Room(s): 305B-Office

Phone Number(s): 252-4002

Bios:

I am the speech therapist assigned to Ingraham high school. I work with students from all of the CBT classes. Most therapy is done in groups of 3-6 students with the exception of a few one-on-one sessions. I work on a variety of things in a variety of ways, always thinking of how each individual student learns best. My main focus is social communication, which includes conversation skills, self advocacy, language for getting opinions heard and needs met, and making and maintaining friendships. I believe that social relationships are what give us as humans a reason to communicate. This idea is reflected in my therapy style. Whether the lesson is on summarizing or increasing intelligibility, I always work on social skills. Even a simple encounter in the hallway can be a opportunity to practice a student's social skills.
I also like to work on storytelling, whether they are original stories or summarization of a story, or recount of a recent experience. The ability to tell a story gives you the tools to hold a conversation, give an oral report, write a book report, write an essay, and explain an incident, to name a few.

Although the methods may be different, my focus on social language stays the same when I work with severely impacted kids. For example, I teach a cooking class for students in the autism class; which incorporates life skills, social skills, group activity participation, exploration of new tastes, textures, smells, and sounds, as well as expressive language and reading. And in the moderate/severe class I co-teach a bingo class which has a focus of teaching survival signs, but has evolved into quit the group social skills lesson.

I am a Seattle native. I went to Summit K-12 from K to 12th grade. I attended Highline Community College where I played fastpitch softball and obtained my associates degree. I then transferred to the University of Washington where I obtained a BS in Speech and Hearing sciences. After 5 years of university I decided to travel around the world for three months exploring southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and then Thailand. I than took 2 years off of school and worked as an IA at a private K-8 school for highly gifted children (that may be where I gained my appreciation for the importance of good social skills) in Shoreline. After working really hard for little money I felt rejuvenated about the idea of continuing my education. So, in 2004 I went to Western Washington University where I finished my Masters degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Currently, I live in West Seattle with my husband and adorable dog. My passions include backpacking, cycling, running, gardening, traveling, my family, and hosting parties.