Speech Therapy

Helping Every Child Find Their Voice

At Abil-OT Kids Therapy, we help children build effective communication skills—verbal and nonverbal—so they can express themselves with confidence. Our team uses a personalized, play-based approach that may include articulation work, language development, social/pragmatic support, feeding therapy, sign language, and AAC training.

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) includes tools like communication boards, picture symbols, or speech-generating devices, and can be life-changing for children with limited verbal skills. We provide hands-on guidance to help families and children use AAC effectively—ensuring every child has a voice.

Whether a child is speaking, signing, or using a device, we meet them where they are and guide them forward. With compassion and expertise, we create supportive environments that foster meaningful connection through communication.

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Meet Our Speech Pathologists

Julianne, Clinical Director, MS, CCC-SLP, Level II Prompt Trained

Julianne is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist originally from New York. She has been helping children of all abilities communicate and thrive for over 10 years. Julianne brings a fun and effective approach to therapy, using play based strategies and sign language to support each child's unique needs. She has experience working with a variety of diagnoses and implementing individualized care. Julianne’s approach is all about making learning a positive experience for both kids and their families. Outside of work, Julianne loves spending time in her garden and playing with her son.

Suzanne, MS, CCC-SLP, Autism Level III Trained

Suzanne is a certified and licensed Speech Language Pathologist with over 37 years of experience. She has had experience working with children from Birth-22 years of age who present with various speech and language disorders. Suzanne’s experiences have included private practice, contracting and public schools. Suzanne received her BS in Speech and Language from Indiana University of Indiana, PA and her Masters Degree from Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. Suzanne went on to receive her Assistive Technology Certification from the Research Institute for AT, Albuquerque, NM. In addition to her experience with AAC, Suzanne has extensive experience with Autism and is Level III Autism Trained through TEACCH, UNC Chapel Hill NC. Suzanne has provided many trainings and workshops pertaining to autism, structured teaching and AAC/ Assistive technology. Suzanne and her husband relocated to NC in 2016. They have 2 grown sons, 2 daughter-in-laws and a very sweet granddaughter. Suzanne enjoys spending time with her family, her 2 fluffy dogs, traveling and sitting on the beach.

Alex, MS, CCC-SLP

Alex knew at a young age that she wanted to be a Speech-Language Pathologist after seeing the impactful work her cousin did in the field. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University. Alex has since immersed herself in helping people of all ages with various communication challenges. She has worked with individuals facing issues from language delays to voice disorders and has experience with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. In her free time, Alex enjoys unwinding with her Shih Tzu, Mille, and spending quality time with friends and family. Alex's dedication to improving communication skills and making a difference is evident in every aspect of her work.

Julia, MS, CCC-SLP

Julia is a passionate speech-language pathologist who grew up in North Carolina. She takes pride in providing a neurodiversity-affirming approach, using child-led therapy to support children's speech and language development. Julia's fun, family-centered approach emphasizes building strong rapport and motivation to enhance communication. Outside of work, Julia enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Cara, MA, CCC-SLP

Cara, born and raised in Wheeling, WV, has been interested in pursuing a career in Speech Language Pathology since high school, specifically wanting to work with children to help them learn to communicate. To make her dreams a reality, Cara attended West Virginia University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders, before continuing her education, earning her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology at Ohio University. After graduating, Cara moved to North Carolina to complete her externships and her clinical fellowship year. During her time in NC, she has been working with children and adults in different environments including a private practice, an elementary school, and an ENT office. Cara has most recently worked with receptive/expressive language delays, childhood apraxia of speech, articulation disorders, fluency disorders, AAC devices, and phonological processing disorders.Cara is currently licensed by the N.C. Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and has earned her national certification from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Cara lives in Clayton, NC with her husband and dog, Milo. In her free time, Cara enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the beach, watching sports, and experiencing new things around the Raleigh Triangle area!

Amanda, MS, CCC-SLP

Amanda Levine is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist who recently relocated to North Carolina from South Florida. Amanda obtained her undergraduate degree from St. Cloud State in St. Cloud Minnesota and her Master's Degree from the University of Northern Colorado. With over 20 years of pediatric experience, Amanda is excited to begin this new journey with Abil-OT. Not only a Speech-Language Pathologist, Amanda is also the proud mom of two former preemies one of whom has special needs. Amanda's areas of interest include Pre-School Language and Augmentative/Alternative Communication. Outside of the clinic, Amanda, her husband Troy and daughters Maggie and Katie are excited to explore North Carolina and all it has to offer. Although her girls are mostly looking forward to finally experiencing snow for the first time!

Zoe, MS, CCC-SLP

Zoe was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Go Bills! She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY Fredonia, followed by a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of New Hampshire. During graduate school, Zoe had the opportunity to work alongside a well-known researcher in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), contributing to research and publications in the field and solidifying her clinical focus on AAC. After earning her master’s degree, Zoe relocated to North Carolina with her husband and two dogs. Since that time, she has gained extensive experience providing evaluation and treatment services to both children and adults across a variety of settings, including private practice, outpatient hospital, and acute care. Zoe is skilled in the assessment and management of a wide range of speech, language, and cognitive-communication disorders, with advanced expertise in AAC. Zoe is a member of the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC) and the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), which support her continued professional growth in AAC. She holds national certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology.