Meet Geri: Geri O’Brien is a seasoned speech and language pathologist. She is certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association. Geri is licensed with over 20 years of clinical practice and has successfully treated over 5,000 children with diagnoses of speech delay, childhood apraxia, articulation disorders, stuttering, feeding problems, auditory processing problems and autism. Today, Geri manages an agency practice for the provision of evaluations, therapeutic and educational services for children demonstrating a wide range of delays, deficits and disorders. The practice incorporates individual and group therapy that integrates speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapies and special education modalities as prescribed for each case.
Alexis Canfora is a Speech-Language Pathologist licensed by New York State and certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association. Alexis graduated from Queens College with a Master’s Degree. She has significant experience with children having cochlear implants and conversational sign language allowing her to work with children diagnosed with hearing impairment and speech disorders. In addition, Alexis has clinical experience treating diagnoses of speech delay, articulation disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders/delays and medically fragile children. Alexis enjoys integrating play-based tasks into therapy plans to aid in the progression of speech, language, and social skills.
Special Educators
Kristin Cacic, LCSW
Kristin Cacic is a Masters-prepared Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience treating children, teens, and adults. For the past 18 years she has served clients in her own private practice, in local preschools, and via home visits. Previous to that, she treated clients in public health and inpatient settings. Much of her work today focuses on collaborating with parents to identify the issues most affecting their families. From there, she trains them in parenting skills and behavior modification strategies to address the needs of each family member. Her goal is always to help parents support their children's healthy emotional development. In addition, Kristin also consults with preschool and day care staff on guiding individual children who have behavioral and emotional issues. Together, they plan expectations, rewards, and consequences to help kids grow.
Marilyn DeSimone
Marilyn DeSimone is a BCBA Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has her NYS Teacher Certification in Special Education, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1-6. Marilyn has over 30 years of experience in the field of Special Education. She has provided home/community based intensive and structured programming to children diagnosed with ASD and their families. She also has experience working as Director of Education in hospital settings where she dealt with crisis management and collaborated with all levels of hospital and educational staff. She enjoys working with families, maintaining a supportive learning environment and utilizing a team approach.
Angela DiNatale, MS
Angela DiNatale has a Masters in Adolescent Special Education from Queens College. As a NYS certified teacher she has been servicing learners with various exceptionalities for 10 plus years. She has nurtured students as a live-in residential counselor, respite coordinator, behavior-intervention consultant, ABA therapist, and currently a Special Education home/community provider & parent trainer. She strives to implement sustainable programming in both the home and community settings that can be utilized by the learner and their family to increase independence and quality of life.
Mark Ingrassia, MS
Mark Ingrassia holds a Master of Science degree as a Special Education instructor. He worked in the classroom with Deaf and Special Needs children (ages 2 to 21) for 30 years. He is experienced working with children diagnosed with an array of disabilities; ASD, Autism, CP, Down Syndrome, ADHD, Kabuki Syndrome, ED, Moebius Syndrome, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, etc. He was an adjunct professor at Suffolk Community College teaching Deaf Culture. He has an extensive background in theater for children with Special Needs having tailored original scripts or adaptions of plays as well as directing for 27 years. Now an independent contractor, Mark specializes in helping children and parents with behavior strategies; daily living; parent management consultation; job placement; scheduling and sensory room design, etc. He is available to create murals for these sensory spaces. If and whenever possible Mark will have his guitar! Mark believes that each child is unique and has something of value to offer. Let a child be who they are not what we think they should be. His approach is calm, friendly and patient.