Speech Therapists

“I feel the greatest satisfaction I receive in providing early intervention services is when a child and family finally achieve their ultimate goal of talking and/or eating and you see that joy and amazement in their faces.”Mishele Cowan, MS, SLP-CCC, began her work with us in 2001 for 2 ½ years and then, we are glad to say, returned in 2008, because she missed working in Early Intervention. Mishele has a great background in communication, as well as feeding and swallowing therapy. “I feel the greatest satisfaction I receive in providing early intervention services is when a child and family finally achieve their ultimate goal of talking and/or eating and you see that joy and amazement in their faces.”

Michelle Csukas, MS, SLP-CCC, completed her fellowship year with us and has continued on as a regular staff Speech Therapist ever since. Michelle’s cheerful smile and warm manner bring her accolades from her families. She has worked in every county we serve at one time or another, so that is spreading a lot of happiness around. "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." By: Forest E. Witcraft

“I have a passion for early intervention. I feel that my compassion, love for children, education and experience have made me an effective speech therapist.”Stephanie Wright, MS, SLP-CCC, has a well rounded pediatric speech therapy background which she brought to Early Intervention in 2005. She writes “I have a passion for early intervention. I feel that my compassion, love for children, education and experience have made me an effective speech therapist.”

Kristie Spotti, MS, SLP-CCC, a Speech Therapist who has worked with children of all ages since 1999, and in EI since 2001, brings her skills and knowledge in working with children who have apraxia, feeding problems, cleft palate, expressive and receptive language delays and autism.

Jana Steinbar, MS, SLP-CCC, joined our staff as a CFY and continued on as a staff speech therapist. Prior to joining us she worked in the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at Duquesne University and as a long-term Special Education teacher substitute in Pittsburgh elementary schools. Her supervisors have said of her “Jana is an extraordinarily hard worker with a very positive outlook. (She) is a warm caring individual who easily establishes rapport with her clients and their families”.

“I love my work with children and their families. It is very rewarding to see the reaction of parents as their children start to use words to talk to them. The joy families feel as their children develop and grow is contagious. I can't imagine a more fulfilling job!”Jill Ellson, MS, SLP-CCC, Jill has been working in EI in Allegheny County for 5 years and prior to that as a Preschool administrator. She really understands children. She has a passion for working with young children to enhance their learning and development: “I love my work with children and their families. It is very rewarding to see the reaction of parents as their children start to use words to talk to them. The joy families feel as their children develop and grow is contagious. I can't imagine a more fulfilling job!”

Physical Therapists | Occupational Therapists | Speech Therapists | Special Instructors