FAQ

Do you take insurance?

I don’t at this time; payment is due at the time of service. This allows me to provide the best quality therapy to each client, without insurance mandates determining what a particular client needs. Please note, however, that I am considered an "out-of-network provider" on some insurance plans. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide you with a monthly superbill (a special kind of medical receipt), which you can submit to your insurance company, and they may reimburse you for a certain percentage of the cost. Please note: such reimbursement is never guaranteed, and percentages/amounts are variable.  If you're not sure whether you have these benefits, here are some suggested questions to ask when calling your insurance company:

• Does my plan include coverage for out-out-network speech therapy? (Depending on insurance company, other wording may also be used, such as “out-of-network benefits,” "outpatient rehabilitation benefits," or "speech, language, and hearing benefits.")

• What is the coverage amount per session?

• How many sessions does my plan cover per calendar year?

• What is my deductible and has it been met?

• Is physician approval or referral required?

• What is expected turnover time when I submit a claim?

What's your procedure for payment? Do you accept credit cards? How about Venmo?

I use a secure, HIPAA-compliant app called IVY Pay for payments. IVY Pay connects us through your mobile phone number. I accept all major credit/debit cards, and can usually accept FSA and HSA credit cards. You set up your payment source privately on your end. I never see your credit/debit card number, and there is no additional fee for you to use IVY Pay. Please note: because they are not HIPAA-compliant, I am unable to accept payment through Venmo, Paypal, or similar platforms. 

I don't live in Massachusetts. Can you still provide telepractice services to my family?

At this time, I am licensed only in Massachusetts, which unfortunately means that I can only provide services to clients living in Massachusetts. This restriction may change in the future, as some states have become members of a new Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact - but not Massachusetts, so far. If you are a Massachusetts voter, please consider asking your state legislators to support Massachusetts joining as a member state. Thank you!

Do you do in-person visits? 

In-person visits may be available in the greater Boston area; please contact me for details.

Do you do AAC evaluations?

I am happy to work with existing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, including programming or helping you to program Proloquo, Proloquo2go, GoTalk NOW, TouchChat, and others. However, I do not conduct formal AAC evaluations or submit insurance applications for AAC devices. I follow the guidelines of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to determine whether I am appropriately qualified to provide the services you are seeking (see ASHA Principle of Ethics II, Rule A: "Individuals who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence shall engage in only those aspects of the professions that are within the scope of their professional practice and competence, considering their certification status, education, training, and experience;" https://www.asha.org/policy/et2016-00342/ ). I will always be open and honest with you about my capabilities and limitations.

My child is not autistic / has a different diagnosis. Can you still provide services?

In many cases, yes! I have many years of experience serving clients with a variety of pediatric conditions and diagnoses. To determine how my expertise might align with your child’s needs and goals, please schedule a free 20-minute consultation by contacting me here.

I have a young adult who is 20+ years old, or will be soon. Can you still provide services?

In most cases, yes! I have worked with many young adults over the years. I understand the challenges in navigating the landscape of changes that can occur for individuals with disabilities in their early 20s and beyond, including transitioning out of school-based services, developing vocational skills, pursuing recreational activities, and managing activities of daily living. To determine how my expertise might align with your young adult’s situation and goals, please schedule a free 20-minute consultation by contacting me here.

Is telepractice (videoconference) speech therapy actually effective?

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, most people had not considered telepractice as an option for speech-language pathology. However, telepractice was in use even before the pandemic. I have been personally involved in telepractice service delivery to autistic individuals since 2014 (an example of past research I did in this area can be found here). If you would like to know more, check out this summary from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association on the value of telepractice in speech-language pathology, and this commentary about the impact of telepractice speech therapy for autistic children. Though services via videoconference are certainly not appropriate for every client, I’ve observed them being uniquely suited to the needs of many. For a free 20-minute consultation to discuss whether telepractice speech therapy may be a good fit for your child and family, please contact me here.

Does my family need to have any specific electronic devices?

To participate in telepractice sessions, you will need either a computer or mobile device (smartphone or tablet) with Zoom installed, and a functional camera and microphone.  I also suggest that you have an internet speed of at least 20 Mbps (preferably more). You are responsible for having the batteries of your device(s) adequately charged to last the full duration of each session. I’m happy to discuss further specifics of your setup and whether it will be workable for telepractice; schedule a free 20-minute consultation by contacting me here. 

If you are hoping to use digital visual supports, you/your child will need a mobile device (smartphone, tablet, smartwatch)—ideally, one that is separate from the device that you use to join Zoom meetings—which has ample storage for images and videos. In many cases, though, entirely paper-based visual supports can be provided as a full alternative to digital. Whether digital or paper-based, I design all visual supports with your input.

What if I have technical difficulties with telepractice? 

Clients are responsible for the reliable functionality of their own devices and internet connections. I do not have training in technical support, but I can help troubleshoot basic issues like Zoom glitches, sound/video, and cloud syncing with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. If you are having frequent technical issues across multiple sessions and we cannot figure them out together, I will suggest that we pause tele-sessions until the issues are resolved.

Can you provide feedback on my child's IEP / progress report / evaluation report?

In most cases, yes! This is categorized as consulting with families (see Services). For a free 20-minute consultation to discuss what document(s) you are hoping to have reviewed, please contact me here.

Will you come to my child's IEP meeting?

Under some circumstances, yes; this is categorized as consulting with families (see Services).  For a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your situation and whether this may be possible, please contact me here.

My child is already receiving speech-language therapy at school or a clinic. Can we still work with you?

Having me as an additional provider should not cause any issues with your insurance, because I only accept private payment - I do not bill insurance companies. I am happy to collaborate with your child’s other therapists, whether school-based or clinic-based.  When you request collaboration, the time is categorized as consulting with families (see Services).  

Will you consult directly with my child's school district, to help increase the quality and/or comprehensiveness of the visual supports that they use?  

I love consulting with schools about visual supports for communication. A school or district may choose this approach for a particular student, a particular classroom, or a district-wide initiative. Please direct your school administrator to this page, where they can contact me for a free initial consultation.

Can you give a presentation or training to my group, club, or class?

Yes! I love giving presentations and trainings on visual supports for communication and language development, either generally or with a focus on neurodiverse learners. Depending on the needs of your group, these appearances may be formal or informal in style, and can be adapted to an audience of family members (see Consultation with Families under Services), students, or professionals (see Professionals & Schools page). For a free 20-minute consultation to discuss what you're looking for, please contact me here.

What does research say about _______? Is there research evidence for _______?

You may be wondering what the current research says about your child's diagnosis or communication characteristics, or about particular therapeutic techniques you’ve heard about. I welcome the chance to search for and read relevant, peer-reviewed research articles and then summarize the research findings in everyday language for families and caregivers. This is categorized as consulting with families (see Services).

Are you affiliated with other service providers, such as OT or ABA?

My practice is a sole proprietorship at this time; I am not affiliated with any particular hospital, clinic, or other practitioners.