Alexis Macias, M.A., CCC-SLP is a licensed Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist who is board certified with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
Alexis is deeply passionate about her work as a Speech Therapist as she believes that a human being’s ability to communicate and form relationships with others is central to one’s quality of life. She is committed to empowering her clients to become confident communicators who thrive in their relationships with friends, family, and loved ones.
Alexis treats children from a holistic approach considering each child’s unique social-emotional, sensory, developmental, cultural, familial, and communication profile. These components are integral to each client’s treatment plan and therapeutic services. As a trained provider, Alexis utilizes the Floortime program and philosophy to assist in supporting children from a holistic perspective. Alexis uses this program with many of her clients as a comprehensive framework to promote human development. ‘Floortime highlights the power of relationships and emotional connections to fuel development.’
Her special areas of interest and expertise are in relationship-based approaches to human development, Alternative Augmentative Communication, Early Intervention, Complex Communication needs, Motor Speech disorders (e.g., Childhood apraxia of Speech, Dysarthria), and parent coaching/training.
Alexis has extensive training and experience in selection and implementation of Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) systems for people with complex communication needs. She is skilled in the implementation of different AAC systems and access methods (e.g., eye gaze, two-step switch scanning, partner assisted scanning, direct select) including but not limited to low-tech systems such as Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD), and many high tech systems and programs (i.e., LAMP, Unity, Tobii Snap +Core, TouchChat). She thoughtfully considers each child’s unique strengths when selecting an AAC system, trialing systems, and training caregivers and families.
Multiple approaches are used when assessing and treating speech disorders (i.e., Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Dysarthria, Phonological or Articulation disorders) including PROMPT (PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets), and DTTC (Dynamic Temporal Tactile Cueing). Therapy for motor speech disorders is individualized, uses motor planning principles, includes a parent training component, and ensures generalization of skills to the child’s everyday life.
Alexis is passionate about using HANEN programs including ‘More Than Words’ and ‘It Takes two to Talk’ to support parents and families. These programs are used to empower parents in fostering their child’s interaction skills, language and social development. These programs are used to support young children 0-5 in early intervention programs.
Programs are ALWAYS individualized to build on each child’s strengths!
Alexis has received training in the following programs or techniques:
Beckman Oral Motor Trained
Attendee at Apraxia Kids National Conference: 2021
DTTC (Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing)
Floortime 201: Basic DIR Floortime Provider
HANEN: It takes Two to Talk
HANEN: More than Words
HANEN: Learning Language and Loving It
Oral Placement Therapy-TalkTools
PODD (Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display)
AllAccess: Exploring the Possibilities of Alternative Access and AAC
PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) trained
Sequential Oral Sensory Feeding approach