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MEET THE SPEECH MATTERS TEAM

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Jemima Barnes
MS, CCC-SLP

​Jemima holds a Masters of Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Sydney. She is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist with extensive experience working with pediatric and adult populations across diverse clinical settings.

 

Jemima has managed comprehensive caseloads, providing specialized assessment and therapy in areas including speech sound disorders, language disorders, fluency, AAC systems, literacy, voice, and social communication. Jemima is passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practices and has successfully founded and led social groups supporting young adults to connect and grow. She prides herself on making her therapy sessions fun, engaging and filled with success for the child or adult. She understands the importance of home practice and likes to involve the families in her therapy sessions, giving them the confidence and skills needed to continue targeting their goals at home between sessions.

 

Professional Development training includes:

  • Macquarie University Literacy Training Course - The Dual Routes of Reading and Spelling

  • Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®)

  • Certified Hanen Provider (It Takes Two To Talk)

  • Intensive Interaction (Pre-speech fundamentals of communication)

  • Meaningful Speech Gestalt Language Processing online course

  • Applying the Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme (NDP3) for Management of Children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)

  • Reframing Autism by Neuropsychologist Dr Melanie Heyworth

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Amanda Catone
M.S., CCC, SLP
Amanda is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo State’s Speech Language Pathology program. She began her career in early intervention and preschool speech and language therapy, treating children from birth to five years old.
 
Amanda then transitioned to a school setting, working with middle school students, and is currently working with elementary and middle school students with brain injuries and brain-based disorders. She has experience in the areas of pediatric feeding and swallowing, articulation and phonology, receptive and expressive language, and augmentative and alternative communication.
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Rachel Golub
M.S., CCC, SLP
Rachel is a medical speech-language pathologist with experience aligning goals with clients and caregivers, and implementing evidence-based practice. She is especially interested in providing gender affirmation voice therapy. She has attended relevant presentations and continues to stay involved with coursework and independent research to best service the LGBTQIA+ community. Rachel’s interests also include treating adults who have had a traumatic brain injury. She has had years of experience working to foster independence and functionality for those with dysphagia, aphasia, dysarthria, voice disorders and cognitive-linguistic impairment.

Special training includes:
● Acoustic Assumptions to target vocal resonance for voice feminization/masculinization
● SPEAK OUT!® for people with Parkinson’s disease
● Modified Barium Swallow Study Profile to analyze disordered swallowing
● Passy Muir Valve Assessment/ Management for people with tracheostomies
● Augmentative & Alternative Communication to increase communicative outlets for
people with aphasia
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Andreya Harvey
MS, CCC, SLP,  TSSLD

Heather Moss is ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association) certified and New York State licensed, holds a permanent certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) and is Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT) Trained.

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Heather has a wealth of experience and has practiced in the United States and Australia for over 15 years. Heather has also studied and participated in education programs in France, Prague, Poland, Israel and China - working with children of all ages and across diverse backgrounds. She has an infectious enthusiasm for client improvement and has an energetic and creative personality conducive to working with children and their caregivers.

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Heather has a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Speech and Hearing from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. 

Speech Language Pathologist
Heather Moss

Andreya is ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association) certified and New York State licensed and holds a certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She earned her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of New Hampshire in 2020 and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology with an Early Intervention Specialization from CUNY Brooklyn College in 2022.


Andreya currently works in a special education middle/high school and has previously worked in settings such as elementary schools, private practices, and early-intervention centers. She has experience providing evidence-based intervention, diagnostics, and counseling services to children ranging from 2-16 years old, both individually and in group sessions, to target various skills including speech, language, fluency, literacy, and social language goals. Andreya is passionate about helping individuals improve their speech and language skills and providing students with the strategies and tools necessary to help them successfully access their academic curriculum.

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Paige McHale

M.S., CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Paige is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in adult neurogenic disorders since 2018. She completed her clinical fellowship at the Centre for Neuro Skills in California, focusing on traumatic brain injury under Dr. Mark Ashley. Holding her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), she has worked across acute, inpatient, outpatient, home health, and teletherapy settings. Her expertise includes brain injuries, strokes, aphasia, dysphagia, cognitive-communication disorders, and support for Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

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Paige emphasizes holistic, evidence-based care that promotes functional goals, health literacy, and meaningful life participation. She is also a clinical educator at Lehman College’s Adult Neurogenic Clinic and works in acute care. Outside of work, Paige enjoys yoga and became a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) in 2022.

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Christie Nah

M.S., CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Christie Nah is a Korean American bilingual speech-language pathologist specializing in orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) to support optimal oral function, swallowing, speech, and airway health. She earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Texas at Dallas and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Texas A&M University.

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Christie’s clinical experience includes dysphagia, articulation, language, fluency, AAC (Tobii Dynavox, Proloquo2go), voice, social communication, cognition, and feeding
across pediatric, adult, and medically complex populations. Christie integrates evidence-based techniques—including OMT, PROMPT, EMST, NMES, and sensory integration interventions—to improve oral musculature strength/coordination for swallowing, feeding and overall communication skills. 

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Ariana Shushan
M.S., CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Ariana is ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association) certified and New York State licensed and holds a certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She earned her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from SUNY New Paltz and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from CUNY Brooklyn College in 2021.

 

Ariana worked as a middle school speech-language pathologist for four years in which clinical focus was on strengthening literacy skills as well as expanding expressive and receptive language. Time at Speech Matters ignited a love and passion for working with younger children. So, this year she is beginning a new role as a pre-school speech-language pathologist.

Megan Harris
M.S., CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Linda Bejoian
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MS, CCC-SLP

Linda Bejoian has over thirty years of professional experience as a certified speech pathologist.


Through her private practice on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, she has gained expertise in treating a variety of speech and language disorders. 

 

Education:

  • Master of Science at Rutgers, The State University

  • Bachelor of Arts at The State University at New York Buffalo

  • Central School of Speech and Drama  London, England

 

Credentials:

  • Externship supervisor for a number of graduate speech pathology programs. 

  • Member of The Voice Study Group for over 25 years

  • Bejoian, L., Gordon, B., Juska, J., O'Grady, J., Pullara, O., & Thorne, J. (2005). Achieving Speech Production in a Nonverbal Adolescent with Autism. Department of Neurology, Cognitive Neurology, Neuropsychology, John Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD. 

  • Founder and Developer: The Language Garden School 

  • Programs use a thematic approach specialized for 3-5 year-olds 

  • Former Adjunct Clinical Instructor: Tufts University School of Pediatric Dentistry 

  • Workshop Presenter for Dentists and Speech Pathologists: Columbia, Harvard, and Boston University 

  • Awarded Scholarship at the Rusk Insititute of Rehabilitation Medicine

  • Creator of "Mr. Wizard's Thumbs Out", Educational video designed to help 3-8 year olds stop thumb sucking.                                                                                  

    • "The video was very well done and the message was very clear. There is no doubt that it would be useful in assisting children with this particular problem." - Anthi Tsamtsouris, D.M.D.M.S. Assistant Chairwoman, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Tufts University 

  • Prompt Certified 

  • Expertise in treating children with oral motor problems, as well as PDD

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Megan is an ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association) certified and New York State licensed speech-language pathologist. She earned her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Miami University and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University. 

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Megan completed her clinical fellowship at a specialty hospital, where she treated adults with tracheostomies and ventilators for swallowing and communication disorders. Currently, she works at an early intervention center for 2-3 year old children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who face challenges with feeding and communication. She also has experience working in school based settings with children aged 3-21. Megan is passionate about using a total communication approach to help both the pediatric and adult population communicate functionally in their environment. 

Specialized training includes:

  • High tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for adults with ALS

  • Modified Barium Swallow Studies to analyze disordered swallowing

  • Passy Muir Valve Assessment/Management for people with tracheostomies

  • LSVT Loud for people with Parkinson’s Disease 

  • High and low tech AAC for children with ASD 

  • Play-based, early intervention therapy for children with ASD and/or Down’s Syndrome 

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Agnieszka Beckford- AOMT-C

Agnieszka exemplifies commitment and expertise in the field of dentistry and
myofunctional therapy. Her professional career started in Poland, where she first
practiced dentistry before continuing her education in the United States. She holds an
Associate of Applied Science degree and augmented her expertise with a Master's in Public Health from Benedictine University in Illinois.


Agnieszka's interest in her profession became more profound when her daughter
encountered orthodontic issues because of tongue thrust. This situation prompted her to look into the life-changing aspects of myofunctional therapy, stimulating a fascination that drove her to the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy.

 

She became a myofunctional therapist in 2016. In 2021, she successfully became certified. Committed to helping patients of every age achieve excellent oral health.

She employs a comprehensive style that is both effective and refreshing.

 

She believes in empowering her patients, helping them understand the importance of oral health, preventing potential issues, and promoting overall well-being. This realization of holistic well-being led her to learn yet another skill: to instruct individuals on the value of proper breathing. In April 2025, she was awarded a
Certificate in the Buteyko Clinic Method (Cert BBM) by Buteyko Clinic International.
 

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Brittani Farrell
CCC-SLP, MS, MM

Brittani is a certified speech-language pathologist specializing in clinical voice, swallow, and airway therapy, as well as a singing voice therapist. She holds an MS in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from NYU, an MM in Voice Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and a BME in Music Education from Colorado State University.

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Her training includes a clinical fellowship at the Grabscheid Voice and Swallow Center of Mount Sinai, a vocology certificate from the National Center for Voice and Speech, and specialized training in manual therapy and gender-affirming voice work. She has over 10 years of experience in performance and teaching.

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  • MS in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from NYU

  • MM in Voice Performance from the University of Northern Colorado

  • BME in Music Education from Colorado State University

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Jessica Fincham
M.S., CF-SLP, TSSLD

Jessica is a Clinical Fellow Speech Language Pathologist and a recent graduate of Western Carolina University's Master of Science program in Communication Sciences and Disorders to support autistic individuals and those with intellectual disabilities. She also earned her Bachelor's degree in Human Learning and Development from Georgia State University.

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Jessica has worked in private practice, school, and medical settings, supporting children with speech, language, social communication and AAC needs, as well as adults with aphasia and swallowing disorders. She is passionate about providing therapy that is neurodiversity-affirming, child-led, and tailored to each client's unique strength and interests.

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Christian Adam
M.S., CF-SLP, TSSLD

Christian Adam is a Clinical Fellow Speech Language Pathologist and holds a certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). He earned his B.S. in Communicative Disorders at URI and his M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Iona University. 

 

Christian’s previous experience includes a diverse caseload, ranging in from pediatric to geriatric populations, with a strong background in school-aged children and children/young adults with Autism. This has involved working in a preschool, elementary, and middle school setting targeting various skills including speech sound disorders, language, fluency, literacy, social communication, and AAC goals. He provides individualized, evidence-based intervention to support client’s unique communication goals that promote functional outcomes that foster both social and academic success. Christian is passionate about expanding his knowledge within the field and applying strategies to best serve his clients. 

 

Special trainings:

  • Modified Barium Swallow Study Profile to analyze disordered swallowing

  • Advanced Grammar Fundamentals for a Pluralistic Society: CEU course certification.

  • CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) Program Certification.

  • Clinical Communication Certificate

  • Co Curricular Service Learning Certificate 

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Cyrene Nicole Lagman
Administrative Assistant

Cyrene is a dedicated and compassionate professional from the Philippines, with a background in clinical laboratory science. She graduated with a degree of Medical Laboratory Scientist and has spent years working in a hospital setting, where she gained valuable experience both as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and as an Administrative Assistant.

Cyrene is passionate about helping others and thrives on communicating with and assisting people to meet their needs. Her blend of technical expertise and administrative skills has allowed her to contribute meaningfully to her workplace while fostering positive relationships with colleagues and patients alike. She is driven by a strong desire to make a positive impact through service and care.

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Artiqua Castro
Billing Management Consultant

Artiqua Castro, a billing management consultant with 22+ years of experience, specializes in optimizing healthcare revenue cycles, improving workflows, reducing denials, and ensuring accurate reimbursements. Her expertise in medical billing, coding, and insurance verification has helped healthcare organizations achieve financial efficiency and compliance.

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Beyond her work with organizations, Artiqua is dedicated to guiding patients through complex insurance processes, ensuring they receive clear, accurate information to reduce confusion and enhance their healthcare experience.

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