Speech Language Therapy Team

Annemarie Weeda is a speech-language pathologist registered with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Her scope of practice includes assessment and treatment of children with speech sound/articulation, language and social communication deficits.

Annemarie has been a practicing speech-language pathology since 2002. Her career as a speech-language pathologist began at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, NY working with in-patient and out-patient adults and children. In 2003, she returned to Toronto and began working at Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH) in East York. Initially she worked with adults in acute care, but after her children were born she took a position in the out-patient Child Development Centre at TEGH. In addition to her private practice, Annemarie is on staff part-time at the Child Development Centre.

She grew up in England, South Africa, Toronto and the New York City area where she completed her education. Her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology is from Columbia University in New York City, and her Masters of Science degree in Communication Disorders is from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Training includes:

• Orton Gillingham: Practical Linguistics, Part 1
• Hanen: More Than Words
• Introduction to PROMPT: Technique
• Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk
• Effective Parent Training for Young Children Newly Diagnosed with Autism
• Optimal Brain Organization
• Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Using DIR/Floortime Model

Heather obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics at Brock University before completing her Master of Health Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto.

Heather has worked with clients of all ages and can assist with a wide variety of communication difficulties including articulation and motor speech disorders, fluency disorders, voice disorders, language-based learning disorders, stroke, acquired brain injury, and swallowing disorders. I have experience working in private practice, hospital and school settings as well as in client’s homes.

Heather is passionate about continuing education; her additional training includes: Introduction to PROMPT, More Than Words, It Takes Two to Talk, Lidcombe Program for Early Intervention of Stuttering, Cognitive-Communication Disorders: Level 1 and 2. 

Heather has a genuine interest in others and their well-being. She takes time to listen and understand her client’s unique needs, strengths, and priorities. She strives to keep therapy fun, interesting, and challenging and involves family members, whenever possible, to promote carryover of skills and strategies. Heather is rewarded on a daily basis by her client’s successes – whether that is helping a child say his/her name, creating a self-advocacy video for a new teacher, or learning to ask or answer questions in conversation.

Heather is registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and is a member of the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA).

Jordan Barberio is a speech-language pathologist registered with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology, and also holds an Honours Bachelor of Health and Physical Education with specialization in Health Promotion. Previous to becoming a speech-language pathologist, Jordan worked as an intervener for deafblind individuals, as well as a swim instructor for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD.

Jordan is enthusiastic about partnering with families to create a positive and playful therapy environment that supports each child in achieving their individual goals. She has worked with infants, preschool and school-age children in the areas of language, literacy, articulation, motor speech, feeding, fluency, voice, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) and social communication. She has additional experience with conducting neonatal clinics, palatofacial clinics, infant hearing programs, developmental language and social groups.

Jordan is committed to evidence-based practice and is dedicated to life-long learning. She continues to engage in professional development opportunities, most recently in the areas of childhood apraxia of speech, dyslexia, phonological interventions, sensory processing and neurodiverse-affirming therapy practices. Jordan has completed training in Hanen®: More Than Words, and Orton Gillingham: Practical Linguistics, Part 1.

Heather obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics at Brock University before completing her Master of Health Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto.

Heather has worked with clients of all ages and can assist with a wide variety of communication difficulties including articulation and motor speech disorders, fluency disorders, voice disorders, language-based learning disorders, stroke, acquired brain injury, and swallowing disorders. I have experience working in private practice, hospital and school settings as well as in client’s homes.

Heather is passionate about continuing education; her additional training includes: Introduction to PROMPT, More Than Words, It Takes Two to Talk, Lidcombe Program for Early Intervention of Stuttering, Cognitive-Communication Disorders: Level 1 and 2. 

Heather has a genuine interest in others and their well-being. She takes time to listen and understand her client’s unique needs, strengths, and priorities. She strives to keep therapy fun, interesting, and challenging and involves family members, whenever possible, to promote carryover of skills and strategies. Heather is rewarded on a daily basis by her client’s successes – whether that is helping a child say his/her name, creating a self-advocacy video for a new teacher, or learning to ask or answer questions in conversation.

Heather is registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and is a member of the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA). 

Olivia Gross is a Speech-Language Pathologist registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She also holds a Master of Education in Developmental Psychology and Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Olivia has experience working with children and adults with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and Cerebral Palsy. She has additional experience within the areas of language, articulation, social communication, literacy, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), fluency, swallowing and voice.

To advance her skills within these areas, Olivia has completed Hanen® certification workshops for the It Takes Two to Talk and More than Words programs that are utilized to support parents and children who have been identified as having a language delay, social communication difficulties and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, she has completed a certification workshop for Orton-Gillingham: Practical Linguistics^© (Part 1), utilized to support students with language-based Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia.

She has supported children and adults within a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, and private practice. Olivia values being a part of a multidisciplinary team and is passionate about collaborating with families, teachers, and other professionals to best support children in achieving their individualized language and communication goals. She is committed to providing evidence-based, client-centered care and has a specific interest in social communication, social cognition and AAC.

Katie Sharpe is a Speech-Language Pathologist registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She also holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology. She has been a speech pathologist since 2005 and spent over a decade working in the Child Development Centre at Michael Garron Hospital. There she worked on inter-disciplinary teams in both the Neonatal Follow-Up clinic, providing ongoing assessment and monitoring of infants and toddlers at increased risk for developmental and communication delays, and the Developmental Assessment clinic. She also provided assessment and intervention for school-age children in the areas of language, social communication, articulation and motor speech, and autism. She helped lead initiatives within the hospital, including providing training and support to nurses on cue-based feeding protocols in the Special Care Nursery, and developing a collaborative relationship with school-based speech pathologists in the community, to increase access to timely intervention. Katie loves working with children; tailoring assessment and intervention to meet individual needs, watching their progress, and celebrating their successes!

Katie is committed to evidence-based practice and professional development. Her training includes: Orton Gillingham: Practical Linguistics, Part 1 from The Claremont School; PROMPT technique for motor speech assessment and intervention; The Hanen Centre’s It Takes Two to Talk; stuttering in preschoolers; and the RITA-T (Rapid Interactive screening Test for Autism in Toddlers). She continues to learn and develop her expertise.

Amy Langridge is a Speech-Language Pathologist registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology, and also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba, with a Major in Linguistics and a Minor in Psychology. While working with adults at Michael Garron Hospital, Amy provided coverage in the Child Development Centre. She completed communication assessments and screenings to monitor communication milestones within the Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic. Prior to this, she worked with the Local Health Integration Network within schools, offering speech, voice, and fluency intervention to school-aged children.

Amy has assessed and provided intervention to children and adults with language delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, cognitive-communication disorders following brain injury, as well as voice, fluency and articulation disorders. She has created low-technology communication books and boards for non-speaking clients. Amy is passionate about Person-and-Family-Centred-Care. She hopes to encourage clients and their families to work as a team with their S-LP, in order to achieve their goals and find a mode of functional communication. 

Amy has the following certifications: Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Level I, Individual Authorizer of Communication Devices for the Assistive Devices Program, and It Takes Two to Talk (The Hanen Centre). She looks forward to working with you! 

Kishwar Sajjad supports children at the Toronto Children’s Therapy Centre as a Speech-Language Assistant.  Kishwar started her career as high school biology teacher after completing a MSc in Zoology from the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan.  Her passion for improving the lives of children with exceptionalities, such as ASD, ADHD, learning disabilities, and communication disorders started when she volunteered in the Child Development Centre at Michael Garron Hospital.  Since then, she has completed a graduate certificate program in Autism and Behavioral Sciences (ABS) at George Brown College; Orton Gillingham: Practical Linguistics, Part 1 at The Claremont School, a Masters in Professional Education (MPEd) at the University of Western Ontario, and is a certified BCBA.

In addition to her position at TCTC, Kishwar works full-time as an Instructor Therapist and runs a side business: Sugar Beats by Kish, making spectacular customized cakes, cupcakes and themed party decorations.  She is fluent in Urdu, and can also speak Hindi and Punjabi.

Dana Monteith is a speech-language pathologist registered with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Her scope of practice includes assessment and treatment of children with speech and language impairments, as well as social communication difficulties.

Dana is dedicated to collaborating with families to foster a supportive and engaging therapy environment that empowers each child to reach their unique goals. She has experience working with infants, preschoolers, and school-age children across various areas, including language, literacy, articulation, motor speech, feeding, fluency, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and social communication. Dana also has experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. Prior to this role, she worked at Thames Valley Children Center’s tykeTALK Preschool Language Program, assessing preschool-aged children and collaborating with families to support their therapy needs.
 
Dana graduated from Western University with a Master of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Child Youth and Family with a minor in Psychology from the University of Guelph. Dana is eager to expand her knowledge further to better serve her clients and support their communication needs.

She has currently completed training in Hanen®: More Than Words, Hanen®: It Takes Two to Talk, The Speech and Stuttering Institute’s fluency training, The Speech and Stuttering Institute’s motor speech training, and CanChild’s F-Words training.

Lai Fan (Lucie) Lo is a speech-language pathologist registered with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She has supported children’s speech-language development in a variety of areas, including speech production, language, social communication, literacy and feeding. 

After graduating with her speech-language degree in 2018, Lucie worked in Hong Kong and Macau in her early years of practice. After moving to Toronto, she worked as an SLP assistant while processing her CASLPO license. Lucie further developed her interest and experience with autistic and neurodiverse children while working at a charitable treatment centre for autistic children. Lucie understands the social communication and sensory differences that autistic children experience, and works side by side with the families to support them. 

Lucie is also a client-centred therapist who loves taking children’s interests into consideration and individualizing treatment approaches and materials to best fit a child’s needs. She understands each child is different and celebrates all efforts and successes. Lucie values collaboration with teachers, families and other professionals to provide multi-disciplinary support to help children achieve their communication goals. 

Lucie provides services in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. She is dedicated to supporting children with language, communication and feeding needs. To advance her skills, she has completed additional training including Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention, Introduction to PROMPT, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, and Inside Out Sensory Certificate Course for SLPs.

Olivia Gross is a Speech-Language Pathologist registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She also holds a Master of Education in Developmental Psychology and Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Olivia has experience working with children and adults with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and Cerebral Palsy. She has additional experience within the areas of language, articulation, social communication, literacy, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), fluency, swallowing and voice.

To advance her skills within these areas, Olivia has completed Hanen® certification workshops for the It Takes Two to Talk and More than Words programs that are utilized to support parents and children who have been identified as having a language delay, social communication difficulties and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, she has completed a certification workshop for Orton-Gillingham: Practical Linguistics^© (Part 1), utilized to support students with language-based Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia.

She has supported children and adults within a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, and private practice. Olivia values being a part of a multidisciplinary team and is passionate about collaborating with families, teachers, and other professionals to best support children in achieving their individualized language and communication goals. She is committed to providing evidence-based, client-centered care and has a specific interest in social communication, social cognition and AAC.

Sarah is a Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) who earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Leadership in Toronto at George Brown College and completed her CDA certification in Sarnia, Ontario at Lambton College. She has professional experience collaborating with Speech-Language Pathologists, Resource Consultants, and Registered RECEs, providing her extensive experience working directly with families and children of many ages and needs. Sarah has taken multiple courses focusing on the importance of play in a child’s development and integrates this knowledge when planning her therapy sessions. Sarah has developed educational infographics for families and caregivers tailored to individual children’s needs. She has a strong background in creating and implementing social stories, visuals, and AAC resources for children and has extensive experience working with Autistic Children. 

 

Valentina has experience working with children with a variety of diagnoses (e.g., Autism, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delay) supporting communication, language, speech, and literacy development. She has a specific interest in alternative/augmentative communication assessment and intervention.

 

Valentina is passionate about providing a neurodiversity-affirming practice and believes strongly in a family-centred approach. She recognizes the importance of embracing children’s strengths and uniqueness by providing services that are individualized and encourage self-advocacy.

Valentina can also provide speech-language pathology services in Spanish.