Phoenix-based speech-language pathologist Julie Mercadante, MA CCC-SLP, said Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program “a powerful resource” for families looking to fund speech therapy services for their children.
“Navigating the world of speech therapy services can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to figuring out how to pay for them,” Mercadante wrote in a blog post on the Juniper Speech Therapy website. “Thankfully, Arizona families have access to a powerful resource: the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program.”
The Empowerment Scholarship Account program allows Arizona families to use public education funds for private educational expenses, including speech-language therapy, when those services are delivered by a licensed provider. Families who homeschool or whose children qualify for special education services may be eligible for ESA support.
Families using ESA funds must keep documentation of therapy sessions and submit payments through ClassWallet, the state’s ESA payment platform.
Mercadante’s blog post includes guidance for families on how to schedule consultations, verify ESA eligibility, and begin the documentation process.
Mercadante is founder of Juniper Speech Therapy, which specializes in pediatric speech therapy and myofunctional therapy. She provides services to families across the Greater Phoenix metro area,
