Finding Her Voice: How Maggie Ritchie Is Building a Future of Advocacy and Empowerment

Meet Maggie May Ritchie — a Junior Board Member of One Voice Arkansas and a passionate advocate for children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Currently pursuing her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Stephen F. Austin State University, Maggie has dedicated her academic and professional journey to helping others find their voice.

“Every child deserves to be heard. When you help someone find their voice, you’re not just changing their ability to speak—you’re changing their life.”

With a perfect 4.0 GPA in graduate school and a summa cum laude Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Maggie’s excellence in the classroom mirrors her compassion in the clinic. At the SFA Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders, she has worked alongside clinicians supporting children with CAS, autism, and expressive language disorders—creating therapy materials, collecting data, and building relationships with caregivers to ensure every child feels seen and supported.

Her passion deepened at the Temple Memorial Pediatric Center in Texarkana, where she observed an interdisciplinary team of therapists helping children overcome challenges such as traumatic brain injury, feeding and swallowing disorders, and oral motor weakness. There, Maggie developed a strong appreciation for communication tools like the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), which allows nonverbal children to express themselves through images and symbols.

Beyond her clinical work, Maggie’s commitment to children extends into the classroom and the community. She serves as a Youth Development Specialist for the Boys and Girls Club Afterschool Program in Nacogdoches, where she leads art, life skills, and academic activities for more than sixty elementary students. As a substitute teacher for Nacogdoches ISD, she’s known for her adaptability and her ability to create positive, inclusive learning environments for diverse learners.

Maggie’s leadership shines through in her campus and community involvement. She has held multiple roles in the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, including Public Relations Officer, and served as Secretary and Professional Development Chair for her Chi Omega Sorority, where she also earned the Model Initiate Award. Her dedication has earned her several scholarships, including the Academic Excellence Scholarship, Regions Bank Scholarship, and Chi Omega Academic Foundations Scholarship.

Now, as part of the One Voice Arkansas Junior Board, Maggie is bringing her expertise and empathy to advocacy work—helping raise awareness, plan events, and support families affected by Childhood Apraxia of Speech. She understands not just the science of speech, but the heart behind it.

Through her studies, leadership, and volunteerism, Maggie is embodying what One Voice Arkansas stands for: hope, inclusion, and empowerment. Her journey reminds us that the ability to communicate is more than words—it’s connection, confidence, and belonging.