Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Tao.
Hi Annie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Since the original Voyage Miami story in 2020 , our journey at Always Keep Progressing has grown in ways we never imagined. What started as a small clinic built from passion, music, and a deep desire to empower children with autism and developmental delays has now expanded into a thriving organization serving families across Miami.
In just a few years, we’ve grown from one cozy clinic to two full-service therapy centers, including our newest location in North Miami. Today, we are honored to serve more than 1,000 families every single year, and since our inception we have provided over 200,000 therapy sessions. Every milestone represents a child’s first word, a family’s relief, a breakthrough that once felt impossible. Those moments continue to fuel everything we do.
Last year, we launched one of the projects we are most proud of, our Fundraising Concert Initiative, merging Annie’s lifelong passion for music with our mission to expand access to therapy. These concerts were designed not only to bring our community together, but also to raise funds for music therapy scholarships for families who need them most.
The response has been overwhelming in the best way. Since starting the initiative, Annie has performed concerts in Miami, Ecuador, and New York, raising over $10,000 and bringing more than 2,000 people together to learn about autism, intellectual disabilities, and the power of music as a therapeutic tool. These events have become celebrations of inclusion, joy, awareness, and the belief that every child deserves the chance to thrive.
Our mission remains what it has always been, to create a space where families feel supported, where therapy is creative and personalized, and where children can grow at their own pace while discovering their strengths. But today, our reach, our impact, and our community are bigger and more connected than ever. Being honest.. we feel that this is just the beginning.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like any meaningful journey, the road has definitely not been smooth, but every challenge has shaped who we are as a company today. In the early days, we were building Always Keep Progressing from scratch with no roadmap, no external funding, and no playbook to follow. As a young, minority-owned practice, we often had to work twice as hard just to be taken seriously. Navigating insurance systems, earning trust from physicians, and convincing larger institutions that a small, innovative clinic could deliver high-quality care were uphill battles from day one.
As we grew, the challenges changed but never disappeared. Expanding to two clinics while preserving the quality and heart that define us required long nights, constant problem-solving, and a willingness to learn faster than the obstacles could appear. Building systems, hiring the right team, managing operational complexity, and keeping up with the overwhelming demand for services tested our resilience again and again.
Launching our community fundraising concerts also pushed us far outside our comfort zone. Bringing hundreds of people together, coordinating venues in different cities, and sharing our mission on a public stage was both exciting and intimidating. Yet every challenge led to deeper community support and ultimately allowed us to raise funds for music therapy scholarships that are now changing children’s lives.
Despite the struggles, the mission has always been stronger than the obstacles. The progress of our kids, the gratitude of our families, and the growth of our team make every difficult moment worth it. Our challenges didn’t break us. They built us. And they continue to fuel our commitment to expanding access, raising awareness, and creating spaces where every child can thrive.
We’ve been impressed with ALWAYS KEEP PROGRESSING, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Always Keep Progressing is a pediatric therapy organization dedicated to supporting children with autism, developmental delays, and intellectual disabilities through speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, and music-integrated interventions. What began as a small, passionate practice in Biscayne Park has grown into two full-service clinics, including our newest location in North Miami, where we now serve over 1,000 families every year.
What truly sets us apart is the way we bring together clinical expertise, technology, creativity, and community, creating an environment where children feel motivated, families feel supported, and progress becomes something joyful.
We are known for three things:
(1) Innovative, individualized therapy, tailored to each child’s strengths and interests.
(2) A music-infused approach, rooted in Annie’s background as a classically trained pianist and her belief that music unlocks a special kind of connection and learning.
(3) A deeply compassionate culture, where every family feels seen, understood, and treated like part of our team rather than just a number in a system.
Clinically, we are proud of our multidisciplinary approach and our commitment to quality, which has resulted in over 200,000 therapy sessions provided since our inception. Our therapists, coordinators, and leadership team work closely together to ensure every child receives consistent, high-quality care across all services.
Brand-wise, one of our proudest achievements has been launching our Community Music Therapy Fundraising Concerts, which merge our mission with the power of art and advocacy. Since last year, Annie has performed concerts in Miami, Ecuador, and New York, raising over $10,000 for music therapy scholarships and bringing more than 2,000 people together to learn about autism and intellectual disabilities. These events have become a signature part of who we are, a reminder that therapy extends beyond the clinic and into the heart of the community.
At Always Keep Progressing, our goal is simple but powerful:
To help every child grow with confidence, to support families through every step of the journey, and to create spaces where differences are celebrated, not feared.
We want readers to know that our doors are open, our team is here for you, and our mission is to empower children to reach their fullest potential, with creativity, compassion, and a whole lot of heart.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is playing music with my sister when we were very young. I played the piano and she played the violin, and even though our “performances” were simple, they felt magical to us. I still remember walking into the Manhattan School of Music with my parents for lessons, feeling both nervous and excited, and then seeing how proud they were of everything I learned. Those moments, surrounded by music and family, are some of the happiest and most formative memories of my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alwayskeepprogressing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alwayskeepprogressing/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alwayskeepprogressing/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/always-keep-progressing-llc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiqAoQVsPXbRJkh6WHkPx2w
