Bridget A. Hidalgo, MS CFY-SLP
College of Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, BA in Spanish
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, coursework in Communication Science and Disorders
James Madisson University, MS in Speech Language Pathology
Member of National Student Speech Language Hearing Association

Bridget has conducted speech and language evaluations for adults and children in New York at a Rehab Institute where she developed and implemented daily therapy sessions. She also has experience working with children and adults who stutter, she has performed speech and language diagnostics, developed and implemented weekly therapy sessions with experience in speech, language, autism, resonance, voice, fluency, hearing and phonological disorders. During her tenure at Holy Cross, she was a member of the Varsity Field Hockey and Big Brother / Big Sister Programs.

Michelle Perahia, MA CCC-SLP
State University of New York at New Paltz, BA in Speech and Hearing Handicapped Education
New York University, MA in Speech Language Pathology
North Carolina Licensed
NY State License in Speech Pathology
NY State Permanent Certificate, Teacher of Speech Hearing Handicapped Education
Member of ASHA (American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence, 2006
Special Interest Division 9, Hearing & Hearing Disorders in Childhood, 2006

Michelle has experience treating special needs children from preschool through 12th grade with PDD, phonological delays, apraxia, and oral motor weakness. Her experience also includes evaluating and treating special needs children ranging from newborn to five years of age with Autism, Down’s Syndrome, CAPD, Cerebral Palsy, hearing impairments, and/or expressive language delays.  She has also worked with three to five years of age special needs children with Asperger’s, ADHD, and/or speech-language delays. Michelle has also provided auditory training therapy to adults and evaluated children of all ages with cochlear implants. She has worked with sign language, AAC devices and the Sara Rosenfeld Johnson whistle program. Over the past several years, Michelle has taken a number of continuing education classes in auditory, hard of hearing and cochlear implant therapies.

Melissa Barry MS CCC-SLP
Saint Xavier University, BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Saint Xavier University, MA in Speech-Language Pathology
Dean’s List, Magna Cum Laude Graduation Honors
Graduate Student Teacher, Supervisor and Clinician
Graduate Practicum Rehabilitation Clinician
North Carolina Licensed
Member of ASHA (American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)

Melissa has experience working with children with communication disorders including: language delays, articulation/phonological disorders, fluency disorders, and oral-motor deficiencies. She has also worked with special needs individuals, including patients with Autism, Chromosome 22, Epilepsy, Mental Retardation, Tuberous Sclerosis, Turner Syndrome, Down Syndrome, and Prader-Willie Syndrome. Melissa has conducted evaluations and worked with family members to discuss her patient's progress and create future goals and objectives. She has continued taking numerous continuing education courses.

Miriam Vichi Beck B.S., TRS, CBRS ITFS-P
University of New Hampshire – Therapeutic Recreation
Member of ATRA – American Therapeutic Recreation Association

Miriam has a long history in the field of Therapeutic Recreation as a certified therapist in a variety of settings including acute care, rehabilitation and in the community. Her training began in Boston working in pediatric rehabilitation with infants and children with brain injuries and developmental & neurological disabilities. She expanded her training to adults with neurological conditions, chronic medical conditions and physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. Her training and subsequent experience has provided her with expertise in pediatric assessment, individual and group program planning & treatment and family training. Miriam’s group treatment interests include social skill training, cooking, gardening, art, crafts, games, physical recreation and community resource training.

Miriam’s return to clinical work after a break as an at-home mom isn’t a big change from everyday life. She has been gaining valuable experience parenting a child with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities and moderate hearing impairment. She understands the needs and challenges parents with special needs children experience and how important positive early intervention is to not only the patient, but the whole family.

Tonia Brown, MA CCC-SLP
Surry Community College, AA in Liberal Arts
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, MA in Speech-Language Pathology
ASHA Licensure (American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)
North Carolina Teaching License

Tonia's qualifications and interests are as follows: Phonological Disorders, Oral and Verbal Apraxia, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Delays, Early Language Development and Language Delays, Articulation Delays, Building verbal language in non-verbal children, Non-verbal expressive language development with a basic knowledge of American Sign Language, Signed English, and Signing Exact English and Picture Exchange System, Literacy Development in Developmentally Delayed children and typically developing Pre-Readers, Pragmatic and Play Skills Development, Parent/Guardian Training for carry-over and maintenance, Down’s Syndrome, Cleft-Palate, Laryngectomy, Adult and Child Dysphagia (Swallowing Disorders) and Feeding, Oral motor therapy, Horns/Straws Programs, Adult Aphasia, Adult stroke, Down’s Syndrome, Developmental Delays, Cleft Palate, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Cochlear Implant, Providing Intervention to English Language Learners.

In the past, Tonia has volunteered for the Stuttering Foundation of America Workshop and performed Speech-Language Screenings of pre-school children for Ling-Kerr Speech-Language Center.

Cecilia has over 10 years of experience working with special needs children in various settings. Before joining Capitol City Speech Therapy she worked for two years as the infant class teacher and CBRS provider at Easter Seals UCP Charly Gaddy Children’s Center and before that at UCP of Miami. Her music background and her ability to play the guitar have proven to engage young children regardless of their abilities. As a certified Infant Toddler Family Specialist she has training and experience in the areas of Autism, Down Syndrome, Cleft Palate, Cerebral Palsy, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, and Developmental Delay. Cecilia has enjoyed volunteering at schools and hospitals in Argentina, where she has led Music Therapy groups and done numerous workshops through Early Intervention programs to introduce music as a therapeutic intervention with special needs populations.

She is completely bilingual (English and Spanish) and fluent in French. Her language abilities and awareness of cultural diversity have enabled her to work closely with Spanish speaking families to ensure their involvement in reaching their child’s full potential. She has had experience interpreting and translating IFSP meetings, transition meetings and progress notes as well as working closely with speech therapists during language assessments and evaluations.

Cecilia is passionate about her profession and is extremely excited to be returning to work after the birth of her third child.

Melissa Isenhour, BS CBRS ITFS-P
Campbell University, BS Family Studies concentration child development
Dean’s List, Cum Laude, and Outstanding Senior Award
Member of  NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)

Melissa has experience working one on one with children birth through kindergarten.  After graduation in 2005, she began working with Harnett County Parents As Teachers where she is currently employed as a certified, full time parent educator.  Her experience includes conducting individualized home visits with children and their parents, developmental screenings, connecting families with community resources, and providing group activities. She has worked with children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Speech/Language delays, prematurity, behavioral concerns and overall fine and gross motor delays.  Melissa's passion in life is working with children and making sure that every child strives to reach their fullest potential. 

Jessica Kelly BS SLP/A, MA, ITFS
Loyola College in Maryland, BA in Speech-Language Pathology / Audiology
Dean’s List, All-Academic Athletic Team, Cum Laude
Chestnut Hill College, MA in Holistic Spirituality
Sign Language Training: Montgomery County Community College, Wake Technical Community College – American Sign Language, Gallaudet University and Private Tutoring ASL
Certified Presenter in the Sign2Me® Presenters’ Network

Jessica is the owner of Signs of Learning, a company which teaches American Sign Language to babies, young children and their care givers. She has been a nanny / care giver and taught the children and parents ASL. Her experience also includes working at a non-profit organization which offers social and spiritual support to adults with physical disabilities. Jessica has volunteered at numerous camps, non-profits and other religious and academic organizations.

Ellen M. Macri, BS, CBRS, ITFS-P
Saint Bonaventure Univenture, BS in Elementary Education K-6

Ellen has a long history of working professionally and personally in the fields of education, child development, behavioral management, speech/language delays and play therapy. She is a teacher, an advocate and an understanding member of the special needs community who is held in high regard by both the medical and educational community both in New York State and North Carolina. Her past responsibilities and training are in the fields of Autism, ADHD, Neurological impairments, Sensory processing disorders/integration techniques and behavioral interventions. Ellen believes in working with a "team" concept to ensure the child's maximum potential and continual growth. The team starts with the family and branches out to working in conjunction with all therapists involved in the child's developmental profile.

In addition to Ellen's educational attributes she is a part time teacher at a center based Montessori pre-school in the community and is a special needs religion teacher. She also volunteers her services with various special needs social programs within the Raleigh area. Ellen is a mother of three children; two of whom are neurologically impaired. She is presently working on her Masters in Special Education in the field of early childhood education.  

AnnMarie Marchese MS CCC-SLP
The University of Rhode Island, BS  in Communicative Disorders
The University of Rhode Island, MS in Speech-Language Pathology
North Carolina Licensed
Member of ASHA (American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)

AnnMarie has experience working with both children and adults with communicative disorders.   With children, she has many years of experience evaluating and treating  language delays, articulation/phonological disorders, apraxia, dysarthria, fluency disorders, voice disorders, oral-motor deficiencies and dysphagia.  The following are some medical diagnoses with which she has experience:  Autism, PDD/NOS, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, brain injury, C.H.A.R.G.E. Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Mental Retardation and Shaken Baby Syndrome.  She also has experience working with adults who have speech, language or swallowing impairments resulting from a stroke, brain injury, anoxic episode, voice disorder, and fluency disorder.  She has also worked closely with skilled nursing facility staff and residents to develop functional maintenance programs to help people with memory problems and safe swallowing programs to compensate for dysphagia.

Carol O'Hare-Cook, MS CCC-SLP
St. Johns University, BA in Speech Pathology
Adelphi University, MS in Speech Pathology
Certificate of Clinical Competence by ASHA
VA State License in Speech Pathology
Certified Teacher of Speech and Hearing Handicapped

For over 10 years, as an experienced teacher and speech therapist, Carol has provided speech and language therapy for all ranges of children. She has worked with disabled children including children with multiple handicaps, autistic, Pervasive developmental disorder (PPD) and those with speech language delays. Carol is a member of ASHA and the United Federation of Teachers.

Nora Roehm, M.Ed. ITFS
Loyola University of Chicago, BS in Applied Psychology
Erikson Institute, MS in Early Childhood Development
Specialized study in Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health

She has experience with a vast array of children with special needs, including Autism, Apraxia, Down Syndrome, emotional/behavioral disorders, Prematurity, dysphagia, Cerebral Palsy, PVL, Chiari, Sensory Processing Disorders, Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, Cleft Palate, speech disorders, childhood mental health issues and genetic disorders (Hurler's Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Noonan's Syndrome, Fragile X, Cri du Chat, Angelman Syndrome, Klippel Feil Syndrome, Prader Willi, Dandy Walker, agenesis of the corpus collosum), that has taken her around the world. However, she has been working in the Raleigh area since 1999. Nora works with children at their home, child care center, or in any community setting that is part of a child's day. She works closely with parents to help them learn what they can do every day to ensure their child reaches his/her full potential.

In addition to being a Developmental Therapist, Nora is also a family advocate and Inclusion Specialist. She works with programs in the community (child care, preschool, dance, etc.) to educate them about children with special needs and how they can fully participate in their local programs. She helps others to see all that a child can do even if their body doesn't work like everyone else. Her post graduate training has focused on Sensory Processing and Early Childhood Mental Heath issues. However she continues to expand her knowledge base with training in brain research, the role of nutrition in development, how domestic violence/trauma affects development, behavior management, autism spectrum disorders, & genetic disorders. She has presented workshops on child development & inclusion at National Smart Start conferences & National Association for the Education of Young Children conferences as well as at child care centers around the Raleigh area.

Nora has experienced the the world of special needs from both a personal & professional perspective. Her brother has a cognitive impairment and she has two nephews with Muscular Dystrophy. She lives in Fuquay Varina with her husband and son.

Michelle Torello MS, CCC-SLP
Nova Southeastern University, BS in Community Psychology
Nova Southeastern University, MS in Speech Language Pathology
Intervention: Hanen Certified “It Takes Two to Talk”
1994 Member of ASHA (American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
North Carolina Licensed

Michelle has over 12 years of experience providing home, center and school based therapy to children from birth through adolescence and developmentally disabled adults. She has conducted assessment and treatment for clients with an array of disabilities including articulation and phonological disorders, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and emotional disabilities. Her experience includes classroom inclusion therapy at a nationally recognized program for preschool children with Autism incorporating speech language therapy throughout the school day. Michelle is able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team incorporating goals and objectives from occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, teachers and parents She has also planned and implemented toddler and pre-school group programs for children transitioning from infant development programs as well as 3-5 year olds with speech/language needs. Michelle has taken training courses in the following areas: Bobath NDT Handling, Greenspan “Floortime,” PECS, Cycles approach to phonological remediation, and others.

Felicia Willems BS, CBRS, ITFS-P
Weber State University, Bachelor of Science in Psychology
High Honor Roll, coursework taken in Child Development and Human Behavior

Felicia is a strong advocate of an all-around approach to therapy. She works closely with the parents, other therapists, and caseworkers to ensure the best results are achieved. Felicia has volunteered many hours with various non-profit family-centered organizations including The Boys and Girls Club and Ronald McDonald House. She has the unique experience of being the parent of a child who has received a variety of therapies in addition to helping him through chemotherapy as an infant. Felicia is passionate about helping each child develop to their full potential.