Megan Brazas, M.A. CCC-SLP, QOM
Speech-Language Pathologist
Qualified Orofacial Myologist
Megan earned her undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and obtained her master’s degree at Northwestern University. She has extensive experience in working with children with complex communication needs, including Autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, rare medical conditions, and complex orthopedic impairments. Additionally, Megan has experience evaluating and treating a variety of speech and language conditions including apraxia of speech and is PROMPT Trained. Megan is a certified Qualified Orofacial Myologist and treats various conditions including tongue and lip tie, cleft lip and palate, and associated feeding disorders. Megan is also a credentialed Early Intervention provider and holds a State of Illinois Teaching License. Megan is very passionate about her work and keeping people informed on current topics by speaking locally and nationally. Megan is a U.S. Patent Holder for Communication Systems and Methods. She has presented on topics such as language development, core vocabulary, low-tech communication systems, functional communication, supporting communication in the special education setting, curriculum adaptations for Autism spectrum disorder, and typical language development. Megan’s contributions include presentations at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA), Infintec, Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association (ISHA), Closing the Gap, and local and national school districts. She is also the creator of the communication system Core Vocab Exchange System ™, a low-tech core vocabulary based communication system which aligns with typical language development. You can email Megan directly at meganb@slpathways.com or click here to be directed to the “contact us” page.
Jessica Leff, M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Jessica earned her Bachelor’s degree from Augustana College, where she majored in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Spanish. Jessica received her Master’s degree at Illinois State University. While at ISU, Jessica researched cross-linguistic transfer in English/Spanish speaking preschool children, as well as pursued clinical opportunities working with culturally and linguistically diverse individuals. Upon graduating with her Master’s, Jessica accepted a position as a speech-language pathologist volunteer with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, an international organization that provides homes for orphaned and abandoned children in Central and South America. After 18 months at NPH Honduras, Jessica gained invaluable evaluation and therapy experience working work children and adults in Spanish with a variety of communication needs. Since returning to the US in 2016, Jessica has worked as a bilingual speech-language pathologist in the schools, providing evaluations and therapy.
An avid traveler and bookworm, Jessica continues to seek out opportunities to improve her Spanish skills and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Jessica is thrilled to join the Speech & Language Pathways team, and looks forward to servicing the wonderful Chicagoland community.
Karen McGrath, M.S. CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist
Karen earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, summa cum laude, at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Communication Disorders and Sciences. While at EIU, Karen’s research was on Parent Training to Increase AAC Perception and Facilitating Techniques, which was presented at the Illinois Speech-Hearing Association conference. Additionally, she participated in EIU’s normative data sample for the Kindergarten Language Based assessment (KLBA) and received the Ryan Struebing Distinguished Graduate Student award. She’s had internships in an early childhood preschool, elementary school, and medical setting, working with outpatient children and in-patient adults. In Karen’s professional work, she has had experience working in a variety of special education settings ranging from the instructional special education setting to providing support within the general education setting, preschool through fifth grade. While working in the schools, she has had extensive experience evaluating and treating culturally and linguistically diverse students. She also served on the district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team, which developed a framework for implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention practices, and led several school-wide trainings. She was also a co-leader for the TrueNorth Educational Cooperative Speech-Language Pathology network. Karen has a passion for children with speech sound disorders, language delays, and expressive and receptive language disorders. Having worked in the school system and having children of her own, it is her goal to always make therapy fun, engaging, and effective, while also coming alongside families to help them to feel empowered and educated in helping their children thrive in the area of communication across all environments. In Karen’s free time, she is likely outdoors, with her husband, two children, and dog, Milo. You may find them running together as a family around town! In the past few years, Karen also has enjoyed reigniting her passion for dance.