FOUNDATIONS DEVELOPMENTAL HOUSE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff
• Pathology Assistant

Alyson Steffens has been speech language pathology assistant (SLPA) at Foundations Developmental House since 2009. She studied communicative disorders at the University of Redlands and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Science from Arizona State University. She brings experience and leadership to the FDH team. Alyson has been a Certified Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program Provider since 2010. She is a trained facilitator in The Motor Cognition² (MC²®) Program, The Logic of English®, as well as Lindamood-Bell® methods. Alyson has been providing both school-based and clinical speech-language services to children with a variety of speech-language impairments and learning disabilities since 2008. She is passionate about helping children succeed in school and life. When not working with children, Alyson enjoys playing sports, cheering on local sports teams and caring for pets.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff
• Clinical Director of Speech - Language Services
• POSITION Speech - Language Pathologist, Clinical Director

Anna-Alyse Thomas, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a nationally certified speech-language pathologist and has been an enthusiastic team leader for FDH since 2014. Anna-Alyse received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona and her Master of Science degree from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her expertise lies in the identification and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech, expressive & receptive language disorders, reading impairments, and executive functioning. She is a Certified Provider for The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program as well as a lead trainer for The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program. She is trained in the implementation of various evidenced based programs such as Motor Cognition2² (MC²® ), The Logic of English® and Lindamood-Bell® methods. Anna-Alyse has experience conducting evaluations and providing therapy in clinic-based and school-based settings. She is a very passionate clinician who strives to find innovative methodologies to help all clients meet their greatest potential. She also holds an Arizona Department of Education certificate. Her combined background of clinic-based and educational-based speech-language pathology makes her extremely knowledgeable, offering versatile expertise as she possesses a deep understanding of language and cognitive skills related to academic achievement. She has a strong special education background being part of a multidisciplinary evaluation team (MET) in various school settings. She is also experienced in conducting independent educational evaluations (IEE) with the FDH team. Education The University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE · August 2014

Barbara Calaway joined the Synergy Dyslexia Center team in 2019. Barbara has 30 years of experience teaching English and Language Arts, but she truly found her niche when she became a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) 12 years ago. She is also a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist. She loves this multi-sensory, Orton-Gillingham based method of teaching that has helped her unlock reading, spelling, and writing skills for children who had previously been unable to learn them. Being a CALT confirms that Barbara has the expertise to provide services to individuals who have difficulty acquiring the basic language skills necessary to read, write and spell. She possesses a deep knowledge of the structure of the English language. Her seasoned experience allows her to apply these skills in developing individualized remediation plans for dyslexia and related learning disorders. As a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS), Barbara has completed extensive supervised practicum experiences dedicated to advancing the literacy profiles of students with Specific Learning Disabilities, including dyslexia, and is able to serve students who are at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of reading, spelling, and writing instruction. Barbara taught at Rawson Saunders School for Dyslexics in Austin, Texas and tutored privately for the past 12 years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and journalism, Master of Arts degree in education, and All-level Teaching Certificate from the University of Texas at Austin. She has worked with students ranging from kindergarten through high school and beyond. Her other loves besides teaching include watching the hummingbirds feed outside her window, hiking in the mountains, and traveling to see her grandson, who lives in India, and her two granddaughters, who live in Canada. She loves everything about Chandler but the heat. Barbara Calaway's memberships and certifications are with:

Job Titles:

• Occupational Therapy Staff Member

Brian French, COTA/L has been a licensed COTA for 6 years. Brian graduated with his B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his OTA degree from Parkland College. Brian has practiced in the area of pediatrics spanning multiple settings that include schools, home health, and acute care. Brian is a recent Arizona transplant and enjoys hiking, golfing, and sports in his free time.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff

Corrie McGuire, a school-based Speech Language Technician and clinical SLPA, has been practicing since 2008. She graduated Cum Laude at SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Communication Disorders. Corrie comes from a broad range of experience working in various settings such as home, school (preschool to 12th grade) and clinic-based services with children of varying disabilities. Corrie is passionate about providing effective, evidenced-based interventions to best support her clients as well as building a strong connection with them. Corrie has a husband and two young girls ages 6 and 3. She enjoys spending quality time with her family outdoors and exploring restaurants in the valley. She also enjoys staying active by attending F45 classes, running and riding her bike.

Job Titles:

• Occupational Therapy Staff Member
• POSITION Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant ( COTA / L )

Eddie Huff, COTA/L, has been practicing occupational therapy since September of 2020. Eddie graduated from Pima Medical Institute with a degree in Occupational Science. He has a focus of sensory integration, providing services to the pediatric population. Eddie enjoys traveling and playing (or watching) sports with friends and family.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff
• POSITION Speech - Language Pathologist

Joanna Hester, M.S., CCC-SLP has been with FDH since 2016 and is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association. She completed her bachelor's degree at Brigham Young University and her master's degree at Nova Southeastern University. She specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with apraxia, fluency, articulation, and language disorders. She is trained in The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program. Joanna also holds an Arizona Department of Education certificate and practices in both clinic- based and school-based settings. In her spare time, Joanna enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff

Josefina (Jo) Unruh, has been practicing as an SLPA with the FDH team since 2013. In 2011, Jo graduated from the University of Redlands with a bachelor's degree in communicative disorders. After graduation, Jo returned to Arizona and worked as an instructional assistant in a special education preschool program for 3 years at Keller Elementary, part of Mesa Public Schools. She practices in both clinical and school-based settings and has a strong depth of experience. She is trained in The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program, actively implementing evidence-based techniques to children with a variety of speech sound disorders. She is also passionate about working with children with social communication disorders and language impairments. She is trained in The Logic of English® program for literacy development among other therapeutic interventions. Jo brings experience and a passion to the treatment setting and enjoys developing the communication skills of the children she works with.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff
• POSITION Speech - Language Pathologist

Kaitlin (Kate) is a CCC-SLP who graduated from Midwestern University with an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. She graduated from Fort Hays State University with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2016. After receiving her B.S., she moved to Arizona and became a licensed SLPA. Kate worked as an SLPA for 3 years before attending graduate school. As an SLPA, she worked in the clinic and home health settings. In addition to being an SLPA, Kate has worked as a habilitation and respite provider to assist young individuals with disabilities in learning life skills.

Job Titles:

• Occupational Therapy Staff Member
• Clinical Director of Occupational Therapy
• POSITION Occupational Therapist, Clinical Director

Kristen Armstrong, OTR/L has been a practicing occupational therapist for 22 years in pediatrics. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and has taken numerous continuing education courses to stay current in her practice area of pediatrics. Her main areas of focus and expertise have been feeding therapy, sensory integration and neurodevelopmental treatment techniques for the 0-6 population. In her hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan, she started a feeding evaluation team including a GI specialist, nutritionist, psychologist, and occupational therapist. She received the President's Award, the highest honor at Bronson Methodist Hospital, for this project. Kristen moved to Arizona 8 years ago and has been serving the high school population since her arrival here at Foundations Developmental House. Her true love is the discipline of feeding. In her free time, Kristen likes to hang out with her daughter, who just started ASU this fall, and who has dreams of becoming a doctor someday. Kristen also enjoys exploring Arizona in her UTV, spending time with her two Weimaraners, and cooking gourmet foods.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff

Job Titles:

• Administrative Staff Member
• Executive Director
• POSITION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lynn Carahaly, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the owner and executive director of Foundations Developmental House, LLC, located in Gilbert, AZ, founded in 2003. Carahaly received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Speech and Hearing Science from The Ohio State University. Her area of specialization is with the treatment of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), language-based learning disabilities (i.e. reading and spelling impairments, written expression), auditory processing disorders, attention deficit hyperactive disorder/executive function deficit (EFD), as well as social communication disorders. Carahaly serves as an expert witness involving due processes cases requiring speech-language pathology expertise. She frequently performs independent educational evaluations (IEEs). She is the developer of The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program. In addition, Carahaly has developed a family of iPad applications for apraxia and reading development (used in over 100 countries), other speech & language delays, and educational apps. Carahaly lectures worldwide and has been a past keynote speaker for the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA) national convention. She has presented at national ASHA conventions and other state conventions sharing her knowledge and passion for the field of speech-language pathology and related learning disorders. Executive Director Lynn Carahaly, M.A., CCC-SLP is considered an accomplished, renowned Speech-Language Pathologist with expertise in apraxia and language-based learning disabilities. FDH is home of The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program. We are best known for highly effective interventions to treat childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), global dyspraxia, developmental delays, language-based learning disabilities (dyslexia and dysgraphia), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), feeding difficulties, ADHD/executive function deficit, gifted asynchronous development and disabilities in the twice exceptional (2e) population, and auditory processing disorder (APD). FDH has been providing highly reputable therapeutic services in the Chandler/Gilbert area (since 2007) long before other centers emerged in the East Valley. Lynn Carahaly's 20+ years of clinical experience, practice longevity, and staff consistency makes FDH a pediatric center families can choose with confidence.

Job Titles:

• Member of the National Association of School Psychologists
• POSITION School Psychologist
• PREPaRE Trainer

Marci Schutrum, Ed.S., received her Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology degree from the University of Toledo, Ohio. She also holds an M.S. degree from Canisius College of Buffalo in Educational Counseling. Ms. Schutrum's undergraduate focus was Sociology and Health Science. Ms. Schutrum has practiced as a School Psychologist in both public and charter schools for the past 15 years working grades Pre K to 12. She believes strongly in every child's ability to learn when provided the level of support appropriate to their needs. Prior to practicing as a School Psychologist, she worked for 6 years as a School Counselor in the state of New York with grades Pre K to 6. Ms. Schutrum is a PREPaRE trainer through the National Association of School Psychologists and has been a part of multiple school teams working to develop suicide/risk assessment protocols. Ms. Schutrum has held the Lead School Psychologist position in her last two jobs and enjoys leading school Psychologist teams in assessment and identification of students suspected of having educational disabilities. Marci has trained and worked extensively in the educational assessment of Autism utilizing best practices based on current and ongoing research. Ms. Schutrum enjoys giving back to her field and has supervised several interns and practicum students over the course of her career. On a personal note, Marci is married to her husband Jeff and is the proud mother/stepmother to five children. She is an avid outdoor person who enjoys hiking, running and playing tennis with her family. Ms. Schutrum is an active member of the National Association of School Psychologists, the Arizona Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Counselors.

Job Titles:

• Occupational Therapy Staff Member
• POSITION Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Maria wasted no time to fulfill her desire to help others, beginning her journey to become a certified occupational therapist assistant (COTA) only one week after retiring from a 20-year career with the State of Arizona. Maria graduated from Pima Medical Institute with a 4.0 GPA, receiving her license in February 2018, with the support of her husband and son. Her infectious enthusiasm for her new career has motivated Maria's son to enter the OT field, as he is currently attending school to also become a COTA. Maria has experience working in Skilled Nursing Facilities with geriatric patients and pediatric outpatient clinics. Her experience includes working with children diagnosed with ADHD, autism, developmental delays and sensory processing disorder (SPD). She admires the honesty, creativity and energy of the children she works with, stating "There is no better reward than seeing the joy in a child and parent's face when a child achieves their goals". Maria plans to continue to develop her skills in sensory integration, Handwriting Without Tears® and feeding strategies.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Speech and Language Staff

Stephanie Perz, M.Ed., SLPA received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing and Master of Education focus on autism spectrum disorder from Arizona State University. She has taken post-graduate courses in applied behavior analysis. Stephanie has been a certified speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) in Arizona since 2009. She services a diverse range of consumers, from infancy through adult, both individualized and groups in clinical and school-based settings. Her area of specialization and population include: childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), autism spectrum disorder, executive functions, twice exceptionality, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), social pragmatic language, speech and language disorders. Stephanie's knowledge of early intervention techniques supports emotional development and behavior modification. She believes in a holistic play-based, child-led, developmental approach to therapy informed by her continuing education programs in The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program, American Sign Language (ASL), Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP), floortime, relationship development intervention (RDI), Bal-A-Vis-X© and Motor Cognition Squared (MC²®).

Job Titles:

• Administrative Staff Member
• Operations Manager, Senior Billing Specialist