Melanie M. Baez, M.A., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist

Melanie is a bilingual Florida licensed and ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist.  She loves to work with children and their families to maximize every child’s potential and enhance the entire family system.

Originally from Puerto Rico and raised in Orlando, FL Melanie is fully bilingual and has experience treating in both English and Spanish.  She earned her Bachelor's degree (2004) and Master's Degree (2006) in Speech Pathology from the University of Central Florida.  While earning her Master of Arts degree, Melanie was very active in research and worked closely with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) as a student incentive fellow.  Melanie also worked in Costa Rica as a private Speech-Language Pathologist.  Since then, she has worked for UCP of Central Florida with children of varying exceptionalities ranging from 0-18 yrs of age.   

Melanie has specialized training in Oral Motor therapy techniques, AAC (Augmentative Alternative Communication), bilingual therapy, Auditory Processing Disorders, Autism, and early intervention in the natural environment.  In addition to maintaining professional licensure, Melanie maintains CPR certification.

Caroline L. Bias, M.S., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, Director

Caroline is a Florida licensed and ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist with extensive pediatric experience.  When you call to discuss your child's specific needs you will immediately appreciate Caroline's enthusiasm, knowledge, and concern.  Caroline loves helping children to thrive.

Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Caroline earned her Bachelor's degree (1995) in Speech Pathology from Oklahoma State University then worked for the Leon County Schools in Tallahassee while earning her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Florida State University.  While at Florida State, Caroline worked as a Graduate Assistant for Dr. Amy Wetherby at the FSU Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) providing support to families and schools helping children with Autism.  She then spent 5 years in Texas successfully treating young children in their natural environments.  Caroline and her growing family relocated and established her Orlando practice in early 2005.

In addition to maintaining  professional licensure, Caroline maintains CPR certification and has training in a variety of specialized areas (e.g., Infant and Toddler Feeding, Oral Motor therapy techniques, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Alternative and Augmentative Communication, Sensory Processing Disorders, early intervention in the natural environment, and Autism/Autistic Spectrum Disorders). Caroline has special interests in Autism, infant reflux (GERD), breastfeeding, and early language development.  Caroline integrates information well and applies evidence based treatment to fit each child's unique needs within the context of their family or childcare setting.    

Publications:

Oral Motor Skills and Breastfeeding Series,

Feed the Baby: when a baby needs extra help

Breastfeeding and the Sensory World of the Baby

Rebecca Burt, MA, CCC-SLP, NBCT

Becky is a Florida licensed and ASHA certified Speech-Langauge Pathologist with extensive pediatric experience.  Becky loves investigating each child's unique needs and developing a therapy plan to help each child reach their communication potential. 

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Becky earned her Bachelor's degree (1997) in Communication Disorders from the University of Central Florida then worked for the Orange County Public Schools in Orlando while earning her Master of Arts degree (2000) in Communication Disorders, also from the University of Central Florida.  Becky worked in Orange County Public Schools for a total of nine years, treating children from age 3-21.  The last five years in the schools, Becky taught a self contained language class for older elementary students with severe speech/language disorders and learning disabilities.  She enjoys incorporating each child's speech and language needs and therapy into academic subjects to provide the most benefit for the child.  While working in this setting, Becky also attained National Board Teacher Certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist.  Becky also worked at the University of Central Florida Communication Disorders Clinic for several years as a clinical educator, teaching future speech/language pathologists how to develop their craft.  Becky and her husband are foster parents who recently adopted two brothers with special needs through the foster care system. 

In addition to maintaining professional licensure, Becky maintains CPR certification and teacher certification in the following areas:  speech/language impaired, exceptional education, English for Speakers of other Languages, and middle school integrated curriculum.  Becky has training in a variety of specialized areas (e.g., Oral Motor therapy techniques, Alternative and Augmentative Communication, Autism, phonics, reading comprehension, and math).  Becky has special interests in learning disabilities, severe articulation disorders, and developmental apraxia.  Becky desires to put her knowledge to work to provide evidence based treatment for your child. 

Michelle Bragg, BA, ITDS, Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist, Nationally Board Certified, Florida DOE Certified Teacher

Michelle is a Certified Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist and a National Board Certified Teacher, Early Childhood Generalist. With over seven years of teaching experience, she is effective at meeting the needs of each individual child. She enjoys working with young children and their families and helping all children reach their fullest potential.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Michelle earned her Bachelor's degree from Marietta College in southwest Ohio. She is currently working on a Master's degree as a Reading Specialist at Nova Southeastern University. 

Adrienne Dienst, OTR, Licensed Occupational Therapist

Adrienne is a Florida Licensed Occupational Therapist.  

Katie Lenyo, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist

Katie is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree (’06) and Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy (’07) from the University of Florida.

Katie’s passion is working with children and their families.  She is dedicated to helping each individual child reach their full potential and function more independently in their natural environment on a daily basis.  Katie has worked at UCP of Central Florida as a pediatric Occupational Therapist, working with children and their families to support their diverse individual needs, from 0-18 years of age.

Katie has training in a variety of specialized areas, handling techniques, visual deficits, sensory processing disorder, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, early intervention in the natural environment.  In addition to maintaining professional licensure, Katie maintains CPR certification.

Mariluz Rivera, BS, Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist, Certified Teacher

Mariluz is a bilingual Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist and a Certified Teacher with more than a decade of experience working with young children. Mariluz has extensive experience teaching children with autism, learning disabilities, global developmental delays, motor disorders, and communication disorders in an inclusive classroom setting.  She is instrumental in the success of the kids participating in Florida Pediatric Therapy's summer social communication camp program.  Mariluz is very knowledgeable about child development and her energy and enthusiasm are contagious. 

Lisa Hawkins Wright, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist

Lisa is an ASHA certified, Florida licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Lisa has 15 years of experience with the Polk County School Board. She has extensive experience in serving preschool, school age, middle school and high school students. Her scope of practice involves remediation of communication disorders in the areas of articulation and phonological errors, stuttering /fluency, voice and language.

Lisa is experienced in providing therapy for children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disabilities, Downs Syndrome and various other syndromes. She especially enjoys working with children to overcome challenges related to Autism Spectrum Disorders and incorporating phonemic awareness/phonics, reading and other academic needs with therapy needs wherever possible. Lisa finds great fulfillment in helping children unlock their unique communication potential by sharing evidence based practices and strategies in speech and language therapy with the students themselves, their parents and teachers.

Lisa was born in New Orleans and raised in Lakeland and Winter Haven Florida. She earned her Bachelor's degree in 1993 and her Master of Arts degree in 1997 both in the field of Communication Disorders at the University of Central Florida in Orlando Florida. She has received outstanding and high performing employment evaluation ratings consistently for 15 years.# Lisa also serves as a mentor at the Florida Baptist Children’s Home and has volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lakeland Florida.