Our Team

Donna Giachino

Founder/Director/Neuro-Educational Consultant/Speech Language Pathologist

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Hello everyone!! I’m Donna and I started VLTK as a sole practitioner in 2010 after 18 years as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the public health system. My dream was to create a private practice in the Lower Mainland to help families and schools access the highest calibre speech & language services for their child.

My “bottom line passion” is to support children and their families in realizing all of the possibilities in their present and for their future, in a holistic & culturally sensitive way. VLTK is rooted in family-centred care, where parents are an integral part of setting up functional and strengths based goals for their child.

We all look forward to supporting your child and setting the foundation for future successes!

Education

• BSc in Psychology, Trent University
• MSc in Audiology & Speech Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Certficiations

• Extensive experience helping Neurodiverse Learners (ADHD, ASD) within their home & community settings
• 1992-present: Consultant to families & schools on how to create accessible learning environments based on each child’s specific learning profile
• Strategy consultant within a team of SLP’s, OT’s & Kinesiologists
• Strongly rooted in strengths-based strategies
• Trauma-informed practitioner

Sam Jaffe

Speech Language Pathologist

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Sam was born and raised in B.C. He earned his B.A. in Speech Sciences from the University of British Columbia, and his M.Sc. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University. Prior to leaving for the Big Apple, Sam worked as a behaviour interventionist in Vancouver for 3 years. Sam is also the founder/director of Fraser Language Therapy 4 Kids, a division of VLTK servicing New West, Burnaby, and Surrey that opened in 2022 Sam’s primary areas of interest include social language development and executive functioning skills. He follows a neurodiverse-affirming therapeutic approach and has been engaged with the autism community for over a decade. He enjoys baking, themed parties, and playing hockey with his dad.

His creative, humourous, and crafty approach to speech-language therapy helps engage students at their level to achieve their speech and language goals. Sam is a steadfast believer in using a team approach with the adjunct professionals at VLTK to develop an individualized and functional goal trajectory for their shared clients. Sam possesses an in-depth understanding of the core tenets, tools and interventions used within the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Model.

Education

• Sam recieved his B.A. in Speech Sciences from UBC.
• Sam completed his M.Sc. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University

Certifications & Organizations

• Registered with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia.
• Certified member of Speech and Hearing BC (formally the British Columbia Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists)
• Member of the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) for both under and over 6 years old.
• Certified member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC).
• Clinical educator with the School of Audiology and Speech Science at UBC
• Sam completed the Advanced Training for "Collaborative & Proactive Solutions" Model by Ross Greene.
• Completed Level I Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Training through Wilfrid Laurier University
• PEERS® for Adolescents Certified

Ally Rochon

Neuro-Educational Consultant/Lead Communicative Disorders Assistant

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Ally was born and raised in Toronto. In 2016, Ally came to VLTK to complete a student placement. Since then, she’s continued her career with us.

Ally has a natural ability to engage with children of all ages and is very passionate about helping kids reach their full potential. Her calm and caring demeanour helps children feel confident within their sessions. Her sessions are centered around a strengths-based approach and focus on using the child's interests within their sessions to help them feel confident and discover their strengths.

Ally is a Neuro-Educational Consultant she specalizes in working with neurodiverse brains and executive functioning skills!

Education

• Ally recieved her B.A. in Linguistics at the University of Western Ontario in 2016.
• Ally completed the post-graduate Communicative Disorders Assistant Certificate Program in Ontario in 2017.
• Ally is currently pursing her MA in the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Program at Yorkville University

Certifications & Organizations

• Ally is a registered member of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (S.A.C.) as a Communication-Health Assistant.
• Ally completed the Advanced Training for "Collaborative & Proactive Solutions" Model by Ross Greene.
• Ally completed the CADDRA Introduction to ADHD for Healthcare Professionals
• Certified Lively Letters™ Tutor
• Completed Level I Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Training through Wilfrid Laurier University

Vicky Smith

Speech Language Pathologist

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Vicky was born and raised in Maple Ridge, B.C. Vicky enjoys working with clients across the life span. Prior to working as a Speech Language Pathologist, Vicky worked as a behaviour interventionist. While working as a BI, Vicky worked with neurodiverse children and goals in linguistic, social and behaviour.

Vicky was also a professional water polo player in France for a year and played in the NCAA's at her university San Jose State University before she pursued her career. As a high level athlete, Vicky travelled to over 20 countries learning about different cultures. She believes in an active lifestyle and the importance of working as a team, especially when it comes to collaborating with other professionals at VLTK.

Some of the areas she works with include velopharyngeal insufficiency and dysfunction, literacy, prelinguistic development, social pragmatics skills, executive functioning.

Vicky believes in a client and family centered approach to therapy. She loves working alongside clients on their goals to promote functional communication as well as social and academic success. She enjoys using humour and creativity to make therapy fun and successful.

Education

• Vicky recieved her B.A. in Communication Disorders & Sciences from San Jose State University.
• Vicky completed her M.Sc. in Speech Language Pathology at UBC.

Certifications & Organizations

• Registered with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia.
• Certified member of Speech and Hearing BC (formally the British Columbia Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists)
• Member of the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) for both under and over 6 years old.
• Certified member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC).
• Clinical educator with the School of Audiology and Speech Science at UBC
• Vicky is LSVT LOUD trained for voice therapy.
• Vicky is PROMPT (PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) trained

Hannah Sarley

Speech Language Pathologist

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Hannah gained a passion for speech therapy as a high school volunteer with SLPs and SLPAs in her hometown in Ontario. She completed Western University’s MClSc. Speech-Language Pathology program. Prior to this, she received a BA. in Speech and Language Sciences from Brock University.

She has completed the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk training certification to better learn how to support families using a family-centered approach. Hannah enjoys working with her clients, families and team on developing functional speech and language goals. She enjoys the connections she makes with her clients and their families, and the positive impacts that therapy brings. She is also LSVT LOUD trained for voice therapy.

When not in session, you can find Hannah cycling or hiking around beautiful BC!

Education

• Hannah recieved her B.A. from Brock University in 2019.
• Hannah completed her MCISc. in Speech-Language Pathology from Western University.

Certifications & Organizations

• Registered with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia.
• Member of the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) for both under and over 6 years old.
• Certified member of Speech and Hearing BC (formally the British Columbia Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists)
• Certified member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC).
• Hannah is LSVT LOUD trained for voice therapy.
• Certified to run The Hanen It Takes Two to Talk® Program

Melissa Pelullo

Communicative Disorders Assistant

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Melissa was born and raised in a small town just outside Toronto called King City. In 2021 Melissa moved to Vancouver and is now starting her journey with VLTK. Melissa has been working with children for almost ten years, starting as an Early Childhood Educator with the YMCA and now transitioning into a CDA. Melissa has experience with TouchChat. Melissa is very passionate about helping children meet their full potential.

Education

• Melissa received her B.A. in Child Development at Seneca College in 2017 in Ontario.
• Melissa completed the post-graduate Communicative Disorders Assistant Certificate Program in Ontario in 2021.

Certifications

• Melissa is a registered member of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (S.A.C) as a Communication- Health Assistant

Shana Gleeson

Speech Language Pathologist

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Shana is from Galway, Ireland and is now located in Vancouver. She graduated from National University of Ireland Galway with a BSc- Speech and Language Therapy in 2017. Shana has 5 years experience working as a Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist in Ireland. She is passionate about early language development, bilingualism, neurodiversity and stuttering. Shana has completed a variety of additional professional training including ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), Hanen (It Takes Two to Talk training certification), SCERTS (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support), and Mini-Kids (stuttering/stammering therapy) programs. She has a keen interest in working with students and has also been working alongside faculty in National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG), as a member of their programme board and providing clinical placements for SLPs in training.

Shana believes in a client and family centered approach and strives to create therapies which are creative, fun and functional for clients and family.

Education

• National University of Ireland Galway with a BSc- Speech and Language Therapy

Certifications & Organizations

• Registered with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia.
• Certified to run The Hanen It Takes Two to Talk® Program
• SCERTS® model trained

Ivy Y.

Speech Language Pathologist-Pending

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Ivy has just moved to Canada from the U.S! Ivy’s passion lies in working with younger school-age children, particularly in the areas of articulation and phonology. With over 12 years of experience, Ivy has dedicated herself to serving the diverse student population of California's public schools, delivering holistic support to children. She provided a range of speech therapy services tailored to individual needs, employing both direct and indirect methods in various settings, including individual, small group, and whole-class instruction, both in-person and via teletherapy. Ivy forged close collaborations with classroom teachers and school personnel to promote literacy and speech-language remediation initiatives, creating a holistic learning environment for students. She possessed practical experience with both high-tech and low-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, ensuring that children had access to the tools and support needed to maximize their communication potential.

Ivy is proficient in English, Tagalog, and Kapampangan, Ivy's expertise extends to providing comprehensive and functional speech and language assessments and treatments for children who are native English speakers as well as those who are multilingual. Ivy believes that strength-based, neurodivergent-affirming practices, and prioritizing equitable communication access are fundamental pillars in therapy and education. Her mission is to empower children with individualized support for meaningful expression and self-advocacy, and to cultivate autonomy.

Education

• San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders in 2009
• Ivy completed her Master of Science in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State University in 2011

Certifications & Organizations

• Certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence
• Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in the State of California
• Credentialed in Speech-Language Pathology Services by the California State Commission on Teacher Credentialing
• Certified member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada
• Registration pending with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia

Yasmin Hughes

Bookkeeper

Robert Giachino

Consulting Occupational Therapist

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Rob has had a wide range of experiences over the last 19 years which include; working at GF Strong in the Spinal Cord Injury Program, working at Penticton Regional Hospital, working at the Child Development Center in Penticton and at Emerge OT, a private practice he founded in 2016.

​Rob subcontracts to Vancouver Language Therapy for Kids and our Okanagan team as part of a multidisciplinary team of SLP‘s, OT‘s, Special Education Assistants and Communication Disorders Assistants. Rob has an incredible amount of dedication to the students he works with. He has a very creative and engaging approach in his work with the children.

​Rob is an avid cyclist, rock climber and skier and is very interested in helping children, teens and adults functionally participate in activities both within their school and community. His wealth of knowledge and engaging personality serves him well in his work with students as well as their families.

Education

• Rob graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2000.

Jill Schmelke

Consulting Holistic Nutritionist + Communication Health Assistant

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Jill has joined our team as a Communication Health Assistant. Jill provides individualized services in conjunction with a Speech-Language Pathologist to target language and communication goals within the context of healthy eating. By using experience-based activities (e.g., cooking activities), the sessions are relatable and help provide essential communication health knowledge to her clients.

Jill specializes in helping families optimize their health by rebalancing nutrition to support optimal learning.

• Jill is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and through her own family’s health concerns she’s been able to empower her clients with tangible advice.

• Jill also consults with families as a registered holistic nutritionist to help families build sustainable habits to increase their overall vitality and health.