About us
Our team
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Katya Hill, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, F-ASHA, Volunteer Executive Director
Katya Hill, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, F-ASHA is an internationally recognized speech language pathologist in the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and evidence-based practice. Dr. Hill has over thirty years of clinical experience with clients across the lifespan with complex communication and medical disorders along with years of teaching and research experience. She may be found working with children on the floor during a play therapy session while her next patient may be an adult in the late stage of a degenerative neurological disability. She founded the AAC Institute, a non-profit organization, as a volunteer and has been a strong advocate throughout her career for individuals with disabilities. Dr. Hill has been the force behind the ICAN Talk Summer AAC Camp for children and now also for young adults. She is a mentor to many young speech language pathologists, AAC speakers, and families. Dr. Hill is a professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh and the Senior Director of the UPMC Augmentative Communication Program at the Center for Assistive Technology. |
Christine Lepore, M.A., CCC-SLP, Clinical Services Director
Email: [email protected]
Christine earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020 and completed a clinical fellowship in AAC at ICAN Talk Clinic. She provides outpatient speech and language services at ICAN Talk Clinic, the PLEA School in Wilkinsburg, PA. and conducts comprehensive speech-language and AAC evaluations for students with severe and complex conditions for school systems in PA an Ohio. In addition, Christine is a member of the UPMC Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic which is an ALS Center of Excellence for Western Pennsylvania. She is currently involved with with support research on a brain computer interface (BCI) prototype for adults with degenerative neurologic disorders. Her interests in the field of speech-language pathology include AAC and providing treatment to children with language disorders.
Email: [email protected]
Christine earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020 and completed a clinical fellowship in AAC at ICAN Talk Clinic. She provides outpatient speech and language services at ICAN Talk Clinic, the PLEA School in Wilkinsburg, PA. and conducts comprehensive speech-language and AAC evaluations for students with severe and complex conditions for school systems in PA an Ohio. In addition, Christine is a member of the UPMC Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic which is an ALS Center of Excellence for Western Pennsylvania. She is currently involved with with support research on a brain computer interface (BCI) prototype for adults with degenerative neurologic disorders. Her interests in the field of speech-language pathology include AAC and providing treatment to children with language disorders.
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Shannon Daddario, C.O.O. AAC Institute & ICAN Talk Clinic
Email: [email protected] Shannon has been in healthcare/office management for over 20 years. She specializes in medical billing and coding. Shannon also coordinates care between specialties for clients and assists with medical record management. Shannon operates and coordinates the AAC Institute continuing education department for professionals. She is passionate in advocating for the community. As a parent of a special needs child, she understands the obstacles that one may encounter. While living in Vermont, she founded and operated a support group for parent's of special needs children. She has continued this work here in Pennsylvania with the AAC Parents group. |
Gretchen Wortman, M.A CCC-SLP
Email: [email protected] Gretchen graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2022 with her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology. She recently completed her clinical fellowship with a focus on AAC clinical practice at the ICAN Talk Clinic. Gretchen has enjoyed working with patients across the lifespan, providing outpatient rehabilitation clinical services to both adults and children as well as school-based services to the students at the PLEA school. Her interests in the field of speech language pathology include AAC, play-based therapy, and providing diagnostic services/treatment to adults with neurogenic disorders. |
Michael O’Leary, M.S., CCC-SLP, Clinical Research Director Email: [email protected]
Michael O’Leary, M.S. CCC-SLP, is currently the PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh. He has public school experience providing diagnostic and treatment for speech-language and AAC services to middle and high school students. Currently, he focuses on providing AAC-related services to students with severe autism spectrum disorders at a partial hospitalization program along with outpatient AAC services across the lifespan. He specializes is the evaluation and treatment of individuals with severe movement disabilities who need alternative access methods to AAC systems, especially eye gaze and brain computer interface (BCI) access. Michael provides direct and consultative services and technical support for the ICAN Talk AAC Summer Camp. He has provides evidence based training on Alternative Access Methods for multiple school districts and has presented at national and state conferences including Closing the Gap, and the Pennsylvania State Speech and Hearing Association Conference (PSHA). |
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Kelsey Carney, Volunteer Mentor, AAC User
Email: [email protected]
Kelsey Carney has an Associates Degree in Human Services. She mentors youth and adults in the ICAN Talk Clinic. This provides an invaluable service to those who may not have the chance to communicate to communicate with another AAC user. She also has been volunteering with the ICAN Talk AAC Summer Camp for over 6 years. She is a newly appointed volunteer board member for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
Email: [email protected]
Kelsey Carney has an Associates Degree in Human Services. She mentors youth and adults in the ICAN Talk Clinic. This provides an invaluable service to those who may not have the chance to communicate to communicate with another AAC user. She also has been volunteering with the ICAN Talk AAC Summer Camp for over 6 years. She is a newly appointed volunteer board member for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.