Speaker Bios

Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP

TalkTools^®/ITI / Innovative Therapists International, Tucson, AZ
Sara R. Johnson & Associates, Tucson, AZ

Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP has more than 35 years of experience as a speech and language pathologist. She has spent the last 25 years perfecting her unique brand of muscle-based (oral-motor) speech therapy with a high degree of success, even where traditional speech therapy has failed. Now she is devoted to teaching others the methods so they can help their clients with difficult-to-remediate articulation problems.

Sara is the author of Oral-Motor Exercises for Speech Clarity, Assessment and Treatment of the Jaw-Putting it all Together: Sensory, Feeding and Speech, The HOMEWORK Book, the Drooling Program, Activities for Kids, Assessment and Treatment of the Jaw and other educational materials.

She founded TalkTools^®/ITI / Innovative Therapists International in 1995 as a speaker's bureau and source for muscle-based (oral-motor) therapy tools. She has held seminars throughout the United States, as well as Canada, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, England, South Africa, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cyprus and Singapore. Her classes are approved for ASHA and AOTA CEUs and many are on video or DVD for home study and include:

"Level 1: A Three-Part Treatment Plan for Muscle-Based Therapy"
"Diagnosis and Program Planning for Clients with Muscle-Based Communication Disorders"
"Horns as Therapy Tools"
"Straws as Therapy Tools"
"Bubbles as Therapy Tools"

Sara is the international spokesperson for speech, language and feeding disorders related to CHARGE Syndrome and Moebius Syndrome, a member of the National Down Syndrome Congress' Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), and a nationally recognized presenter for Down syndrome and Cerebral Palsy associations. Having worked with early intervention programs in Texas, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, she has also become a nationally recognized speaker in the area of early intervention. In addition, Sara regularly appears as a featured speaker for ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) state and national conventions.

The Ithaca College and Columbia University graduate founded Sara R. Johnson & Associates, a clinic specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of clients with muscle-based (oral-motor) feeding and/or speech disorders.

Renee Roy Hill, M.S., CCC/SLP

Renee is a speech and language pathologist with 9 years of professional experience. She currently works with Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson at Innovative Therapists International in Tucson, Arizona and is clinical director of Sara R. Johnson & Assoc. She is responsible for providing therapeutic, diagnostic and program planning for adults and children with speech/oral-motor/feeding deficits.

Renee is a lecturer for professional enhancement courses as part of TalkTools^®/ITI / ITI's speakers bureau, author of the TalkTools^®/ITI Apraxia Kit and co-author of Ice Sticks. She presents Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson's Level 1 one- and two-day courses and has presented at numerous ASHA state level conventions. She also teaches courses on Muscle-Based Diagnostics and Program Planning as well as Apraxia and provides parent/home interventionist training seminars to implement home-based oral-motor programs. Renee has been an invited speaker for ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) state conventions. The classes she provides are approved for ASHA and AOTA CEUs, which include:

"Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson's, Level 1: A Three-Part Treatment Plan for Muscle-Based Therapy"
"Muscle-Based Speech Disorders: Assessment and Program Plan Development"
"A Muscle-Based Approach to Apraxia of Speech in Children Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson's Approach" (available for ASHA CEUs only)

She has professional affiliations with ASHA, the Arizona Speech-Language and Hearing Association and the Alabama Speech-Language and Hearing Association.

Renee holds degrees from the University of Alabama and has received special training in speech/muscle-based/feeding therapy, Apraxia, Sensory Integration, NDT training, TAMO therapy and PROMPT.

Lori Overland, M.S., CCC-SLP

Lori Overland, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech and language pathologist with more than 25 years of professional experience. She has been in private practice for over 20 years.

Lori specializes in dealing with the unique needs of infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school age children. She has incorporated oral-motor techniques into feeding and speech therapy with these children.

Lori has lectured on sensory motor feeding disorders across the United States and internationally. Her classes are approved for ASHA and AOTA CEUs and are also available on video or DVD for home study and include:

"Feeding Therapy: A Sensory-Motor Approach"
"Developing Muscle-Based (Oral-Motor) and Feeding Skills in the Down Syndrome Population"
"Organizing The Mouth For Feeding & Speech
"Pre-Feeding: Preparing The Oral Musculature"

In addition to being a member of ITI's speaker's bureau, she has a private practice in Norwalk, Connecticut. She holds degrees from Hofstra University, and Adelphi University and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation at Adelphi University.

Monica Purdy M.A., CCC-SLP

Monica Purdy has 6 years of professional experience working in both educational and private settings. Monica currently lectures and performs evaluations for Sara R. Johnson & Associates. She also maintains a clinical presence in St. Paul, Minnesota where she treats clients with wide disability range, including Down syndrome and autism.

Monica's professional affiliations include the American Speech and Hearing association.

Monica earned a Masters of Arts in Speech and Language Pathology from Ball State University. Monica has special training in oral motor / feeding therapy and PROMPT.

Robyn Merkel-Piccini, M.A., CCC-SLP

Robyn Merkel-Piccini is a Licensed Speech Pathologist since 1995 in the state of NJ. She is employed full time by the Ridgefield Board of Education and runs a private practice in Bergen County, NJ.

Robyn specializes in Oral-Motor and myofunctional disorders in children. Her private practice focuses on Oral-Motor disorders in children, particularly those within the autistic spectrum. She conducts evaluations and Program Plans for children across the tri-state area. Her publications include SMILE (SysteMatic Intervention for Lingual Elevation), Art Talk, Handy Handouts, and she co-authored Sensory Stix. She has also written several articles for the TalkTools^®/ITI website.

Robyn is a lecturer for professional enhancement courses as part of TalkTools^®/ITI / ITI's Speakers Bureau. She teaches an ASHA CE approved Tongue Thrust class, and has been invited to speak on Oral-Motor disorders by the New Milford Board of Education, The Apraxia Network, and MOSAIC Foundation. She is actively involved in parental support groups for apraxia and autism.

Robyn received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Montclair State University, where she was later invited to be an adjunct/clinical supervisor. She also taught classes at Bergen Community College, and is a former clinical site coordinator for Seton Hall University. She is a member of ASHA, NJSHA, the NJEA, The Bergen County Apraxia Association and The International Association of Oral-Facial Myology.

Robyn has specialized training in Oral-Motor, feeding, autism, cranio-facial anomalies, and PROMPT.

Lois Kam Heymann, M.A., CCC-SLP

Lois Kam Heymann, MA, CCC-SLP has over 30 years experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Auditory Therapist specializing in the treatment of deaf and hard of hearing children from infancy through 18 years of age. In addition to focusing on family centered therapy, Lois has worked extensively with parents, professional teams, school personnel and cochlear implant centers.

Her goal has been to work with the newest technology and bring her successful therapeutic techniques to children, parents and educators. She has presented numerous workshops to school personnel, speech-language pathologists and parent groups.

In addition to being a member of ITI's speaker's bureau, she founded SeaChange a private practice and consulting organization in Nyack, NY. She is a consultant to schools throughout New York State and has initiated and consulted with programs for The New York School for the Deaf (auditory-oral classes), the Bridgeport Connecticut School District, and facilitates parent groups. She holds degrees from Emerson College and City College.

Danielle Shahan, M.S., CCC-SLP

Danielle has worked as a speech-language pathologist for the past seven years in the school, private practice, and hospital settings. She performs traveling clinical evaluations and program plan updates for Sara R. Johnson & Associates; also presenting staff and parent trainings in oral-motor techniques and interventions for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Professional affiliations: American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), California Speech-Language Hearing Association (CSHA), and California and Local Teachers' Associations (CTA). Danielle received her B.S. degree in linguistics, with a minor in Spanish, from the University of California, Davis, followed by her M.S. degree from San Francisco State University.

Lisa A. Brideson, M.S., CCC/SLP

Lisa Brideson, M.S., CCC/SLP is a speech and language pathologist with more than 10 years of professional experience. She is currently in private practice in New York City where she provides both therapeutic and diagnostic services for children with oral-motor/feeding/speech deficits.

Lisa is a lecturer for professional enhancement courses as part of ITI's speaker bureau. She also provides parent-training seminars to implement at-home therapeutic strategies.

She has professional affiliations with ASHA, the New York State Speech-Language and Hearing Association, and is a teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped.

Lisa holds degrees from Columbia University and Teachers College and has special training in oral-motor/feeding therapy, augmentative communicative, sensory integration therapy, myofascial therapy and PROMPT.

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