Meet the Owner: Kay Ely

When Kay Ely opened her own business in Shakopee, it was a dream come true. This speech therapist with 21 years of experience opened Expressions In Motion, a business dedicated to people with speech and language disorders, particularly those with autism.

“Studies show that children with autism can lead functioning lives, but it’s crucial for them to have specialized help as they grow,” she said. “To watch the progression autistic children can make with a little help is simply amazing.”

Shelly Lannon, a mother with two autistic children, knows that all too well. Both of her children, Megan and Maria, have worked with Ely for about eight years. In that time Lannon says their speech improved along with their ability to interact with other kids.

“Raising children with autism is a journey,” she said. “Kay has helped me so much along the way. She’s invested in my kids and wants the best for them and that’s a quality that is tough to find.”

That quality started to shape in Ely when she was just a teenager, as she grew up with a mentally disabled cousin. “I would baby sit her a lot and I saw how the public perceived her and that always stuck in my mind,” she said. “I wanted to do something to change that and so I became a speech therapist.” 

Through the years, Ely has expanded her knowledge and now utilizes a special approach for children with autism called the Miller Method, a method that Ely says is not well known in Minnesota. The approach centers around a square table that stands about a foot and half off the ground.

“Children with autism often live in their own tunnel,” Ely explained. “By having children elevated on this table and doing simple exercises, they are forced to become more aware of their surroundings.”

This new business owner is looking forward to using this technique with local children and hopes to serve a part of the community she believes is underserved.

“There is a need for this kind of service in this area and I hope children and parents take full advantage of it," she said.

Ely has experience working in clinics and school districts. She started Expressions in Motion as a home-based business, but ultimately wanted another space. She accomplished that goal last September when Expressions in Motion opened on 13^th Avenue.