We offer our services throughout the Northeastern United States. We’re committed to giving families the support they need to navigate an often overwhelming landscape.
Tell me all about Speech Therapy
The overall goal of Speech Therapy services is to support an individual in communicating in a more functional way. Language, communication, and social challenges are addressed through individual sessions and through collaboration with other service providers. This service helps clients improve their verbal, nonverbal, and social communication in order to be more independent with all communication partners across all environments.
Our Speech-Language Pathologists conduct comprehensive evaluations and provide appropriate and dynamic service delivery methods. Treatment plans are individually tailored to reflect an understanding of clients’ ages and specific functional needs.
Speech-Language Pathologists collaborate and communicate effectively with all staff and team members including, Occupational Therapists, Behavior Analysts, and outside professionals, to consistently serve the needs of the individual relating to treatment plans. Collaboration occurs with families and caregivers in order to provide opportunities for them to be involved in and carry over the individual’s Speech‐Language Pathology services.
*Please note that services vary by location.
Your roadmap to Speech Therapy services
Obtaining a Speech Generating Device (SGD) at ACP
Many individuals who experience communication challenges can benefit significantly from Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. Technological advancements have opened new pathways for individuals to express themselves, either in place of or as a supplement to spoken communication.
Most insurance plans provide coverage for medically necessary speech-generating devices (SGDs), allowing individuals to access their own personal device for use across environments such as home, school, community settings, and therapeutic services. Once approved and funded, the device becomes the property of the individual.
At Autism Care Partners, all Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) receive specialized training in AAC systems, and the Visual Immersion System. Our team conducts comprehensive evaluations to determine the most appropriate communication systems and guide families through the insurance funding process.
Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining an SGD
1. Initial Evaluation
The client is evaluated by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist at Autism Care Partners. A detailed plan of care is developed, including communication goals and therapeutic strategies to incorporate into direct speech services. If appropriate, a formal AAC evaluation is recommended.
2. Ongoing Therapy and AAC Trials
Weekly speech and language therapy services begin, during which various AAC systems are trialed to assess effectiveness and compatibility.
3. System Recommendation
Once a suitable AAC system is identified, the SLP will discuss recommendations with the family and outline next steps for the funding process.
4. Insurance Benefits Check
If the family chooses to proceed, the SLP will coordinate with device vendors to verify insurance benefits and determine coverage.
5. Clinical Documentation
If coverage is available, the SLP collaborates with the device vendor to prepare and submit required documentation, including a comprehensive evaluation report that demonstrates medical necessity and supports the device recommendation.
6. Supporting Documentation
The SLP and device vendor assist the family in gathering additional required materials, such as a physician’s prescription and any supplementary medical records.
7. Submission to Insurance
Once all necessary documentation is compiled, the device vendor submits the full funding request to the insurance provider for review.
8. Approval and Delivery
If approved, the speech-generating device is shipped directly to the family. The device becomes their personal property.
9. Ongoing Support and Integration
Continued therapy services focus on customizing the device, targeting communication goals, and supporting the family to ensure effective use across all settings. Device vendors typically provide around-the-clock support, with troubleshooting and repairs often covered under warranty.
Meet the SLP Team!
Jill graduated from the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Rhode Island in 2017. She joined the ACP team in 2020 as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Warwick, RI center, and is now Director of Speech-Language Pathology across our insurance-funded Speech Therapy services. Jill is licensed in RI and MA and provides direct care to clients in addition to leading the team of SLP providers. She is passionate about clients accessing high-quality care to support their development in all areas.
Madison Caffrey is a Speech-Language Pathologist out of our Warwick location. She has been an SLP since 2021 and has experience with children and adults ages 2-43 in the clinic setting. Madison is also an AEIOU trained Feeding Therapist. She has a lot of interest in AAC and in Social Skills!
Alexa is a compassionate, creative, and dedicated clinician who graduated from Iona University with her Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Since graduating, Alexa has worked with children and young adults of all ages and diagnoses in early intervention, private practice, and school settings. She uses child-centered and play-based approaches to create an engaging environment for her clients and believes therapy sessions should be more fun than work! Alexa has a strong passion for Feeding Therapy and is an AEIOU trained Feeding Therapist. She offers 1:1 sessions with individualized food-chaining treatment plans, as well as within Little Chefs, a feeding group in Danvers, where positive interactions with novel fruits and vegetables are encouraged through a variety of sensory experiences and structured group recipes. Alexa’s love for cooking with children translates into her home environment as her most therapeutic hobby when outside of ACP!
Prior to pursuing her graduate degree, Victoria gained experience in the field working as a Behavior Technician and SLPA in school-based settings. She graduated with her master’s of science from Baylor University in 2023 and then worked in a private practice with children from 9-months to 15 years old. Victoria has treated a diverse client-base, supporting individuals with various speech and language delays, AAC use, deaf/hard of hearing individuals, fluency, social pragmatic skills, and Feeding Therapy. She is passionate about learning new skills to expand her therapeutic knowledge as well as implementing new strategies and techniques to best support her clients.
Nicole is the Speech-Language Pathologist in our Holyoke center. She graduated with a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2020. Nicole is dedicated to providing neurodiversity affirming services through play-based, multi-modal therapy.
Morgan is the SLP in our Warwick Center. She received her master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island. She has worked at ACP since 2022 as Behavior Technician while completing school. She has interests in AAC and providing therapy through play-based sessions.
Courtney is the SLP in our Fall River center. She received her master’s degree from Worcester State University in December 2022. Courtney completed her clinical fellowship with ACP and has been here since! Courtney has a special interest in working with pediatrics and providing therapy through play-based activities.
Hannah has a decade of experience working with children and adults with complex communication needs. Hannah currently works remotely providing Speech-Language Intervention to our centers and families across Massachusetts.
Meghan is the Speech-Language Pathologist in our Bedford and Concord centers. She received her bachelor's and master’s in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Central Florida. Since graduating, Meghan has worked with children and adults with a variety of communication needs in the private practice, skilled nursing facility, and school setting. Meghan is passionate about supporting a child’s communication goals by building meaningful connections with them through child-centered and play-based approaches. Meghan has received post-graduate training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Gestalt Language Processing, and Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) for childhood apraxia of speech. In her free time, Meghan enjoys reading, yoga, traveling, and hiking with her husband and their dog.
Danielle is the SLP in our Cranston center. She has been a practicing SLP for over 5 years, serving children of all ages and diagnoses in clinic and school settings. Danielle is passionate about empowering caregivers and teaming together for optimal outcomes. She values evidence-based interventions and child-led, play-based approaches. Danielle is so excited to be a part of the Cranston team!
Autism Care Partners has centers across New England and New York
Find the nearest Autism Care Partners center by entering your zip code!
Build a brighter tomorrow
Let’s come together to create a brighter future for our little ones and make a life-changing impact for children and families at Autism Care Partners. At ACP, we offer a comprehensive range of services all in one place, including ABA Therapy, Diagnostic Evaluations, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
*Please note that services vary by location.
