Our Story

Built by parents who needed it to exist

When two of their triplet daughters were diagnosed with Speech Apraxia and autism, Lois and David Kalmick searched for software worthy of their girls — and couldn't find it. So in 2013, they built it.

Lois and David Kalmick as their Speech Kingdom avatars, holding hands and waving

Lois & David Kalmick, founders of Speech Kingdom

The Kalmick family story

Lois and David Kalmick are software entrepreneurs — and parents of triplets: two identical girls and one fraternal daughter. At 30 months, the identical twins were diagnosed with Speech Apraxia and Autism Spectrum Disorder at varying severity; their fraternal daughter is neurotypical. From that day forward, the Kalmicks had one objective: a "relentless pursuit to help our girls with whatever it would take to help them lead happy and productive lives."

That pursuit worked. One daughter eventually lost her diagnoses entirely. The other — a piano prodigy — improves every day.

As technology-oriented parents, the Kalmicks naturally searched for software that could help. Everything they found was either oversimplified or ineffective, and the video-based content held little appeal for their daughters. So in early 2013 they set out to build something better — assembling talent from their former companies, therapists from their own therapeutic journey, graphic designers on both coasts, committed investors, and educational specialists. Together, they translated evidence-based therapies into accessible, high-quality software without compromising effectiveness or affordability.

Speech Kingdom isn't just something the Kalmicks built. It's something they still use — every single day — with one of their daughters.

That daily use is the standard behind every story, game, and report in the kingdom: if it isn't good enough for the Kalmicks' own family, it doesn't ship.

A young girl wearing headphones smiles during a recording session

Spectrum Laboratory

The voices of the kingdom are on the spectrum

Spectrum Laboratory (“SpecLabs”) produces the voices for Speech Kingdom's social stories. Virtually all of our voice-over actors are children and young adults on the autism spectrum — most of whom have been through years of speech and other therapies themselves. Every voice is professionally recorded and directed by Cathy McAuley, a multi-award-winning television and Broadway National Tour actress.

SpecLabs is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that educates and empowers autistic and neurodivergent artists toward employment in the entertainment industry — with mentorships and training in film, music, and animation, and client partners including Disney Pixar, Sesame Street, and Special Olympics.

Real voices model real prosody.

What our story taught us

Three convictions from the Kalmicks' journey shape every decision we make.

Effectiveness is non-negotiable

Everything in the kingdom starts from evidence-based therapies — the same ones that worked for the Kalmicks' daughters.

Quality shouldn't cost a fortune

High-quality software can be accessible and affordable at the same time. We refuse to compromise on either.

Families are the proof

The founders still use Speech Kingdom daily with one of their daughters. We build for our own family first.