Abilities Center Staff: Speech-Language Team

Andrea Stith, M.A., CF-SLP joins our staff as a Speech-Language Pathologist after receiving her M.A. from Western Michigan University. Her areas of interest include Autism Spectrum Disorders, articulation, and language and literacy. Through a grant project at WMU, Andrea had the opportunity to work with diverse clients in settings ranging from schools to hospitals. She especially enjoyed working with the Migrant Head Start program because of her study of Spanish while in college. Working with children is her passion and she has worked with them in classroom, small groups, and individual settings. After volunteering at Able Abe’s Summer Camp, Andrea is excited about the opportunity to be on staff at the Abilities Center.

Danielle Peters Rocchini, MA, CCC-SLP, received a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University and Master of Arts from Northwestern University. Danielle is an NDT certified therapist as she completed the 8 week Neuro-Developmental Therapy (NDT) Pediatric Certification course in November 2002. Danielle has provided assessment and treatment of children ranging from birth to 21 years old with a wide variety of diagnoses including neuromotor disabilities, dyspraxia, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, cleft palate repair, hearing/visual impairments, social/ pragmatic difficulties, phonological and language impairments. Prior to joining our center Danielle has worked in both hospital and outpatient settings concentrating on incorporating integration of NDT, feeding, oral motor, respiratory/phonatory support, augmentative communication, sensory motor techniques, articulation, motor planning/ sound sequencing, memory/ word finding techniques, language, fluency, social/pragmatic techniques, and nonverbal communication activities.

Dana received her M.S. degree from California State University, Sacramento in 1997. In California, she worked in a variety of school settings for 8 years, providing services for students ages 3-21. She spent the last 2 years at a pediatric private practice, before moving to Michigan and joining the Abilities Center team. Dana briefly took a break from speech therapy in 2005 to teach classes as a Kindermusik instructor. She has a strong background in working with children in preschool programs as well as in early intervention. Dana is proficient in American Sign Language and previously volunteered as an interpreter for deaf children and adults. When not at work, Dana enjoys spending time with family and being involved in church activities!

Marie Bauer, MA, CCC-SLP received her B.S from Calvin College in 2000 and her M.A. from Central Michigan University in 2002. Prior to joining the Abilities Center, Marie worked as an SLP in a pediatric/adolescent traumatic brain injury program where she received extensive training in treating cognitive-communication disorders related to attention, memory, problem solving, organization, and executive functioning. She also has experience in treating children with apraxia, dysarthria, auditory processing disorders, oral motor difficulty, social communication impairment, as well as receptive and expressive language disorders.

Paula Gomoluch, M.A., CCC-SLP, received her M.A. from Eastern Michigan University. Paula has provided assessment and treatment of children ranging from birth to 20 years of age with a wide variety of diagnoses. Prior to joining our center Paula worked in both hospital and outpatient settings. Paula looks forward to working with the clients at the Abilities Center and with Able Abe's Summer Camp.