CONNECT First
by Susannah Burden, BSc(Hons), CertMRCSLT, PgDip AVT, LSLS Cert AVT
What if supporting your child’s communication didn’t mean squeezing in more therapy, more strategies, or more pressure—but instead meant noticing what’s already there, and building on it?
In this honest, practical, and empowering guide, speech and language therapist Susannah Burden shares The CONNECT Framework®—a relationship-first, neurodiversity-affirming approach that helps families support their child’s communication, emotional regulation, and confidence in the moments that matter most.
Drawing from lived experience on both sides of the table—as a professional and as a parent— Susannah invites readers into a more compassionate, functional way of working with children of all ages. Whether your child is speaking or not yet using words, autistic, anxious, sensory-seeking, deaf, or simply wired differently, this book will help you understand what’s going on beneath the surface and how to support growth through everyday routines and real-life connection.
You won’t find pressure, perfection, or step-by-step scripts here.
Instead, you’ll find clarity, practical ideas, and a reminder that what your child needs most… is you.
Reflections from the author
“When I first trained as an Auditory Verbal Therapist more than a decade ago, I had no idea just how deeply those early years spent working with deaf children—and their families—would go on to shape my understanding of communication, listening, and childhood itself.
Working alongside parents navigating cochlear implantation, early listening checks, mapping appointments, device wear, and the daily realities of helping their child make sense of sound taught me something profound: Children communicate best when they feel connected, safe, and understood—not just when the technology is working well.
Yes, access to sound matters. The quality of the map matters. Early intervention matters.
But emotional connection matters every bit as much.
As my caseload grew beyond auditory-verbal work into supporting a wider range of children, I noticed something important: the same relationship-centred principles that help deaf children develop spoken language also support all children to communicate—regardless of their hearing status or diagnosis.”
The CONNECT Framework® supports children and young people with diverse communication needs. Grounded in evidence-based practice and real-life experience, this approach shifts the focus from “fixing deficits” to creating safety, togetherness, and genuine opportunities for language to flourish.
This first book in Susannah’s CONNECT series is structured around seven CONNECT principles:
C – Connection First
O – Observe and Adapt
N – Natural Routines
N – Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice
E – Empowered Caregivers
C – Communication as an Outcome of Regulation
T – Togetherness
Each chapter combines clear explanations, neuroscience in accessible language, and real stories from therapy sessions and family life. Practical reflection prompts invite readers to apply the ideas to their own situation, while take-home strategies ensure the book is immediately useful in daily routines.
Dig Deeper: View the Table of Contents
CONNECT First is for:
Parents and carers who want to support their child’s communication in everyday life.
Teachers, teaching assistants, and SEND professionals looking for approaches that reduce anxiety and build connection in the classroom.
Speech and language therapists and allied professionals seeking a fresh, connection-first framework to guide their practice.
More than a manual, this book is an invitation to slow down, notice, and build stronger relationships. By starting with connection, communication becomes not only possible, but joyful and sustainable.
About the author
Susannah Burden, BSc(Hons), CertMRCSLT, PgDip AVT, LSLS Cert AVT, is an independent Speech and Language Therapist and Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist with over 17 years’ experience working alongside families, schools, and young people.
She founded the Connect Communication Therapy practice to share her belief that true communication support begins not with drills or correction, but with connection, regulation, and trust. Read more.
Connect with Susannah:
Connect Communication Therapy Practice
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The CONNECT Framework®, developed by Susannah Burden, is a registered trademark of Connect Communication Therapy Limited.