Board of Directors  2010-2011

• Darlene Eanett, Chair
• Larry Stahl, Vice Chair
• Jim Russell, Secretary
• Jon Larson, Treasurer
• Joe L. Ruthven, Past Chair
• Patricia Hendler, Member-At-Large
• Steve Bissonnette
• David K. Boles
• Nancy Cattarius
• Judy Cline
• Thomas E. Conger
• Ron Denney
• Bea Dickey
• Patrick Fagan
• Dan Fowler
• John Griffin
• Dorsey Hightower, DVM
• Alice Hunt
• Michelle Ledford
• Lyonal Lindsey
• Kathy Rubo
• Kay Saari
• Gregory A. Sanoba, Esq.
• Richard Schuler
• David Steele
• Robert H. Tate
• Sunny Zimmermann

2010-2011

• Bruce Abels
• Barney Barnett
• Connie Bovay
• Ed Crenshaw
• Tony Delgado
• James DuVall
• Scott Franklin
• Anne Furr
• Janice Jones
• Charles Lake
• Teresa Martinez
• Duane McConnell
• Sharon Miller
• Bill Mutz
• Paul Noris
• Cindy Petterson
• Neil Roddenbery
• Greg Ruthven
• Lois Q. Searl
• Bill Taggart
• George Trask
• Walker Wilkerson
• Edie Yates

L. Gay Ratcliff, A.C.E. Charter School Principal

Erin Cliburn, M.A. - A.C.E. Charter School Teacher

Cindi Garrett, M.S., CF-SLP - A.C.E. Speech/Language Pathologist

Terri Pitts, A.C.E. Paraprofessional

Ayesha Rogers, A.C.E. Paraprofessional

Accounting

Tim Dwyer, Director of Finance

Administration

L. Gay Ratcliff, CFSHC President and CEO

Edythe Tevelson Lach, Director Of Administration

Barbara Nivala, Administrative Assistant

Audiology

Cecilia Camacho, Au.D., CCC-A - Clinical Audiologist

Sarah Curtis, Au.D., CCC-A - Clinical Audiologist

Jennifer Steed, Au.D. - Clinical Audiologist

Robin Cole, COHC - Audiology Clinic Coordinator 

Brandi Peterson, Audiology Secretary

Business Office

Mary Ramsey, Business Office Manager

Glendaly Barbosa, Coding Specialist

Dawn Crump, Insurance Coordinator

Priscilla Estremera, Records Coordinator

Cindy Valdes, Account Representative

Development/Marketing

Danita Frier, Director of Development

Stephanie White, Development Assistant

F.T.R.I.

Jackie Bowman, F.T.R.I. and Interpreter Services Program Coordinator 

Industry Department

Jeff Baker, COHC - Industrial Services Manager

Julio Fernandez, COHC - Mobile Unit Technician

Speech-Language Department

Michelle Ackerman, M.S., CCC-SLP - Speech/Language Pathologist

Kristen Forgue, M.S., CCC-SLP - Speech/Language Pathologist

Charmaine Hanley, M.A., CCC-SLP - Speech/Language Pathologist

Shannon Joyner, M.A., CCC-SLP - Speech/Language Pathologist

Patte Kinsel, M.S., CCC-SLP - Speech/Language Pathologist

Debbie Taylor, M.A., CCC-SLP - Speech/Language Pathologist

Amy Tyner, M.A., CCC-SLP - Senior Speech/Language Pathologist

Gissel Marmol, B.A., SLPA - Speech/Language Pathology Assistant                    

CURRENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Audiologist

Full-time position for a clinical audiologist who enjoys providing Audiology services for both children and adults. 

Primary Qualifications

• Provide excellent audiological diagnostics for children and adults
• Experience in hearing aid dispensing, APD, ABR a plus
• Master’s degree in audiology required – recent graduates are welcome
• Must be able to obtain Florida license
• Bilingual applicants are a plus

Speech-Language Pathologist

Full-time position for a speech language pathologist to provide services to a primarily pediatric population. 

Primary Qualifications

• Ability to evaluate speech and language skills are related to education and social factors
• Knowledge of adults diagnoses and procedural evaluations a plus
• Master’s degree in speech-language pathology required – recent graduates are welcome
• Must be able to obtain a Florida license and CCC
• Bilingual applicants a plus

Benefits & Compensation

• 37.5 hour work week – flex time available
• Total Rewards Package

• Health, Dental & Vision Plans
• Life Insurance
• Holiday Pay
• 401 (k) Plan with Company Match
• Flexible Spending Accounts

• ETO (Earned Time Off) –generous plan, with accrual starting day one
• Paid Licensure fees
• Bonuses based on specific business goals (for eligible jobs)

Contact Information

If you are interested in learning more about any of these positions, please mail or email your resume.

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Speech & Language

Articulation

• A person has an articulation problem when he or she produces sounds, syllables, or words incorrectly so that listeners do not understand what is being said or pay more attention to the way the words sound than to what they mean.
• Articulation problems may result from physical handicaps, such as cerebral palsy, cleft palate, or hearing loss, or may be related to other problems in the mouth, such as dental problems. However, most articulation problems occur in the absence of any obvious physical disability. The cause of these so-called functional articulation problems may be faulty learning of speech sounds.
• Children learn their speech sounds by listening to the speech around them. This learning begins very early in life. If children have frequent ear infections during this important listening period, they may fail to learn some speech sounds.

Aphasia

• Aphasia is the condition in which an individual has difficulty expressing thoughts and understanding what is said or written by others.
• Aphasia is caused by brain damage, resulting most often from a stroke or direct injury to the head.
• Speech may be limited to short phrases or single words, it may also be slurred.
• The most common characteristic is difficulty in naming.
• They need time to think about the words they want to use.
• They hear the words, but they may not immediately recall the meaning of the word.

Voice Problems

• Voice is a problem when the pitch, loudness or quality calls attention to itself rather than to what the speaker is saying. It is also a problem if the speaker experiences pain or discomfort when speaking or singing.
• There are a variety of causes of voice problems. Persons can become hoarse temporarily by cheering at a baseball game, or an individual can sustain an injury that causes paralysis of a vocal fold. Misuse of the voice, such as talking too loud or using pitch level that is too high or too low, can result in a voice problem. So can improper breathing patterns. Abuse of the vocal folds through excessive smoking can be damaging to the voice.
• Swelling of the folds after voice misuse is known as an edema. Small growths that result from misusing the voice are known as vocal nodules, nodes, polyps, or contact ulcers.

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions by our clients. Feel free to contact us for additional information.

• Do you take insurance?
  Yes, we take many types, but please check when scheduling your appointment to see if your service is covered.
• Do you have a sliding fee scale?
  Yes. Our sliding fee scale is based on income, number of dependents and amount of other debts, such as medical or school bills. You need to fill out the application and return it to us to be considered for financial assistance.
• Do I need a physician's referral for hearing aids or speech therapy?
  Yes for speech.
• What ages do you see?
  There are no restrictions on age. We work with people from birth on up.
• What types of insurance do you accept?
  Please contact our office and ask us which insurance we can take.
• Do you offer financial assistance?
  See question 2 above.
• What days and hours are you open?
  Monday through Thursday 8:00am - 6:00pm, and Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm.
• What type of payment do you accept (Visa, MasterCard, etc.)?
  We currently accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover, as well as personal checks and cash.
• How do I get to your office?
  View a map and directions here.
• What are the costs of your services?
  Speech/Language Evaluation $200, Therapy $50/per ½ hour session, Speech only Evaluation $125.
• Do you require payment the day of service?
  Yes, unless prior arrangements have been made.

An Invisible Problem

I have an invisible problem
There’s one thing I can’t do, but you can

I only understand what I can see
That clarifies the broken sounds
I use body language to hear
And to capture what is coming around

They say I’m rude and ignorant
Just because I can’t turn right away
They say I’m not worthy or important
Invisible problem, they couldn’t see

I ask you please, I ask you please
Don’t’ walk away, don’t let us cease
Don’t call my name from behind
For you will think I’m cruel or unkind

Being different, I blame
I tell them over and over,
I am me first,
My deafness last

I use my hands as if they were my voice,
Let you know, my speech isn’t always clear
I use my eyes as if they were my ears,
Total communication, provides me choices

Through my eyes you will find
I try my hardest to fit in
And begging you for a chance
To accept me and my invisible problem

Being different, I blame
I tell them over and over,
I am me first,
My deafness last

I ask you please, I ask you please
Don’t walk away, don’t’ let us cease
Don’t’ call my name from behind
For you will think I’m cruel or unkind

I have an invisible problem
I can do anything you can do…except hear