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Our people...our strength! |
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A clinic is only as good as its people, and we are pleased to have assembled such a wonderful group of experienced, talented and energenic therapists. Since our founding, Skill Builders has taken exceptional pride in supporting our professional staff members' continuing educational development and access to the latest research materials. The commitment we share with our therapists enables them to provide your family the best care possible!
Click the names below to read more about the people that make Skill Builders such an outstanding clinic.
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Speech Language Pathologists
Director: Carolyn J. Syron, MS, CCC-SLP
Pooja Aggarwal, MS, CCC-SLP
Jane M. Bomba, MS, CCC-SLP
Elizabeth L. Clark, MS, CF-SLP
Robin Goldberg, MA, CF-SLP
Courtney Helsing, MS, CCC-SLP
Nicole S. Kerr, MS, CCC-SLP
Pamela Kugelman-Ryan, MS, CCC-SLP
Michael P. Lemiuex, MS, CCC-SLP
Mary S. Manzione, MS, CCC-SLP
Valerie Moore, MA, CCC-SLP
Melissa Plante, MA, CF-SLP
Ingrid G. Schoenburg, MA, CCC-SLP
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Occupational Therapists
Director: Virginia Kane, MS, OTR/L
Deborah A. L. Barbara, OTR/L
Bea Bruno, MS, OTR/L
Julie Carper, MS OTR/L
Jennifer Laun, OTR/L
Judy T. McCallum, MS, OTR/L
Tyrus Powell, OTR/L
Hafsa Rahman, OTR/L
Sarah Tippie, MOT, OTR/L
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| Speech Language Pathologists |
Cari Syron, MA CCC-SLP
Director of Speech-Language Pathology
Cari received her Bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from State University of New York at Geneseo, and received her Master’s degree at George Washington University. She has extensive experience working with children on the autism spectrum as well as children with apraxia, down syndrome, oral motor dysfunction, auditory processing disorders, and general language and speech delay. She especially enjoys working with young children in a cotreatment model with occupational therapists.
Her experience working in the public schools as well as a private school for children with learning disabilities and emotional disturbance, has proved invaluable in helping the parents of her patients navigate the special education maze and obtain the most appropriate services available for their child. Mrs. Syron often attends IEP meetings, serving as an advocate for the children on her caseload.
Mrs. Syron has participated in many specific training programs including PROMPT, Beckman Oral Motor, Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson’s oral motor system, Verbal Behavior, Wilson Reading Program, and Lindamood Bell's Visualizing and Verbalizing program. As a graduate student in speech pathology, she also acted as an ABA therapist for a 3-year-old boy with severe autism. In addition to providing the above therapy types, Mrs. Syron is also a Fast Forward provider, a member of the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology (AAPPSPA) and the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), and is licensed to practice speech therapy in the state of Virginia.
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Pooja Aggarwal, MS, CCC-SLP
Pooja is originally from Canada where she received her Bachelors degree from the University of Calgary. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Columbia University in New York City. Pooja has a strong commitment to continuing education and a focus on evidence-based treatments to ensure the highest quality of care and best treatment outcomes. Some specific trainings that Pooja has attended, related to pediatric development, include PROMPT, Beckman Oral Motor, Picky Eaters vs Problem Eaters: The Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Pediatric Dysphagia: Management of the Whole Child, LSVT, and RDI. In addition, she has continuing education and experience in medical speech pathology including tracheostomies, ventilators, endoscopies, and reflux disorders as they relate to swallowing. Pooja has served patients ranging from infants to geriatrics in both hospitals and outpatient clinics. She has experience with neurological and developmental, speech, language and swallowing disorders. Pooja has a special interest in feeding/swallowing disorders, apraxia, and auditory processing disorders. Additionally, she has international volunteer experience in Canada, India and Kenya and is fluent in Hindi and Punjabi. She looks forward to working with you!
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Jane M. Bomba, MS, CCC-SLP
Jane Bomba received her Bachelor's degree in communication disorders from The University of Wisconsin - Madison and received her Master's degree in
speech and hearing sciences at The University of North Carolina - Chapel
Hill. She has experience working with children who have motor speech
disorders, developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum disorders, fluency
disorders, oral motor dysfunction, dysphagia and feeding difficulties, and
general language and speech delay. She enjoys working with children who use
low and high-tech augmentative communication systems.
Ms. Bomba has experience working in center-based facilities, as well as
early intervention programs in the northern Virginia area. Jane has
participated in many specific training programs including PROMPT, The
DIR-Floortime Model, The Affect-Based Language Curriculum, and feeding
disorders. Jane is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association
(ASHA) and is licensed to practice speech therapy in the state of Virginia.
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Elizabeth L. Clark , MS, CF-SLP
Elizabeth received her Bachelor's degree in Developmental Psychology
from the University of South Carolina and her Master's degree in
Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University. She has completed
trainings in both the PROMPT technique and Stanley Greenspan's DIR/Floortime
Model. She has experience with a wide variety of diagnoses, including Autism
Spectrum disorders, genetic disorders, speech and language delays and
disorders, hearing impairments, and pediatric feeding and swalling
disorders. Elizabeth also has experience working with medically involved
children both in hospital and rehabiliation settings.
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Robin Goldberg, MA, CFY-SLP
Robin received her Bachelor’s degree from New York University and her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from George Washington University. She has experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, fluency disorders, augmentative/alternative communication (AAC), and speech and language delays. Robin has worked in private clinical and school settings with children with multiple disabilities, reading comprehension deficits, social/pragmatic deficits, and autism spectrum disorders. She also participated in a unique Floortime-based preschool program for children with neurological language disorders. Robin has specific training in PROMPT, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), The DIR-Floortime Model, and The Affect-Based Language Curriculum. She is licensed to practice speech therapy in the state of Virginia.
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Courtney Helsing, MS, CCC-SLP
Courtney received her Bachelors degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a double major in Psychology, at James Madison University, and received her Masters degree in Communication Disorders at the Pennsylvania State University- University Park. In addition to her part time work at Skill Builders, LLC, she is currently employed full time at an elementary school for the Fairfax County Public School system. Courtney has worked with a variety of communication impairments including: expressive/receptive language, language/auditory processing, apraxia, phonological disorders, fluency issues, voice disorders, and pragmatic language disorders. She is also well versed in working with the various communication deficits resulting from Fragile X, autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, and hearing impairment. Courtney’s research into the relationship between literacy and communication disorders enables her to provide a special emphasis on phonological awareness intervention and oral and written communication. She has received specific training in many areas including ABA, AAC, communication needs for the severely disabled, fluency, social skills training, dysphagia, language and literacy, and preschool language delays.
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Nicole S. Kerr, MS CCC-SLP
Nicole received her Bachelor degree in the area of Linguistics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and her Master degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Howard University. In addition to her part time work at Skill Builders, LLC, she is currently employed full time at a middle school for the Prince William County Public School system. She works closely with children having learning disabilities and emotional disturbances, as well as, articulation weaknesses and stuttering. While she has experience working with children and adults with a variety of disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and mental retardation, she specializes in school-age language disorders, specifically literacy and reading fluency. She has received specialized training in the Wilson Reading System, Read Naturally, adolescent language and literacy, emergent literacy interventions, vocabulary building, early intervention strategies for children with apraxia, and PROMPT.
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Pamela Kugelman-Ryan, MS Ed. CCC-SLP
Pam is originally from the Hudson Valley area in New York. She received her Bachelors degree in Speech Language Pathology at the State University of New York New Paltz and received her Masters degree in Communication Disorders at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York. Pam began her career at a private school in New York that specialized in educating students with special needs, primarily autism spectrum disorders. She then began working in her hometown school district servicing children with a variety of speech and language disorders including stuttering, Down syndrome, autism, auditory processing, articulation, language, and mental retardation. In addition to working part time for Communication Connections and working towards an administrative degree at a local college, Pam is currently a full time employee of the Fairfax County Public School System. She has received specialty training in many areas including PROMPT and ABA. Pam recently recieved an Endorsement in Education Administration.
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Michael P. Lemieux, MS CCC-SLP
Michael received his Bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from George Mason University. He worked in a variety of adult rehabilitation programs in Fairfax County and New Hampshire, before spending 8 years working in early intervention and early childhood education programs. He received his Master’s degree at the University of New Hampshire and later a Master’s Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Antioch College New England. He worked in rural New Hampshire and Vermont schools for 7 years and at a private Floortime practice in Bethesda, MD for 3 years. He has extensive experience working with children on the autism spectrum as well as children with apraxia, oral motor dysfunction, auditory processing disorders, and general language and speech delay. He also has experience with augmentative and alternative communication systems. He especially enjoys working with young children in a co-treatment model with occupational therapists. Michael often attends IEP meetings, serving as an advocate for the children on his caseload.
Michael has participated in many specific training programs including Picky Eaters and Problem Feeders: The SOS Approach to Feeding; Craniosacral Therapy I; PROMPT; Beckman Oral Motor; Boshart Oral Motor; MORE Oral Motor; Strand Oral Motor; Greenspan’s Floortime/Affect Based Language Curriculum; Levine’s School’s Attuned; Prizant’s SCERTS; PECS; Hodgdon Visual Strategies; Lindamood Bell Phoneme Sequencing Program and Visualizing & Verbalizing Program; Hodson’s Cycles Phonological Approach; and Narrative Development. He is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), and is licensed to practice speech therapy in the states of Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
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Mary S. Manzione, MS, CCC-SLP
Mary, a native Virginian, received her Bachelors degree from James Madison University and completed her graduate work at the University of Utah. Through her work at Easter Seals, public school settings, and several years in private practice, Mary has extensive experience working with children presenting with many types of communication disorders including language and auditory processing deficits, apraxia, oral motor, articulation, pragmatic, phonological, fluency and voice disorders. She has received extensive experience with the pediatric population through her work in Easter Seal clinics, public school settings, and private practice. Mary has worked with a variety of communication impairments including: language/auditory processing, apraxia, oral motor disorders, phonological disorders, fluency issues, and voice disorders. She is also well versed in working with the various communication deficits resulting from Fragile X, autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, and hearing impairment. Mary’s experience is further strengthened by her participation in various continuing education programs and workshops including PROMPT, Lindamood Bell programs, Beckman Oral Motor, and Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). She is also a Speech Easy provider for adults and adolescents presenting with fluency disorders.
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Valerie Moore , MA, CCC-SLP
Valerie is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist, certified to practice in Virginia and California. She is a member of the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) and Fairfax Speech-Language Pathologists Association (FSLPA). Valerie received her Bachelors of Science degree in Hearing and Speech Language Sciences from Ohio University and her Masters of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Cleveland State University. In addition to her part-time work at Skill Builders, LLC, Valerie is employed full time at a local elementary and middle school.
Valerie has experience working with a variety of communication disorders and diagnosis including: developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum disorders, fluency disorders, oral motor dysfunction, dysphagia, and general language and speech delay. She has received specific training in many areas including Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC), Autism, childhood apraxia, fluency, and social skills. Her clinical experience includes working in the Fairfax County Public School System, the Los Angeles Unified Public School System, the Cleveland Public School System, and co-treating within skilled nursing rehabilitation facilities. Valerie has particular expertise working with children who use Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) and Alternative Augmentative Communication Devices (AAC).
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Melissa Plante , MS, CF-SLP
Melissa received her Bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University in Psychology and her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from George Washington University. She has experience in providing therapy to children with a variety of disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental disabilities, general speech and language delays, apraxia, etc. and has also worked to develop AAC devices and programs for those children who needed it. Melissa has also provided treatment in a variety of settings including home, school, and private practice. She also has experience collaborating with occupational therapists and implementing sensory integration techniques. Melissa is trained in DIR-Floortime, Affect-Based-Language-Curriculum (ABLC), and American Sign Language and is licensed to practice speech therapy in the state of Virginia.
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Ingrid G. Schoenburg, MA CCC-SLP
Ingrid Schoenburg received her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology in London, England in 1982 and her master’s degree in speech pathology from California State University, Northridge in 1988. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of pediatric speech pathology. Ingrid has worked in a variety of settings to include hospitals, schools, private practice, and universities. Her hospital experience includes rehabilitation of pediatric traumatic brain injury and working on the cleft palate team. She was a clinical supervisor at the University of Memphis for 8 years, where she coordinated a variety of clinics, to include a pediatric preschool language program, serving a multicultural population with a variety of communication disorders and a preschool and school-age fluency group. Prior to joining Communication Connections, Ingrid had her own private practice in St. Louis, Missouri and was a consultant to both a practice and a school specializing in learning disabilities.
Ingrid has presented on several occasions at National and State conferences in the areas of stuttering, articulation, early intervention and student training. Her continuing education has focused in more recent years in the areas of Phonology, Oral Motor Dysfunction, Preschool and School-Age Language and Learning Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
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| Occupational Therapists |
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Virginia Kane, MS, OTR/L
Director of Occupational Therapy
Virginia Kane (Gina) is the director of OT services at Skill Builders and the former owner of the Skill Builders occupational therapy program. She has been a pediatric occupational therapist since 1983, when she graduated from VCU/MCV with a Master's Degree in OT. Gina's early work experience included school system therapy and work in Children's Hospital in Richmond, VA. She has been an occupational therapist at
Skill Builders since 1987, where she enjoys seeing children of all ages. In addition to
training in sensory integration and handwriting techniques, Gina's interests include
cranio-sacral therapy and yoga/yoga therapy.
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Deborah A. L. Barbara, OTR/L
Deb Barbara came to Skill Builders as a staff therapist in 1996. She
is a native of New Jersey and graduated from Boston University with a
degree in Occupational Therapy. Over more than 25 years, Deb has
developed a strong interest in sensory integration theory and has been
certified in the administration of The Southern California Sensory
Integration Test and The Sensory Integration and Praxis Test. Deb's diverse background in
sensory integration with neruodevelopmental treatment techniques(NDT),
motor learning, and psycho-social development form the foundation of her ecclectic treatment approaches.
Deb has experience with children of all ages up through high-school, including early
intervention programs for newborns through three years. In New Jersey and Chicago, Deb worked in public and
private school programs, inpatient and out patient hospital settings,
as well as home based programs and private practice. Her experience
encompasses a wide variety of disabilities including developmental
delay, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, pervasive developmental
disorder, learning disability as well as apraxia and sensory
processing disorders. She particularly enjoys family centered services
and is a strong advocate of the team approach incorporating all who
are involved with a child's care and the parents are the team leaders.
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Bea Bruno, MS, OTR/L
Bea's hometown is Buffalo, NY. She received her Masters of
Science degree in occupational therapy from Duquesne University
located in Pittsburgh, PA. As a part time job while in school, Bea
implemented ABA therapies to children with autism in their home. She
completed her fieldwork placements in Pittsburgh which included
working in an outpatient center for the Children's Hospital. After
graduation, she worked in the Baltimore City School District for
summer school as a school based occupational therapist and then for the
Loudoun County School District. While working for the schools, she
implemented therapy services in two full day preschool autism
classrooms as well as maintained a caseload which included preschool to
middle school age groups. After working for the schools, she shifted
to work in the private setting so that she could make a greater impact
on children with a variety of disabilities. She has experience
working with children who have autism, seizure disorders, visual
impairments, Down Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, Sensory Processing
difficulties, hemiplegia, brachial plexus injuries, and others. She currently works full time for Skill Builders, LLC. She is certified
in Therapeutic Listening and The Handwriting Without Tears Program,
and has received continuing education credits related to sensory
integration therapy and NDT (Neurodevelopmental training).
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Julie Carper, MS OTR/L
Julie received her Bachelors degree in Physical Education from Virginia Tech and
her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University. Julie
worked full time for 4 years in the Fairfax County School system as an itinerant
occupational therapist. Her experience in the public schools included working
with children presenting with autism, learning disabilities, and moderate/severe physical disabilities. Julie began working part time at Skill Builders in 1997 and has gained valuable experience working with children with autism spectrum and sensory integration disorders. In addition, Julie has coordinated and led several summer handwriting clinics.
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Jennifer Laun, OTR/L
Jennifer graduated from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a degree in Occupational Therapy. She has worked in a number of private schools for children with special needs and private pediatric clinics in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. She has treated children with a variety of diagnoses, including learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder/ attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder, pervasive developmental delay, sensory processing disorders, dyspraxia, and fine motor delay. Jennifer’s experience working in schools has provided her with a better understanding of both the expectations for children in the classroom today and how occupational therapy can facilitate improved success in school.
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Judy T. McCallum, MS, OTR/L
Judy is originally from McLean, Virginia and received her Bachelors degree in Therapeutic Recreation from West Virginia University. She received her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1988. In addition to working part time for Skill Builders, she is a full time employee of the Fairfax County Public School System. Judy runs our Kindergarten Kick-Off group each summer, sharing her vast knowledge of fine motor skills and school readiness in fun, engaging ways.
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Tyrus Powell , OTR/L
Tyrus Powell received his Occupational Therapy degree from Tuskegee
University in Tuskegee Alabama. He has worked with a variety of
clientele from babies to older adults in hospital clinics, outpatient
clinics, home health, private practice, school systems, and nursing
homes. He has extensive knowledge in applying neurodevelopmental and
motor learning techniques with his clients. He is currently trained in
using sensory integration techniques and using the Handwriting Without
Tears program with kids.
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Hafsa Rahman OTR/L
Hafsa is originally from Bangladesh. She received her Bachelors degree
in Biology from Hood College, Maryland and her Masters degree from
University of Puget Sound, Washington. She has been an occupational
therapist since 2000. Hafsa has experience working with adults in
a rehabilitaiton setting as well as with children in school and clinic
setting. She is currently a part time employee at Skill Builders and
full time employee at Falls Church City Public Schools. Hafsa has
experience and training in several areas including sensory processing, autism,
developmental delay, learning disabilities, ADHD, cerebral palsy,
and mental retardation. She enjoys working with children and is a
recepient of the 2007 Educational Leadership Award from the Arc of
Northern Virginia for her work with the children at Falls Church City Public
Schools.
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Sarah Tippie, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Sarah is currently a full time Occupational Therapist for Skill Builders, LLC. She received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy
from West Virginia University. She has had experience working with
children of all ages in a variety of settings with various diagnoses
including; Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, Developmental
Disabilities, ADHD, fine motor delays, Cerebral Palsy, etc. Sarah
enjoys working with children during individual treatment sessions as
well as co-treatment sessions with speech therapists. Sarah loves
working with children and involving them in fun, creative treatment
activities to lead them to their highest potential in their day to day
activities.
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