Lisa M. Connors, M.S., CCC-SLP, TSSLD, PROMPT, A.E.I.O.U
Co-Director & Speech-Language Pathologist
lisa@playandsayspeechservices.com
Lisa completed her undergraduate studies in Communications Sciences and Disorders at Marymount Manhattan College in NYC and graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. She maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and is an active member of both the New York State Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NYSSLHA) as well as the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology (AAPPSSPA). Lisa is a co-director at Play & Say and currently services the needs of children ages birth - 20 years with speech, language, feeding, and social pragmatic language difficulties. She has experience working in several therapeutic settings including homes, schools, private clinics and hospitals throughout NYC. Lisa has been employed and contracted with many well-known pediatric rehabilitation facilities including Sunny Days Early Intervention, TheraCare, Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH)/Northwell, and the New York City Department of Education (NYC-DOE). In addition to her work as a therapist, Lisa also founded Play & Say’s beloved Pre-K Prep Program for children ages 3-5 utilizing the Reggio Emilia approach to Early Childhood Education. She has completed several continuing education courses including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT), Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC), The A.E.I.O.U. Approach to Pediatric Feeding Disorders, Orofacial Myofunction Therapy (OMT), Baby Reflexology, Tummy Time Method and has training in the Learning Without Tears (LWT) Preschool Curriculum. Her mission aligns with the development of Play & Say’s program which incorporates a multidisciplinary approach to pediatric therapy and early childhood education.
Marguerite Cavalcante M.A., CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Co-Director & Speech-Language Pathologist
marguerite@playandsayspeechservices.com
Marguerite completed her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Speech-Language Pathology at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. She maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a member of both the New York State Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NYSSLHA) as well as the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
As an undergraduate and graduate student, Marguerite participated in clinical internships that allowed her to gain knowledge and experience in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient nursing facilities, schools, homes, research development facilities, early intervention agencies and private practices with both pediatric and adult populations.
In the early start of her career, Marguerite worked for the New York City Department of Education, where she provided speech and language therapy to children in preschool through 5th grade with a variety of needs such as articulation/phonological disorders, language based learning disabilities and receptive and expressive language delays/disorders. Additionally, Marguerite worked for the New York City Early Intervention Program, with a focus on children with early language development delays/disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Currently, Marguerite practices as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Co-Director of Play & Say Pediatric Therapy Services. As a clinical therapist, Marguerite administers comprehensive evaluations, creates Diagnosis/Treatment Plans and provides speech-language therapy in a one-to-one clinical setting to target areas such as receptive and expressive language, articulation/phonology, social communication/pragmatic language for a wide variety of pediatric populations.
Additionally, Marguerite developed the format and continues to lead 3 early language stimulation and socialization groups at Play & Say: Busy Bees and Social Butterflies. She thoroughly enjoys facilitating children’s abilities to develop their speech and language in a setting that provides ample opportunities for social interaction, language development and generalization of skills.
As a Co-Director of Play & Say Pediatric Therapy, Marguerite’s responsibilities include developing, planning and implementing programs, managing staff and developing business practices. She thoroughly enjoys working with other professionals in the field as well as families whose children benefit from the educational and therapeutic services provided by Play & Say.
Marguerite enjoys working closely with children, their caregivers and other progressions within the field. She thrives on assessing a child’s current levels of performance, creating an individualized treatment plan to target goals and working on a multidisciplinary team to facilitate the child’s abilities to maximize his or her potential.
Lauren Hess, M.A., CCC-SLP, TSSLD, PROMPT, A.E.I.O.U.
Speech-Language Pathologist & Feeding Specialist
lauren@playandsayspeechservices.com
Lauren completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology at Bloomsburg University, in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and her Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds her certification as a New York Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD).
Lauren has experience treating clients ages birth through adulthood in a variety of therapeutic settings, including hospitals, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers, home-based early intervention programs, and schools. Populations that she has served include clients with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, craniofacial abnormalities, hearing and vision impairments, genetic disorders, and English language learners. Lauren has also worked collaboratively with the NYC Department of Education’s Center for Assistive Technology and ADAPT’s TechWorks to conduct AAC and AT evaluations and recommend communication devices and adaptive equipment for children throughout the city.
Lauren has participated in continuing education and training for evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT) and the A.E.I.O.U. Approach for Pediatric Feeding. She completed an advanced workshop taught by Dr. Edythe Strand for Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).
Lauren tailors therapy approaches to meet each client’s individual needs and learning styles to help them make meaningful progress. She is a firm believer in treating clients with evidence-based therapeutic practices. Lauren aims to foster collaboration among clients, families, and related professionals. Lauren believes that it is important to build a strong rapport with each client and incorporate their interests during therapy tasks to encourage engagement, make learning fun and interactive, and maximize their potential.
Samantha Apesa
Occupational Therspist, OTR/L
samantha@playandsayspeechservices.com
Samantha completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at St. Francis College. She then attended Long Island University School of Health Sciences (LIU) where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. While attending LIU, Samantha gained clinical experience in various multi-disciplinary settings including sensory gyms, preschools, mental health settings, and adult inpatient and outpatient rehab settings. Additionally, Samantha attended a service-learning endeavor to Belize City, where she had the opportunity to work amongst a multidisciplinary team to evaluate and treat children with varying disabilities in both clinical and home settings.
Upon graduating, Samantha has worked in both home and clinical settings with pediatric and adult populations. She jump started her career at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation where she treated patients with orthopedic and neurological conditions, including but not limited to, stroke, traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries, and spine surgeries. While at NYU, Samantha was trained in conducting vision screens, providing wheelchair assessments, ordering adaptive equipment, and utilizing various standardized evaluation tools. She worked with a multidisciplinary team to provide each patient with comprehensive care and conducted patient and caregiver training to ensure that each treatment was carried over into the home setting upon patient’s discharge from the hospital.
Samantha later transitioned to working in pediatrics where she was able to apply the skills and knowledge she gained from her previous position. Over the past two years working in pediatrics, she’s had experience treating children with developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder, among other diagnoses in home and clinical settings. Samantha is passionate about working with children and she enjoys collaborating with other professionals and families to provide the most well-rounded and individualized care to each client. She believes in using evidence-based practice and continues to further her education in order to implement effective treatment plans and ensure each child receives the opportunity to function to their highest potential.