The TEAM
Kathy Dow-Burger, M.A., CCC-SLP, Associate Clinical Professor, Dept. of Hearing and Speech Sciences
Kathy has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for 30 years and is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She is licensed to practice in Maryland
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Kathy is an Associate Clinical Professor and the founder and coordinator of SIGNA. She has expertise in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric, adolescent, and adult autism, language-learning & reading disabilities, speech/language disorders and stuttering. In addition to SIGNA, she does research in the intersection of identity (race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, financial status, etc.,) and disability; full acceptance and inclusion of neurodiverent people in the workplace; and, Universal Design of learning spaces. Kathy is a certified PEERS® provider for the adolescent, school-based professional and young adult curricula.
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Norah AlJunaidi, M.A., CCC-SLP, Faculty Assistant, Dept. of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland
Norah is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and she is licensed to practice in Maryland. Norah also oversees the administration of UMD's PEERS & EFFECT teen programs.
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Norah is a Faculty Assistant for the SIGNA Program in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. She has worked with adults with disabilities in the areas of social, academic, and cognitive skills in public schools, a special needs summer camp, and her graduate clinical work. Norah is inspired by working with neurodivergent individuals. She also passionate about social justice, intersectionality and inclusive language, all which will be an important part of her work at SIGNA. Norah received her M.A. degree in Speech-Language Pathology from George Washington in May 2021.
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Devon Brunson, M.S., CCC-SLP, CBIS
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Devon is a Faculty Assistant for the SIGNA Program in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. Previously, she worked with teens in the UMD Executive Functioning For Effective Cognitive Transformation (EFFECT) program. Devon has experience serving individuals across the lifespan with developmental and acquired neurological disorders. Prior clinical experiences include: early intervention, elementary education, and hospital settings for children and adults. Devon's areas of interest are in autism, executive functioning (developmental & acquired), neurodivergent learning, cerebrovascular accident, traumatic brain injury (including concussion), and telepractice.
Devon has her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University. |
Kait aims to start her own practice one day, alongside her sisters who practice audiology and occupational therapy.
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Kaitlin McCloskey, SIGNA Graduate Assistant, SLP Graduate Student, Dept. of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland
Kaitlin "Kait" is SIGNA's graduate assistant and is involved in guiding the SIGNA undergraduate peer coaches and mentors. She also manages the administrative work for SIGNA. Kait is a first year MA student in Speech-Language Pathology.
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Spring 2022 Team
Who runs SIGNA individual sessions and groups?
Communication Coaches
Spring 2022 Communication Coaches
Communication Coaches are HESP Master's graduate students in speech-language pathology. They program and implement individual, weekly treatment sessions with each SIGNA member related to social interaction, executive functioning, and self-advocacy skills that help the member learn ways to organize themselves around the many academic expectations and settings on campus.
The skills worked on are based on each member's input, standardized test measures, and observation. With the member's permission, parents, friends and significant others may share their impressions related to the member's social interaction and executive functioning strengths and needs.
Communication Coaches also run the SIGNA Launch group meetings.
The skills worked on are based on each member's input, standardized test measures, and observation. With the member's permission, parents, friends and significant others may share their impressions related to the member's social interaction and executive functioning strengths and needs.
Communication Coaches also run the SIGNA Launch group meetings.
Peer Coaches
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Peer Coaches are UMD undergraduate students who plan and run the SIGNA member group time using the evidence-based Young Adult PEERS® curriculum. This program is designed to help students navigate a variety of social situations on and off campus. The Peer Coaches also plan monthly social activities for the group.
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Spring 2022 PEER Coaches
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Peer Mentors
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Peer mentors help with the carryover/generalization of skills taught in the group time. They coordinate with SIGNA leaders and the peer coaches on what social interaction activities and skills to focus on for the week.
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Spring 2022 PEER Mentors
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Carmel
Communication Coach |
Mike
Communication Coach |
Naomi
Communication Coach |
Norah |
Olivia |
Zykkiah |
Communication Coach |
Communication Coach |
Communication Coach |
