Pediatric Speech Therapy promotes your child's overall functional communication, such as language, fluency, articulation, use of augmentative communication systems, such as lip reading, sign language and more. At CFTS, our board certified Speech Therapy team understands each child's unique needs and works with them to provide appropriate care through proven methods and the power of PLAY.
Skills we work on
articulation
Our Speech Therapists will assess the production of speech sounds as well as the function of the oral motor processes associated with speech. They may also work on a class of sounds, oral motor function, or production of words/conversations to improve your child's intelligibility.
language
At CFTS, our Speech Therapists provide excellent care to improve both receptive language skills such as following directions and/or understanding complex sentences, as well as expressive language skills such as using appropriate grammar and expressing their ideas and concepts.
fluency
Have you noticed that your child may stutter when they're speaking? Or prolong their sounds? At CFTS, our Speech Therapists will use a variety of strategies to target fluent speech and aim to reduce behaviors that are often associated with dysfluent speech.
Play and Social pragmatics
Deficits in play may look like your child has difficulties playing with toys appropriately, using objects together in play, engaging in imaginative play, and/or engaging in play with others. Through the power of PLAY our SLP Team will create communicative opportunities for children while engaging with motivating toys specific to their interests.
executive functioning
Our SLP Team work with school age children to improve organization, asking questions for clarification, and activity planning. Many children with this deficit are noted to have difficulty starting and completing tasks, turning in assignments on time, and attending to verbal instructions.
Auditory Processing
Through patient and parent education, our passionate SLPs will assist children and adolescents use strategies to better understand verbal language such as multi-step directions to increase independence in play, activities of daily living, and school-related tasks.
meet our people
Nancy
CCC-SLP President, owner and clinical director
Nancy graduated from Nova Southeastern with her MS and then graduated from UCF with her BS. She enjoys evaluating new patients and watching them progress through their goals. She loves seeing patients communicate more efficiently to help decrease overall frustrations. Some fun things about Nancy are that her family is German and that she loves boating, crafting and traveling with her family.
Chris
Lead CCC-SLP Orange City
Chris graduated from UCF. She enjoys Dysphagia, Auditory Processing and completing evaluations. Chris's favorite activities in therapy include surprise eggs and a variety of apps for the older students. In her downtime, Chris enjoys crocheting, trying different arts and crafts and playing computer games. Fun fact: Chris is an introvert and totally devoted to her family and particularly her beautiful grandchild.
jen
Lead CCC-SLP Longwood
Jennifer graduated from the University of Florida. She enjoys working on apraxia, dyslexia, early language development and differential diagnoses. In Jennifer's down time she likes to travel, workout, spend time with family and experience new cultures and food.
chelsea
CCC-SLP Orange City
Chelsea graduated from Nova Southeaster University. She enjoys early language and language therapy. She wants parents to know the importance of carryover at home. Her favorite toys are sensory bins and farm toys. She enjoys going to the beach, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Fun fact: she has 2 dogs, Khloe and Kaya, and loves to binge watch Friends.
katherine
CCC-SLP Longwood
Katherine graduated from the University of Central Florida. Katherine enjoys working with Pre-K language and play skills. Her favorite toy is pop the pig and sneaky snacky squirrel. In her down time, she loves to sing, swim and make crafts. Fun fact: Katherine has 4 cats.
nicole
CCC-SLP Longwood
Nicole graduated from Nova Southeastern University. Nicole loves play based language, articulation, apraxia and expressive language. Her favorite toys for therapy are play food, pop the pig and ball tunnel. In her down time she loves to go to Disney, parks, the beach and to hang out with family.
lissette
Bilingual SLPA Longwood
Lissette graduated from the University of Central Florida. she enjoys working on early language development, bilingual language acquisition, articulation and working with children on the autism spectrum. Her favorite toys are farm animals and potato heads. In her down time she likes to spend time with her family and friends and go to new places. Fun fact: Lissette used to play lacrosse and she is also one of our bilingual SLPAs.
luis
Bilingual SLPA Longwood
Luis graduated from the University of Central Florida. Luis enjoys working on articulation, reading and language. He loves teaching each session and strives to make it fun. His favorite therapy activities include bubbles and basketball. In his down time, he enjoys going to Orlando City games, working as a DJ, sports, and going to Disney with family. Fun fact: Luis loves romantic comedies. Luis is also one of our bilingual SLPAs.
Ashley
SLPA Longwood
Ashley graduated from the University of Central Florida. She enjoys play based therapy and working with children with ASD. Ashley loves to use various food sets and Mr. potato head. In her down time she likes to cycle, walk her dog, eat at food trucks, boating and hanging out with friends. Fun fact: Ashley has 2 sisters and 2 brothers.
Jose
Bilingual CCC-SLP Longwood
Jose graduated from The University of Central Florida with his MS. He enjoys early language development and working with children who have ASD. He loves utilizing toys in sessions that promote reciprocal play or have a cause and effect. He believes in practicing expectant waiting and providing positive reinforcement. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball, traveling with his family, going to the beach and listening to music. Fun fact: he is a huge fan of WWE wrestling.
Kurt
CCC-SLP Orange City
Kurt graduated from The University of Central Florida with his MS. He has been working at CFTS since 2024. In sessions He likes to work on early language and fluency. He also likes to utilize toys like farm animals to keep things fun and practice sounds and functional play. He believes that everything can support language. He encourages parents to find a toys, box and even all the decorations and have fun with describing everything.
Valerie
Bilingual CCC-SLP Orange City
Valerie graduated from The University of Central Florida in 2022 and has been working at CFTS since 2024. In sessions she enjoys working on articulation and integrating fun toys to watch all of the creations kids can make. She also likes helping out with the bilingual patients. She has found a joy in the pediatric population after knowing that she wanted to help people. In her free time she enjoys gardening, kayaking, and spending time with her friends and family.
Janelle
CCC-SLP Longwood
Janelle graduated from FIU in 2020 and has been working at CFTS since 2025. In sessions she enjoys working with AAC devices to help expand expressive language skills and allow for more functional communication. She enjoys playing fun games in session, like cranium cariboo, and targeting them to a variety of different speech goals to keep children engaged. She wants parents to remember that practicing tricky things will make them less tricky. In her free time she enjoys dancing, traveling and participating in trivia.
Ally
CCC-SLP Longwood
Ally graduated from USF in 2022 and has been working at CFTS since 2025. In sessions she enjoys working with our patients who need a little extra help with feeding and also practicing play-based language. She wants parents to know that they can always ask for help - that's what we are here for! In her free time, she enjoys running, going for walks, or reading outside with some coffee.
Dania
CCC-SLP Longwood
Dania graduated from UCF in 2007 and has been working at CFTS since 2024. In sessions she enjoys incorporating fun games like Pop the Pig which can work on many different goals at once. She also likes working on language based activities and working on appropriate responses for social scenarios. Her tip to parents is to talk about what your child is interested in at the moment. Join their play in stead of directing it. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, working out, traveling and spending time with her friends and family.
deborah
SLPA Longwood
Deb graduated from UCF in 2025 and has been working at CFTS since 2025. In sessions she enjoys using mini barns and farm animals to target following directions, prepositions, more and using articulation station app to target sounds. Her tip to parents is that repetition is key! In her free time, she enjoys going on beach trips and spending time with her family & friends.
Grace
CCC-SLP Longwood
Grace graduated from UCF in 2025 and has been working at CFTS since 2026. In sessions she enjoys working with patients on articulation and early language intervention. one of her favorite session items is Bjorem Box of sounds in a book. She wants parents to know that shared reading is a great activity to built a variety of language and literacy skills. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with her family.
jeimmy
SLPA Longwood
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lexi
SLPA Longwood
Lexi graduated from UCF in 2024 and has been working at CFTS since 2025. In sessions she enjoys working with AAC devices and working on behaviors. She likes utilizing play-based therapy and creating a safe place for the children. She wants parents to know that you can create so much learning through play! In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog, journaling, seeing her nephew, going on walks or building legos.
sarah
CCC-SLP Longwood
Sarah graduated from UCF in 2023 and has been working at CFTS since 2026. In sessions she enjoys using pinkcatgames.com as it boosts engagement within sessions targeting articulation and auditory bombardment during early intervention. Her tip to parents is that Auditory bombardment allows for low-pressure learning while building phonological awareness and efficiently acquiring language/sound discrimination skills. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends/boyfriend, indoor climbing, and hanging out with her cats.
