Donna Giachino Founder & Special Educational/Family Consultant
Donna was trained as a Speech-Language Pathologist and practiced as an SLP for 28 years until May 1, 2019. She is now the Director & Special Educational/Family Consultant for VLTK. Donna is tremendously passionate about her work and believes that family education is critical in the overall progress of a child's social, emotional and academic development.
As the Founder of Vancouver Language Therapy for Kids (VLTK), Donna also coordinates all of the Registered Speech-Language Pathologists, Communicative Disorders Assistants, Communication Health Assistants, Special Education Assistants, Tutors and Occupational Therapists on the VLTK Team. She is responsible for organizing parent and community educational workshops, community outreach and coordination with other service providers.
Donna obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Trent University (Peterborough, Ontario) and a Masters of Science Degree in Speech Sciences from the University of British Columbia in 1992. After 18 years of clinical practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist, she founded Vancouver Language Therapy for Kids. During her time as an SLP, her experience focused primarily with preschool and school aged children in variety of settings including children's treatment centres (Fraser Valley CDC, Erinoak Children's Treatment Centre in Ontario) and for 10 years at a specialized language intervention centre in Vancouver for children with primary language delays / disorders and language-based learning difficulties.
Donna's areas of focus as a Special Educational & Family Consultant is Emerging Executive Functioning and Family Support. Her approach is based on a strong foundation in neuroscience and years of experience dealing with educational issues and ADHD/ASD.
Anna Rolph (formerly Klenin) Speech-Language Pathologist
Anna was born in Ukraine and raised in Vancouver, BC. She earned her B.A. in Speech Sciences and M.Sc. in Speech Language Pathology at the University of British Columbia. Anna enjoys working with children of all ages and is inspired by their humour, sincerity, and determination to communicate. She believes in the value of creating a warm and supportive environment for her students where they are free to take risks and be themselves. She also places emphasis on teaching skills in the context of meaningful experiences to promote deep learning and generalization. Additionally, Anna values an individualized approach to best support the needs of each child and their family. This led her to become the Volunteer Coordinator at VLTK. Anna mentors volunteers who are pursuing communication sciences to better learn how to provide high quality additional free support to families.
Anna provides therapy in the areas of receptive and expressive language, social use of language, executive functions, metalinguistic skills, fluency, and articulation. Anna is a bilingual speaker of English and Russian. Finally, Anna is a member of the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP).
Anna is very excited to be a member of the Vancouver Language Therapy for Kids team and to help children achieve their full potential!
Ally Rochon Communicative Disorders Assistant
Ally was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Linguistics at the University of Western Ontario. Ally then completed a 1 year post-graduate Communicative Disorders Assistant Certificate Program in Ontario.
Ally proactively sought a student placement with Vancouver Language Therapy for Kids in 2016 as she wanted to continue her career in beautiful British Columbia. Ally returned to VLTK as a full time employee in 2017 after graduation. Ally is a registered member of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (S.A.C.) as a Communication-Health Assistant. Ally is also trained as an Audiometric/Hearing Technician.
Ally believes strongly in the family's participation in therapy sessions. She 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.
Sam Jaffe Speech-Language Pathologist
Sam was born and raised in Richmond, 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. During his graduate school career, Sam received a wide array of experience with adults and children alike, with a focus on preschool and school-aged clients in the New York public school system. Prior to leaving for the Big Apple, Sam worked as a behaviour interventionist in Vancouver for 3 years, working with children on the autism spectrum on their linguistic, social, and behavioural goals. Sam is also a member of the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) for both under and over 6 years old.
Sam’s primary areas of interest include prelinguistic development and early intervention on expressive/receptive language, social skills, and executive functioning in children on the autism spectrum.
Sam is a steadfast believer in using a team approach with the adjunct professionals at Vancouver Language Therapy for Kids to develop an individualized and functional goal trajectory for their shared clients. His creative, humourous, and crafty approach to speech-language therapy helps engage children at their level to achieve their speech and language goals.
Wini Murphey Speech-Language Pathologist
Wini received her BA in Speech Sciences from The University of British Columbia in 2007 and then in 2016 she graduated from the UBC School of Audiology and Speech Sciences with her MSc in Speech-Language Pathology. Wini completed and defended her Master thesis at UBC's School of Audiology and Speech Sciences in 2016. Her research focused on using ultrasound biofeedback in articulation therapy for an adult who had suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with Acquired Apraxia of Speech. She is currently working towards publishing her research in a peer reviewed clinical journal. Wini is a registered member of the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia, Speech and Hearing BC as well as Speech-Language and Audiology Canada. Wini is also a member of the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) for both under and over 6 years old. Wini's anatomical artwork of the muscles and mechanisms of speech production is featured in the speech sciences textbook Articulatory Phonetics by Bryan Gick, Ian Wilson, and Donal Derrick. This textbook is currently used in undergraduate coursework at UBC.
Prior to starting her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Wini spent almost 10 years providing behavioural intervention services for children in the Vancouver area. She was trained in Reference and Regulate intervention and sought additional education in social communication and behavioural support techniques throughout her time as a BI. Wini also spent 6 years as a therapeutic horseback riding instructor working with children and adults with a variety of special needs. Riding has been an important part of her development as an SLP. She saw, first hand, the value of movement and sensory integration in regulating the body and encouraging the development of functional communication. In her professional career, she has found her niche working with preschool and school aged students with speech and language delays. Wini is a certified instructor of the Hanen program's It Takes Two to Talk parent education course. Wini is particularly interested in working with emerging communicators with a focus on phonological disorders, users of Cochlear Implants and those on the Autism Spectrum. She is also very interested in narrative development and social language.
Deena Hymowitz Communication Health Assistant
Deena was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and moved to Vancouver, BC where she earned her B.A. in Speech Science and Psychology at UBC. Throughout her degree, Deena gained a large array of research experience with infants and young children in linguistic, cognitive, social and moral development, along with being an aide in high school special education classes.
Now, she is excited to work with children of all ages with an array of skills.
Vicky Smith Speech-Language Pathologist
Vicky was born and raised in Maple Ridge, B.C. She earned her B.A. in Communication Disorders & Sciences at San Jose State University, and her M.Sc. in Speech Language Pathology at UBC. Vicky enjoys working with clients across the life span.
Prior to working as a Speech Language Pathologist, Vicky was a lifeguard, swim instructor, and a behaviour interventionist. While working as a BI, Vicky worked with children on the Autism Spectrum 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 Vancouver Language Therapy for Kids.
Some of the areas she works with include velopharyngeal insufficiency and dysfunction, literacy, prelinguistic development, social pragmatics skills, executive functioning. Vicky is LSVT LOUD trained for voice therapy.
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.
Prior to working as a Speech Language Pathologist, Vicky was a lifeguard, swim instructor, and a behaviour interventionist. While working as a BI, Vicky worked with children on the Autism Spectrum 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 Vancouver Language Therapy for Kids.
Some of the areas she works with include velopharyngeal insufficiency and dysfunction, literacy, prelinguistic development, social pragmatics skills, executive functioning. Vicky is LSVT LOUD trained for voice therapy.
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.
Natasha Richards Speech-Language Pathologist
Natasha has lived in 3 western Canadian provinces while growing up: Saskatchewan, BC, and Alberta.
She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and a minor in Psychology at the University of Calgary
followed by her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. Natasha is a member of our Okanagan team!
Natasha is provincially licensed by the College of Speech and Hearing Professionals of BC. She
certified by the national licensing body Speech-Language and Audiology Canada.
Natasha enjoys working with parents, teachers, and educational aides to support students with speech
and language delays. She has experience working children from toddlers to early teens. Therapy has
focused on the 2 sides of reading: word knowledge and language comprehension. Areas of expertise
include: phonological awareness skills, vocabulary, story comprehension and oral narration (the ability
to talk about events in our lives, retell stories and make connections to text).
Natasha also enjoys working with students with mild to complex speech sound production. She has taken extra training to support students with more complex speech disorders such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).
She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and a minor in Psychology at the University of Calgary
followed by her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. Natasha is a member of our Okanagan team!
Natasha is provincially licensed by the College of Speech and Hearing Professionals of BC. She
certified by the national licensing body Speech-Language and Audiology Canada.
Natasha enjoys working with parents, teachers, and educational aides to support students with speech
and language delays. She has experience working children from toddlers to early teens. Therapy has
focused on the 2 sides of reading: word knowledge and language comprehension. Areas of expertise
include: phonological awareness skills, vocabulary, story comprehension and oral narration (the ability
to talk about events in our lives, retell stories and make connections to text).
Natasha also enjoys working with students with mild to complex speech sound production. She has taken extra training to support students with more complex speech disorders such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).
Jordan Bartlett Speech-Language Pathologist - teletherapy only
Jordan was born and raised in New Zealand, and moved to Canada to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Lethbridge. From there she went on to obtain a Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Alberta.
She has worked privately and publicly across the lifespan and across two provinces. She is passionate about working with the preschool demographic in the areas of language development, phonological and articulation disorders, and fluency (e.g., stuttering). She is certified in Hanen It Takes Two To Talk (an evidence-based parent-coaching-focused early language development program), and LSVT LOUD (an evidence-based voice strengthening program), and has taken extra training with programs such as Michelle Garcia Winner's Social Thinking (an evidence-based program that helps supports social skill development), the Palin and Lidcombe programs (both evidence-based stuttering programs), and in the area of Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
She has run multiple parent workshops to support parent education and coach parent learning of treatment strategies in the areas of language development, narrative development, play-based learning, visual supports, and bi- and multi-lingual language development. She believes in the importance of play-based and functional intervention, of family involvement in therapy, and of a smile to help us get through even the trickiest of practices.
She has worked privately and publicly across the lifespan and across two provinces. She is passionate about working with the preschool demographic in the areas of language development, phonological and articulation disorders, and fluency (e.g., stuttering). She is certified in Hanen It Takes Two To Talk (an evidence-based parent-coaching-focused early language development program), and LSVT LOUD (an evidence-based voice strengthening program), and has taken extra training with programs such as Michelle Garcia Winner's Social Thinking (an evidence-based program that helps supports social skill development), the Palin and Lidcombe programs (both evidence-based stuttering programs), and in the area of Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
She has run multiple parent workshops to support parent education and coach parent learning of treatment strategies in the areas of language development, narrative development, play-based learning, visual supports, and bi- and multi-lingual language development. She believes in the importance of play-based and functional intervention, of family involvement in therapy, and of a smile to help us get through even the trickiest of practices.
Robert Giachino Consulting Occupational Therapist
Rob graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2000. He 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.
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.
Brett Needham - Registered Kinesiologist
Brett was born and raised in Penticton B.C and moved to Calgary Alberta where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Calgary in 2019. Brett is a registered Kinesiologist and is provincially licensed by the BC Association of Kinesiologists (BCAK). Brett is a member of our Okanagan team!
Brett has experience as a Behaviour Interventionist, working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She also has experience working with people with various physical and cognitive disabilities as a Rehabilitation Specialist/Exercise Instructor. Brett enjoys being a part of a multidisciplinary team, and wants the opportunity in her career to help individuals reach their full potential, helping them achieve confidence and independence in their own lives.
In her spare time, Brett enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking, travelling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Brett has experience as a Behaviour Interventionist, working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She also has experience working with people with various physical and cognitive disabilities as a Rehabilitation Specialist/Exercise Instructor. Brett enjoys being a part of a multidisciplinary team, and wants the opportunity in her career to help individuals reach their full potential, helping them achieve confidence and independence in their own lives.
In her spare time, Brett enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking, travelling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Jill Schmelke CHN - Consulting Holistic Nutritionist & Communication Health Assistant
Jill is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist at Nourish Me. Jill is a journalist turned health advocate, researcher and nutritionist. Her own family’s health concerns motivated her to look for answers outside traditional medical pathways. Her years of research increased her own family’s health and wellness. Now she empowers her clients by breaking down the vast and conflicting health information that is overwhelmingly available.
She provides individualized, relatable and essential knowledge to her clients. With this they are able to build sustainable habits to increase their vitality and health. Jill specializes in helping families optimize their health by rebalancing nutrition to support their high-stress lifestyles.
In her spare time Jill enjoys researching the latest in health news, travelling, spending time with family and walking her dog, Mina.
She provides individualized, relatable and essential knowledge to her clients. With this they are able to build sustainable habits to increase their vitality and health. Jill specializes in helping families optimize their health by rebalancing nutrition to support their high-stress lifestyles.
In her spare time Jill enjoys researching the latest in health news, travelling, spending time with family and walking her dog, Mina.
