Team

Angelina Pinhasov
Founder & Director, Speech-Language Pathologist
M.H.Sc., S-LP(C) Reg. CASLPO

Angelina is the visionary founder and director of SpeechAim, where she combines her expertise as a senior Speech-Language Pathologist with a passion for helping clients achieve their fullest communicative potential. She holds a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Toronto, where she graduated with the highest academic distinction in her class. Angelina is also a summa cum laude graduate from York University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology. Her academic journey is marked by excellence, being a two-time recipient of the prestigious Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS).

Angelina brings a wealth of clinical experience, having worked across diverse settings, including homes, daycares, schools, hospitals, and community centers. Her practice spans a wide range of areas such as articulation/phonology, receptive and expressive language, motor speech, fluency, literacy, voice, swallowing, and social-communication skills. She has extensive experience with both pediatric and adult clients, specializing in complex cases involving Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays, and more.

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Dedicated to advancing her field, Angelina is committed to evidence-based, family-centered care. She is trained in several individualized programs, including Hanen’s ‘It Takes Two to Talk’ for early language development, the ‘Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Level 1’ for autism, and the ‘Lidcombe Program’ for fluency disorders. Her approach is both personalized and functional, ensuring that therapy is not only effective but also deeply collaborative, involving family members, health professionals, and educators.

Angelina is proud to offer her services in English, Hebrew, and Russian, making her practice accessible to a diverse range of clients. Her work is driven by a belief in the power of communication and a commitment to helping every client thrive.

Eliana Zalcman
Speech-Language Pathologist
Hons. B.A., M.H.Sc., S-LP, Reg. CASLPO

Eliana received her Master of Health Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Toronto and is registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Prior to that, Eliana graduated summa cum laude with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from York University.

Eliana's clinical experiences and training have allowed her to develop skills in assessing and treating children and adults with various speech, language and swallowing disorders. Specifically, Eliana has clinical experience in the areas of receptive and expressive language delay, articulation/phonology, english pronunciation training, motor speech, literacy, social communication skills and swallowing. Additionally, she has training in Hanen's "It Takes Two to Talk" - a family-focused early language intervention program, as well PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) - a tactile-kinesthetic approach to speech therapy.

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Eliana is passionate about helping clients and their families reach their communication goals and strives to provide fun and personalized sessions. She is bilingual and can provide therapy services in English and Spanish.

Gabriella Baldwin
Speech-Language Pathologist
MS, CCC-SLP, Reg. CASLPO

Gabriella is a certified bilingual (English and Russian) Speech-Language Pathologist who received her Master of Science at Adelphi University in New York and completed her Bachelor of Arts at Queens College in New York as well. Additionally, she completed the Bilingual Extension Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) as well as the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA).

Gabriella is passionate about creating client and family-centered therapy to help motivate and support everyone to achieve their goals. She enjoys working with children of all ages and uses evidence-based practice in her therapy to help clients reach their communication goals, and carryover their newly acquired skills into their everyday lives.

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Gabriella has experience working with phonological disorders, articulation disorders, expressive and receptive language delays, vocabulary building, pragmatic skills, and tailors therapy to each child's individual needs.

Hailey Gamazo-Paredes
Communicative Disorders Assistant
BA, CDA

Hailey earned her bachelor of arts degree in Linguistics at York University. She then completed a graduate certificate of Communicative Disorders Assistant at Durham College.

While completing her graduate certificate Hailey gained plenty of experience working with many pre-school to school aged children. She has assisted and provided unsupervised sessions both in person and virtually. Hailey has supported children reaching their goals for early language and articulations. She has also worked with many neurodivergent individuals using AAC to reach their social communication goals.

Hailey’s approach to therapy is for the session to be client led and play-based in a positive environment. This ensures her clients are comfortable, and remain motivated while she supports them with their goals.

Embree Yip
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
B.A.Sc

Embree has an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She has 2.5 years of experience working with verbal and non-verbal children and youth on the spectrum providing ABA Therapy in centers, virtual, as well as 1:1 sessions. Embree has since been trained as a Speech Therapy provider and is passionate about using her knowledge and experience to support children in meeting their speech and language goals. Embree has experience providing therapy treatment related to fluency, articulation disorders, early language, narratives, oral motor difficulties, voice therapy, AAC devices and more. She is very passionate about working with individuals of all ages and incorporating her knowledge of ABA into her approach to Speech Therapy to better support her clients.

Embree strives to build a warm, comfortable and fun teaching environment for clients and looks forward to building a professional and personal relationship with the families. She uses a client-led and play-based approach to help motivate naturalistic learning. Embree is highly appreciated for her patience, empathy, objectivity and attention to detail. She hopes to further pursue her graduate studies for Speech-Language Pathology.

Embree is fluent in English, French and Cantonese.

Kira Rosenbloom
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
B.Sc (Hons), B.Sc

Kira is an innovative and engaging Speech Language Pathologist Assistant. She is a current Masters Candidate in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto and soon to be SLP! She discovered that Speech Therapy was a natural expression of her passion for communication, languages and health sciences while participating in York University’s Kinesiology and Psychology double degree program.

She has had the pleasure of learning about speech and language through various mediums, across diverse populations; Working with the adult population at the Aphasia Institute supporting adults with Aphasia, and working with the DeafBlind population at the Canadian Helen Keller Centre, providing services in American Sign Language (ASL), Tactile ASL and 2-Hand Manual. She has experience supporting speech therapies with children, focussing on communication for Autistic children, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), literacy skills, articulation (speech sounds), play based therapies and language development for bilingual/multilingual children. Kira also had the opportunity to work with Indigenous children in Northern Ontario where she supported speech and language services on reserves focusing on bilingual development in Anishinaabemowin and English.

Kira provides services in English, French and American Sign Language. Her goal is to empower those facing communication barriers to lead lives with connection and autonomy.

Nada Iqbal
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
B.A

Nada holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Linguistics from York University. She has a keen interest in cognitive and developmental language acquisition as well as phonetics and phonology.

Nada’s professional experience includes working with children ranging from ASD, articulation difficulties, and speech delay, to adults with Strokes, TBI and Spinal Cord Injuries. In addition, she has experience treating dysphagia in a rehabilitation setting.

Nada strives to provide a warm, safe and happy space for clients to engage and enjoy their sessions. Using cultural awareness, patience and empathy is integral to her therapeutic approach.

Nada is fluent in English and French and has novice knowledge in Spanish and Arabic.

Eden Gershman
Administrative Assistant
B.A.

Eden Gershman is a dedicated and passionate professional, with a strong desire to positively impact the lives of those she works with. A recent graduate from Guelph Humber with a degree in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing, Eden brings a fresh perspective and a comprehensive understanding of business strategy, market research, and digital marketing. Her academic background, combined with a natural drive for excellence, positions her as a versatile and proactive professional ready to excel in today’s competitive landscape.

With valuable experience as a first point of contact in previous roles, Eden has honed her skills in client relations—managing scheduling, addressing inquiries, and ensuring clear, timely communication. She is committed to providing exceptional support, always striving to make every client interaction a positive and seamless experience. Eden’s focus on delivering quality service ensures that clients feel supported and valued throughout their journey with the company.

Shameeqa Phillips
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
B.A.

Shameeqa holds a Bachelor of Arts, specializing in Psycholinguistics from the University of Toronto. While currently undergoing a Masters of Health Science in Speech Language Pathology, Shameeqa strives to integrate curriculum knowledge and new academia to current practice and clinical sessions as a SLP-A!

Shameeqa’s passion for supporting the development of early learners ignited her interest in the field of Speech Language Pathology at a very early age. Past clinical experience has equipped Shameeqa to work with clients in late infancy to early adolescent years. She has diverse knowledge in various language differences and uses a patient-centered approach to promote language enrichment and linguistic awareness.

Shameeqa takes an intersectional approach to learning, creating a warm environment celebrating diversity and inclusion. Although coming from a multicultural home, Shameeqa exclusively communicates in English, with slight ability to comprehend and speak Bengali.

Zahra Eftekhari
Communicative Disorders Assistant
MSc, CDA

Zahra is an experienced Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) with over 20 years of expertise in working with children. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Iran, a Postgraduate Certificate in Communicative Disorders Assistance from St. Lawrence College, and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Seneca College.

Throughout her career, Zahra has worked extensively with children diagnosed with speech and language disorders, including those on the Autism Spectrum, providing therapy across various clinical and educational settings. She specializes in working with both verbal and non-verbal learners, focusing on articulation, developmental language disorders, and expressive and receptive language development.

Zahra is certified in CPR (Level C) and First Aid and has completed specialized training in:

  • PECS Level 1 (Picture Exchange Communication System)
  • Gestalt Language Processing
  • AAC for Gestalt Language Processors
  • Spark Communication

Zahra is passionate about helping children reach their full communication potential. She is fluent in Farsi and English.

Joanna Lee
Communicative-Disorders Assistant
BA, CDA

Joanne is a compassionate and dedicated Communicative Disorders Assistant with a Bachelor of Arts from Guelph University and a CDA diploma from Durham College. She has years of experience teaching children aged 2 to 6 in private schools and working internationally in English instruction and accent reduction.

During her student placement, Joanne gained experience with various speech challenges, including articulation, receptive and expressive language disorders, accent modification, and speech difficulties from TBI. She works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to provide tailored client support.

Born and raised in Canada, Joanne speaks English fluently, conversational Mandarin, and understands Cantonese. She is committed to creating a safe, positive environment and building trust with clients while fostering teamwork for successful outcomes.

Christine Kim
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Hons. B.A.

Christine is a dedicated and results-driven Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) with a genuine passion for fostering communication. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psycholinguistics from the University of Toronto.

She holds certifications in Motor Speech and Fluency from The Speech and Stuttering Institute (SSI) and is committed to ongoing professional development. She is cognizant of the need to continually seek new knowledge and techniques to stay current with the latest research and best practices in the field, ensuring that her clients receive the highest quality of care.

Christine is committed to building meaningful connections with her clients, taking an individualized approach to understand their unique needs and abilities. With experience working with both children and adults from diverse backgrounds, she provides support across a wide range of speech and language challenges, including early language intervention, receptive and expressive language disorders, articulation, fluency, and literacy.

Christine values collaboration, working closely with clients, families, and interdisciplinary teams to develop and achieve individualized goals. She is dedicated to integrating a culturally responsive practice where all clients feel heard, supported, and empowered, ultimately making a meaningful difference in their lives.

Fluent in English and Korean, Christine also has a basic knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL), allowing her to connect with a diverse range of clients.

Christina Hii
Speech-Language Pathologist
M.Sc.(A), S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO and CHCPBC

Christina is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).

She received her Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders from McGill University after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Linguistics from the University of Victoria.She has focused her career to work with adults and seniors on a variety of goals. She has recently honed in on accent modification/expansion, fluency, voice, and dysphagia.

Christina is also a certified provider of the SPEAK OUT! Program for clients with Parkinson’s Disease. Continually checking in with clients throughout sessions to adjust goals accordingly, Christina employs a flexible approach to therapy to ensure long-lasting functional changes to speech and language.

She loves connecting with clients to better understand their desired communication styles and voices, and to help them acknowledge and deconstruct any mental blocks that may be impeding effective and confident communication.

Oviya Sriananthan
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
B.Sc

Oviya is currently in her final year of the Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of Toronto and is on track to become a certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She has a strong interest in pediatric speech and language development, particularly in the areas of articulation, fluency, and language acquisition.

Oviya has experience delivering both in-person and virtual therapy, supporting children with a variety of communication needs including receptive and expressive language skills, social communication, literacy, articulation, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Her clinical training includes two pediatric-focused placements where she administered assessments and parent questionnaires to develop relevant goals and subsequent evidence-based intervention for children aged 1 to 18. She also completed two adult placements, working with individuals with aphasia to support language rehabilitation and develop word-finding strategies.

With a child-centered, play-based approach, Oviya is committed to creating supportive and meaningful therapy sessions that empower clients and their families. She values building strong therapeutic relationships and tailoring intervention to each individual’s needs and interests. In addition to her academic and clinical pursuits, Oviya enjoys reading fantasy novels and exploring the outdoors with her dog.

Oviya is fluent in primarily English but can also understand and speak in Tamil.

Waruni Abeysinghe
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
M.Ed, B.Sc, M.Sc

Waruni Abeysinghe is more than a clinician, she is a devoted professional, an empathetic caregiver, and a passionate advocate for individuals with communication and swallowing disorders. Currently pursuing her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Waruni brings not only academic excellence but also a deep-rooted commitment to improving lives through the power of communication.

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, as well as a Master of Education, Waruni blends scientific knowledge with a strong foundation in teaching and mentorship. She began her professional journey at the Department of Otolaryngology, where she immersed herself in the complexities of childhood language disorders, fluency, voice, and feeding and swallowing difficulties. These early experiences laid the groundwork for a career defined by both clinical skill and unwavering compassion.

Over the past eight years, Waruni has dedicated herself to serving individuals across the lifespan, from infants with feeding difficulties to seniors facing speech and swallowing challenges. Her clinical journey has taken her through diverse settings, including schools, preschools, hospitals, nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers, in the United States, where she has worked with children with special needs, offering comprehensive evaluation and personalized intervention. Whether supporting a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder or helping an adult regain speech/language following a stroke, Waruni approaches each case with care, respect, and the belief that every voice matters.

Her areas of expertise include childhood language delays, feeding and swallowing disorders, articulation, voice, fluency, adult language impairments, dysarthria, and more. She is especially known for her ability to craft individualized therapy plans that address not only clinical needs but also the emotional and social dimensions of communication.

As a former Lecturer, Waruni has contributed significantly to the academic training of future clinicians. Her dedication to curriculum development and mentorship reflects her belief in shaping the future of the field while grounding it in human connection.

What sets Waruni apart is not just her experience or qualifications, but her heart. She creates safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for her clients and their families. Her work is not just a profession, it is a calling. Her mission is to give voice to the voiceless, to nurture the potential in every individual, and to help others live with confidence, dignity, and joy.

Kulsum Manji
Speech-Language Pathologist
S-LP, Reg. CASLPO

Kulsum is a licensed speech-language pathologist registered with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She has experience working with children across various areas, including articulation, language development, literacy, and fluency.

She holds a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Toronto after completing an undergraduate double majoring in Physiology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto.

She has experience working with school-age children in schools providing language and speech assessments. She has always enjoyed working with kids and has experience in various camps and programs working with kids. Additionally, she has training in Hanen’s “It Takes Two to Talk” - a family-focused program for early language development.

She is passionate about providing person-centred care and providing therapy sessions tailored to a child’s interests! She enjoys working with children and adults of all ages and is passionate about using evidence-based approaches to work side-by-side with clients and families to reach their communication goals. She is noted for her empathy, kindness and strives to make therapy a fun and memorable experience!

Tolaciy Gunabalan
Communicative Disorders Assistant

Tolaciy Gunabalan is a passionate and empathetic Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) student currently completing her diploma at St. Lawrence College. With a background in Practical Nursing from George Brown College, Tolaciy brings a strong foundation in healthcare and a deep commitment to client-centered care into the field of speech and language services.

Tolaciy is dedicated to supporting individuals across the lifespan, with particular interest in early language development, articulation, and social communication. Her clinical approach is grounded in evidence-based practice, while also being creative, flexible, and tailored to each client’s unique strengths and needs.

With experience working alongside speech-language pathologists and other healthcare professionals, Tolaciy values collaboration and aims to create inclusive, culturally responsive spaces where every client feels seen and empowered. She is especially passionate about working with neurodivergent populations and families from diverse backgrounds.

Tolaciy communicates fluently in English and Tamil, and continually seeks to expand her knowledge through ongoing education and reflective practice. Her goal is to help others find their voice, whether through play-based therapy with young children or functional communication strategies with adults.

Kaitlyn Mayers
Speech-Language Pathology Assistan
B.A.

Kaitlyn is a compassionate Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant with a strong commitment to providing accessible care that helps clients build and strengthen their communication skills. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Sciences from the University of British Columbia. She has experience delivering evidence-based therapy in literacy, articulation, expressive and receptive language, and support for later talkers. Kaitlyn has worked with children and youth with and without ASD in both virtual and one-on-one settings, tailoring her approach to meet each client’s unique needs.

In addition to her clinical experience, Kaitlyn broadened her skills internationally as an English Foreign Language Teacher in Seoul, South Korea. This experience further developed her adaptability, cultural competency, and ability to create engaging and supportive environments for language learning.

Kaitlyn emphasizes building strong relationships with clients and their families. She uses a play-based, client-centered approach to create a comfortable and natural learning environment. She is recognized for her patience and empathy, which she brings into every session to ensure clients feel supported and motivated.

Kaitlyn hopes to continue her professional development by pursuing graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology. She is fluent in English and has a beginner-to-intermediate understanding of Korean.

Minella Tayade
Communicative Disorders Assistant
BA (Hons) Sociology, MBA (HR), TEFL (TESOL) & CDA

Minella is a Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) who graduated from Lambton College. She provided accent therapy back in 2008, an experience that helped her develop skills in supporting clear and confident communication. Her clinical placements provided valuable hands-on experience working with children with motor speech disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, autism, ADHD, and anxiety. She has also worked with adults recovering from motor vehicle collisions, early-onset dementia, and post-stroke rehabilitation.

Minella’s key areas of interest include articulation & speech sound disorders, accent modification, and supporting neurodivergent individuals. She takes a client-centered approach, creating a warm and supportive environment where clients feel encouraged to participate and confident in making progress on their communication journey.

Alisha Vaz
Speech-Language Pathologist
M.Cl.Sc., S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO

Alisha is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist with over a decade of experience supporting children, families, and adults in Ontario. She holds a Master of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Western Ontario and is board certified by Speech-Language and Audiology Canada.

Alisha is a certified Lidcombe instructor and Hanen instructor, trained to deliver programs such as It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words, TalkAbility, and ABC and Beyond. She has also completed training supported by Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services in the areas of motor speech, fluency, and auditory-verbal skills.

In addition to her clinical work, Alisha has guest lectured on speech and language development for college level ECE programs and mentored Communicative Disorders Assistants (CDA), graduate students, and clinical fellows.

Her commitment to equity and inclusion is reflected in her training in Indigenous cultural safety and LGBTQ+ affirming care. Alisha is passionate about helping children and adults reach their fullest communication potential through evidence-based therapy and person-centered care.

Petra Fayad
Communicative Disorders Assistant
Hon B.Sc, CDA

Petra is a dedicated and compassionate Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science and Linguistics from the University of Toronto. She values evidence-based approaches and enjoys expanding her knowledge and learning new strategies to best support her clients.

Petra has worked with paediatric and adult clients in both virtual and in-person settings. Her areas of interest include literacy, articulation, social communication, cognitive-communication, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She values creating a safe, supportive space and building strong meaningful connections with clients and families.

Using a client-centred approach, Petra strives to make therapy engaging, meaningful, and fun. She is passionate about helping clients develop confidence in their communication skills.

Petra is fluent in English and conversational in Arabic.

Sunaina Bhardwaj
Communicative Disorders Assistant
B.A CDA

Sunaina is a dedicated Communicative Disorders Assistant with a strong academic and professional background in supporting clients with their communication needs. She holds Bachelors in Arts in Early Childhood Studies and graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University with distinction. Followed by that, she completed her post-graduate education at St. Lawrence College and achieved her Communicative Disorders Assistant certification.

Sunaina has experience working individually with children of diverse learning and communication needs, including both neurodivergent and neurotypical children. Her experience includes providing articulation and language therapy, as well as supporting clients using low-tech and high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.

Her clinical approach focuses on evidence-based practice that is customized to the likes and needs of the clients. Additionally, Sunaina emphasizes empathy, patience, and teamwork with families, educators, and professionals to create a supportive environment that empowers clients to feel confident in their abilities. Sunaina is fluent in English and Punjabi, has an understanding of Urdu, and speaks Hindi at a beginner level.

Alexis Sees
Communicative Disorders Assistant
CDA/SLPA., CDAAC

Alexis is a dedicated Communication Disorders Assistant with a strong background in supporting children with diverse developmental and communication needs. She brings over five years of experience working with children of all ages and abilities in a variety of settings, including educational, clinical, camps, and community settings. Alexis is passionate about helping clients reach their full potential through individualized, play-based, and evidence-informed interventions in a safe, supportive environment.

Alexis holds a Developmental Service Worker Diploma and a Communicative Disorders

Assistant Certificate from Georgian College, where she gained hands-on experience delivering speech and language therapy, along with being a Support Staff in a special education school. She has provided services such as speech therapy in school boards, behavioural therapy in private clinics, community programs, and implementing targeted strategies to enhance communication, social, and literacy skills.

Throughout her work with these organizations, Alexis has built a reputation for her warm and engaging approach. Alexis believes that every child learns best when they feel understood, supported, and celebrated in their progress. Her sessions are filled with creativity, play, and encouragement-helping children build meaningful communication skills while having fun. Alexis’ biggest accomplishment has been seeing the progress of children she has worked with and how as a team (client, parents, SLP, etc.), they can improve their confidence and quality of life for the future. When Alexis isn’t working directly with clients, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to country music, and finding creative ways to make learning fun and meaningful.

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