Ignite Speech was founded in Richmond, Virginia in 2024 by Meghan Jackson, an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. We provide individualized speech-language, feeding, and orofacial myology evaluation and therapeutic services in the convenience of your own home, daycares, preschools, or private school as well as teletherapy.

We are the creators of Playful Pathways - a play-based class for children, ages 15 months - 5 years that targets all areas of development through play.

At Ignite Speech, we combine cutting-edge research with heartfelt care, ensuring every client gets the personalized attention they deserve. Our innovative approaches, like the integration of airway health, sleep, nutrition, and motor skills stem from a commitment to go beyond conventional methods in order to truly unlock each client's potential.

Meghan Jackson, MS CCC-SLP she/her

Speech-Language Pathologist and Owner/ Founder

Meghan is a board licensed and certified speech language pathologist and orofacial myologist with extensive experience treating individuals of all ages. She is also a wife and a mother of two young children, so she knows what it's like to want the best for your kids!

Throughout her career, she has pursued advanced trainings, courses, and programs to help her clients speak, sleep, breathe and eat better. She is a life-long learner who is driven to use the most effective and evidence-based treatments in her practice.

Meghan earned her master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology, from James Madison University. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and is licensed with the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. She has been working as a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist since 2011 treating clients in medically based outpatient clinics, daycares, and private school settings. Meghan takes a holistic approach while working closely with clients and their families to facilitate effective communication skill development and implementation.

Outside of work, Meghan loves being outside and enjoys hiking, traveling to new places, reading, tending to her garden, and spending time with her friends and family!

Meghan's special trainings and methods include:

Understanding the Orofacial Complex, with Kristie Gatto and Amanda Chastain
AEIOU: An Integrated Approach to Pediatric Feeding
Chrysalis Orofacial: TOTS Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training
Tongue Tips: An Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Program by Simon Says
PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets): Level I
TalkTools: Three-Part Treatment Plan for Oral Placement Therapy
Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP)
Minspeak Pittsburgh AAC Language Seminar Series (PALSS)
DIR 101: An Introduction to DIR and Floortime

Haylee Henson, MS CCC-SLP she/her

Speech-Language Pathologist

Haylee is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with experience supporting clients across the lifespan. She earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University and began her career working in geriatric settings, where she provided services in skilled nursing facilities to support adults with cognitive-communication disorders, dysphagia, and voice and language impairments. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed with the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology.

Haylee recently transitioned into the school system, where she now works with children and adolescents to build communication skills that support academic learning, peer interaction, and self-advocacy. Her clinical interests include language development, social communication, and providing neurodiversity-affirming support for students with communication needs.

Haylee is passionate about empowering individuals to communicate in ways that are authentic and functional for them. She takes a strengths-based, collaborative approach to therapy that prioritizes connection, self-expression, and meaningful participation.

Outside of work, Haylee enjoys reading, going to concerts, hiking, and going on long walks with her partner and their bernedoodle.

Matt Vellucci, PT, MPT he/him

Physical Therapist for Playful Pathways

Matt is a licensed physical therapist with over 13 years of experience working with individuals of all ages and diagnoses. For the past 7 years, Matt has been helping children reach their full potential through movement and play. As a physical therapist with Chesterfield County Public Schools, he specializes in supporting his students in accessing their educational environment and optimizing their ability to functionally participate throughout their school day. He has experience with children that demonstrate a wide range of developmental, neurological and orthopedic conditions. With a compassionate, family-centered approach, Matt focuses on creating individualized treatment plans that are both fun and functional, aimed to build strength, confidence and independence in the children he supports.

Matt earned his Bachelor's of Science in Human Nutrition Foods & Exercise from Virginia Tech and continued on for his Master's of Physical Therapy degree at Winston-Salem State University. During his career as a physical therapist, he found his passion working with children when he was working in the hospital setting. He transitioned to the school system and outpatient fields in 2017. He continues to be committed to ongoing learning and regularly pursues continuing education to stay up to date with latest techniques used in pediatric physical therapy.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and their 2 younger daughters. You can find them enjoying the outdoors, exercising, learning different sports and enjoying new restaurants in the area.

Olivia May, OTD, OTR/L she/her

Occupational Therapist for Playful Pathways

Olivia is a licensed occupational therapist with over five years of experience supporting children across a range of pediatric settings. She earned her doctorate in occupational therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2020 and began her career in an outpatient clinic, where she spent three years helping children from birth to age 18 build skills for greater independence and participation in daily life. In 2023, Olivia transitioned to working within the school system, where she now supports students in developing the foundational skills they need to learn, grow, and thrive in the classroom and beyond.

Olivia is deeply passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming care that celebrates each child’s unique strengths and interests. Her approach is rooted in respect for autonomy, empowerment through self-advocacy, and supporting meaningful, functional participation in daily life. She believes therapy should be a collaborative and joyful experience that honors a child’s voice and individual sensory, emotional, and developmental needs.

Outside of work, Olivia enjoys spending time with her husband and their two dogs. She enjoys traveling the world, spending quality time with friends and families, and tending to her garden.