Meet the Team

Maria Welch

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

Maria is an speech-language pathologist with graduate training from Vanderbilt University and over 30 years of experience working with both adults and children. She holds certifications in PROMPT and NMRI level 1, and her practice is built on a foundation of beliefs that have only grown stronger through decades of learning from her students and their families.

Maria believes everyone should have a voice and be heard, whether they speak or not. She knows that speaking ability or clarity of speech rarely matches thinking ability. She's seen firsthand how invisible motor, memory, and organization challenges can mask what someone actually knows. And she believes that most, if not all people, have an innate desire to feel like they truly belong to a community.Twenty-five years ago, Maria started her practice with these beliefs and a desire to work alongside caregivers, pushing toward meaningful goals in communication. Maria believes therapy works best when it's built around presuming competence, determining and providing the right supports, expanding ideas based on a person's chronological age, and engaging humor, creativity, and problem solving while building community for both clients and the people who support them.

Over the years, Maria has worked with many students who have sensory and communication differences. Through those sessions, she's gathered and refined skills to meet challenges and celebrate gifts. Her hope is to share all her experiences and training with clients and their support people so they can become their own best coaches.

Outside of work, Maria enjoys spending time outdoors swimming, biking, hiking, and running. When she's not outside, she enjoys cooking and reading.

Andrea Pirzant

Occupational Therapist, Registered/Licensed OTD

Andrea approaches her work from a team‑ and family‑centered perspective, collaborating with parents, students, and colleagues to support shared goals across sessions. She believes deeply in each student’s abilities and contributions, and she feels proud when they take an active role in their lives and communities.

In addition to her work at The Welch Practice, Andrea completed doctoral research in caregiver coaching. She is proficient in American Sign Language and has experience supporting executive functioning, problem‑solving, planning, learning, and parent–child relationships.

Education: St. Ambrose University (2019))

Sarah Paul

Behavioral Therapist, BCBA

Sarah is passionate about helping students develop functional communication skills that allow them to connect with others and share their ideas. She believes deeply in their abilities and the value they bring to the world. She feels proud and energized when she sees students take an active role in their own lives.

She has spent many years working one‑on‑one with students at the Welch Practice, supporting their growth in communication and self‑expression.

Debbie Salzman

Billing Specialist

Debbie has worked with Maria for over 2 years and brings nearly three decades of medical billing experience, including supporting multiple physicians at once. She enjoys her role at the Welch Practice, where she manages invoicing and billing remotely. She appreciates the flexibility of the work and the positive relationships with Maria and the families she supports.