’s disabilities is one of the difficult parts of her job, yet at the same time she is happy to give answers to families, so they can get the exact kind of help their children need, including speech therapy.

Dr. Straka’s solo practice began in 1986, but her passion and love for children began in college. After college, she first worked in a Rehab facility and later for District 20 in Colorado Springs. A parent off-handedly said she had been searching for a private speech therapist for the summer months. Ms. Betsy said she would gladly help.

Elizabeth Straka Speech Associates had its first client with a small office in a Victorian house in downtown Colorado Springs. Ms. Betsy will tell you that she had no plans, just started doing what she loved and working hard. As she would grow, she would hire a new therapist. By 1991, Dr. Straka was renting a small house on the northern edge of downtown, and now the practice is in a much larger building on West Bijou Street.

Ms. Betsy’s daughter, Emilie Straka, grew up during this time and would hear the stories her mother would come home and tell. With the same spark and interest, Emilie phoned home one day while she was attending college and happily told her mom that she was following in her footsteps.

As of May 1, 2014, Dr. Emilie Straka is accepting new patients for the second location, Straka Speech Castle Rock. She has a similar dream and passion as her mother. Ms. Betsy explained that residents of Castle Rock had to drive all the way to Parker or the Arapahoe exit in Denver in order to have private speech therapy, so they are meeting a very large need.

The two locations share eight therapists in all and cater to Spanish-speaking clientele through Theresa Wells, who is fluent in Spanish. The practice has a dedicated voice therapist and a stuttering specialist. Holly Estabrook is known as the Autism guru (and my son loves her). They help a wide variety of children and adults with disabilities. Ms. Betsy reports that her favorite type of work is when there is a technical problem, such as with cleft palates. These children can learn to make radically different sounds with the muscles in their mouths.

Straka Speech Associates wants each child that comes through the door to be a success story. Whether they are just in for a small problem or for long-term care, Ms. Betsy says that she can communicate with any kid. Straka Speech Associates is a valuable part of my son’s life and has helped me do my best for his disability.