Meet the Team!
Allison Bean, PhD, M.S., CCC-SLP
Allison received her B.A. from Iona College and her M.S. from New York Medical College in Speech-Language Pathology. During her clinical fellowship year at Westchester Institute for Human Development, Allison participated in the Leadership in Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) training program. She completed her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa in 2010, followed by a year of postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Allison’s research focuses on language development in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and the role of domain-general processes in language development.
Amy Miller Sonntag, M.A., CCC-SLP
Amy Miller Sonntag. M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science. She received her BA from The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio and her MA from Ohio University in 1996. She has devoted 20+ years to serving patients with complex communication achieve communication independence through evaluation, therapy, and consultative services. She has presented at numerous state and national conferences including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Closing the Gap, NC Assistive Technology Expo, Ohio Speech Language Hearing Association, Ohio School Speech Language Hearing Association (OSSPEAC), and regional schools, clinics, and parent groups.
Bethany Frick, MA
Bethany Frick received B.S. degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish from Missouri State University in 2017. She received her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology in 2020 and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science at Ohio State University. She was a trainee in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program at the Ohio State University Medical Center from 2019-2020. Her research interests include Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Assistive Technology, autism spectrum disorders, and language development. She recently defended her thesis exploring dialect and language as a barrier to AAC use of multilingual and multidialectal users of AAC.
Andrea Johnson
Andrea will be a second-year undergraduate Speech and Hearing Science student from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is so excited to work in the TACL Lab because of her past experiences with individuals with developmental disabilities and her interest in learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Andrea plans to attend graduate school to earn her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology with the hopes of working in a hospital or clinical setting.
Hanna Kim
Hanna is a third-year born in Northern Virginia and raised in Ohio, pursuing a degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences, and Developmental Psychology. She is excited to be a part of LATA lab to bring together her rapidly growing interests in people with Autism and assistive technology. For the future, Hanna is planning to earn her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology and work for a non-profit organization to give access to people who are in need of Speech Therapy.
Paige Kovacs
Paige is a third year undergraduate student studying Speech and Hearing Science, with minors in both Spanish and Human Development and Family Science. She plans to attend graduate school to study speech and language pathology, and hopes to work in a hospital setting with traumatic brain injury patients
Maddy Oskowski
Maddy is a fourth-year undergraduate student from Cleveland, Ohio studying Speech and Hearing Sciences. She plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career in Speech-Language Pathology, with the hopes of working in acute or pediatric care.
Jordyn Rolniak
Jordyn is a fourth-year undergraduate student from El Paso, TX. She is double majoring in Speech and Hearing Science and Spanish and has a minor in Theatre. She plans to attend a Speech Language Pathology graduate program with the hopes of becoming a bilingual therapist and working with the Spanish and English speaking population.
Meredith Suhr
Meredith Suhr is a third year undergraduate student from Athens, OH. She is studying Speech and Hearing Science with a minor in Disability Studies. She has experience working with adults and children with disabilities through Passion Works and a local summer camp respectively. She plans on attending graduate school to earn her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology with the hopes of working with children in a school setting.
Brooke Thatcher
Brooke is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She is from Northwest, Ohio and plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Brooke currently works as an ABA therapist for nonverbal students with autism, and she is excited to join the LATA lab to gain more knowledge and become better suited to work with nonverbal children. Brooke hopes to work in a clinical or elementary school setting in the future.
Anna Luo
Anna Luo is from Dublin, OH. She is currently a second year undergraduate student at OSU with a Speech and Hearing major and a Developmental Psych minor. She hopes to get her masters in Speech Language Pathology, and is interested in working with children who have developmental disorders in the future! She is excited to work in the LATA lab to have more experience on the research side of things within the Speech Pathology field!
Anna Evans
Anna Evans is a second-year Speech and Hearing Science student from Cleveland, Ohio with minors in Spanish and Linguistics. She is heavily involved in the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) where she serves on the executive board and Literacy Committee. Additionally, Anna has been a volunteer with the OSU Aphasia Initiative for the past three semesters and is now interning with this group. Anna is also very passionate about her involvement with 4 Paws for Ability, a nonprofit that raises service dogs in training. In addition, Anna volunteers at Bridgeway Academy, a school for children with Autism, and is a Team Captain for BuckeyeThon.
Skylar Thompson
Skylar is a second-year undergraduate student from Buford, Georgia. Her major is Speech and Hearing Science with a minor in Cognitive Science. She is excited to be part of the LATA Lab to learn more about assistive technology and Autism Spectrum Disorder, all while be able to apply concepts that she is learning in classes. She is planning on earning her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and her goal is to work as a Pediatric SLP in an elementary school or children’s hospital.
Hannah Kitsmiller
Hannah is a first-year undergraduate student from Columbus, Ohio. She is currently double majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Linguistics, with a potential minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She is excited to be working in the LATA lab to learn more about Autism and to gain research experience. Additionally, she is involved with the Language Improvement Track program as a facilitator helping non-native speakers practice English and leads swim activities with Bluefish Swim School for kids with developmental disabilities. She hopes to pursue a career in either Speech Pathology or Behavioral Therapy and work with people who have developmental disabilities
Emily Croyle
Emily will be a second year undergraduate student from Akron, Ohio. She is majoring in Speech and Hearing Science, with a minor in Disability Studies. Emily is very excited to participate in the LATA Lab due to her interest and past experience with people who have developmental disabilities. After completing her undergraduate degree, Emily plans to attend a Master’s program to become a licensed Speech Language Pathologist. Emily’s dream job would be working with kids in a school or private practice.
Lab Alumni: Katie Perse (2016), Alayna Rowell (2016), Aubrey Rybarczyk (2016), Kacie Jewett (2016), Carrie Berghoff (2017), Jenna DeCarlo (2017), Michelle Flood (2017), Ciara McGlynn (2017), Aine Mooney (2017), Brett Underwood (2017), Ali Baker (2017), Kathrine Ratino (2018), Kelly DiLullo (2018), Molly Matthews (2018), Michelle Kryc (2018), Hannah Sherman (2018), Colleen O’Malley (2018), Tayler Burke (2018), Claire Goecke (2019), Liana Malamed (2019), Shelby Meyerrose (2019), Sam Obringer (2019), Nicole Thompson (2019), Julia Zezinka (2019), Carlee Schmelzer (2019).
Nice blog and nice team also. ABA’s the first therapy my son got post-diagnosis. It’s the only one our insurance fully covered, and it’s the one—with its insistence on taking data, making plans, and charting progress— that made me feel like there was some order to our days and to my son’s progress. It’s the one that introduced us to many compassionate, kind therapists who listened to my concerns and modified programming to best serve my son. Many of those ABA therapists became my friends, and although we’re no longer doing ABA, you can see them at https://www.aspireearlyintervention.com/. I still call some of them occasionally for advice on addressing some of my son’s more challenging behaviors.