CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — Jose Armenta said his son was just a toddler when he was diagnosed with apraxia, a neurological brain disorder that caused the inability to say the words one might be thinking.
"When he first started he really couldn't say more than two words at two-years-old so he was well behind a milestone," Armenta said.
That's when he discovered Pediatrics Speech Tree Therapy in Chula Vista.
"They've been the reason why our children have a voice," said Armenta.
While clients like Armenta's son saw success, the business almost didn't amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Founders Sara Munsterman and Erica Lawson had to switch from 100 percent in-office visits to doing everything virtually, through teletherapy.
"It's giving them some consistency as well that they still have their speech therapy time with Miss Lay at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays so it's giving them a routine to continue working on their goals," Munsterman said.
Since adapting and adjusting, they've also added to their current services, offering virtual therapy sessions for the parents of their clients.
"They don't have to be one of the speech tree clients. We've invited a marriage family therapist and different educators in our community to come on and speak to families so that they can learn during this time as well as how to best support their families at home," says Lawson.
Armenta added he's grateful the center is bringing normalcy into their lives and is happy he can continue to support his local businesses.
"They're part of our family and we knew going into this that small businesses were going to take a hit so any small businesses we could support we try to do that," says Armenta.