OUR Approach

The Welch Practice is an innovative speech language therapy service that prides itself in supporting individuals with communication and feeding needs. With each session, the individual will learn more about their communication style and be on the path to becoming their own best advocate. The Welch Practice offers several services including individual and group therapy sessions, full diagnostic evaluations, screenings, parent training, and consultation with schools and other therapists.

Our team combines experience, creativity, research, and passion for supporting communication, in order to create sessions that are both individualized and meaningful for every client, no matter what stage of life they are in.

WE ARE TRAINED TO TREAT

  • Executive function, particularly in the area of memory

  • Apraxia of speech through prompt touch cues for motor planning

  • Supporting non-speaking individuals through augmentative and alternative communication (communicating using letter boards via Spelling to Communicate - S2C)

  • Supporting the non-purposeful nervous system through the NMRI (course 1)

  • Supporting feeding challenges through goal setting and parent coaching

Hi, I’m MARIA WELCH.

M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

After working as a speech language therapist since the mid 80s, I established the following beliefs:

  • Everyone should have a voice and be heard, whether speaking or non-speaking.

  • Speaking patterns or clarity of speech are never reliable indicators of intelligence.

  • Invisible motor, memory and organizational challenges limit how well a person demonstrates what they know.

  • Individuals have an innate desire to feel and truly be a part of a community.

  • I believe everyone should have a voice and be heard whether speaking or non-speaking.

Education: Undergraduate: Western Kentucky University/Graduate: Vanderbilt University
Trained in: Prompt, Rapid Prompting Method, Spell2Communicate (S2C), NMRI level 1

Hi, I’m SARAH PAUL

Behavior Therapist, BCBA

“I enjoy helping the students here to help them find a way to functionally communicate with the world, with their peers, and share their ideas with the world. They aren’t just individuals who have no abilities or capabilities. They have so much to contribute and share with the world.

It makes me feel proud and excited for the students when they take an active role in their lives and in the world,” Sarah says.

Sarah has worked 1 on 1 with many of the students at the Welch Practice for many years helping them grow in their ability to communicate and express their needs.

Hi, I’m ANDREA PIRZANT

Occupational Therapist Registered / Licensed, OTD

“I like coming from a team and family perspective. Parents, students, Maria, and I work with the students so we can support each other’s goals. It’s a collaboration that spans more than just one session. The overall team learns so much from one another.

“They are individuals with abilities and capabilities. They have so much to contribute and share. It makes me feel proud and excited for the students when they take an active role in their lives and in the world,” Andrea says.

In addition to her work at The Welch Practice, Andrea did her doctoral research in caregiver coaching. She’s proficient in American Sign Language and has worked on executive functioning, problem saving, planning and learning, in addition to parent/child relationships.

Education: St. Ambrose (2019)

Hi, I’m DEBBIE SALZMAN

Billing

“I’ve been with Maria for more than a year, and I’ve been in medical billing for around 3 decades.

“I have enjoyed working at the Welch Practice. I do it independently at home remotely after a long career in medical billing working at one time for as many as 9 doctors. Maria and the families are pleasant to work with. I work with invoicing and medical billing. It’s laid back, remote, and flexible,” Debbie says.