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Call us today! 732-639-1551
Our Mission
Little Birds Pediatric Therapy was founded to address the developmental needs of children in our surrounding areas. Speech therapy addresses all areas of communication, allowing children to develop relationships and improve skills that support all aspects of literacy. Through play and evidence-based therapeutic techniques, we can help your child grow to reach his or her full potential.
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We believe all children, regardless of their level of ability, should be given the opportunity to grow and develop with the support of knowledgeable, caring adults. Our treating therapists are highly qualified to address all areas of developmental disorders and do so in a fun, low pressure environment. We are committed to our own professional growth and attend trainings and courses that allow us to offer the best speech-language and occupational therapy possible. We look forward to working with you and your child to improve your child's quality of life by supporting developmental skills that will allow him/her to "take flight"! Call us today to set up an evaluation!
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MEET OUR TEAM
ASHLEY COLLINS, M.A., CCC-SLP
Ashley is the owner and lead speech-language pathologist at Little Birds Speech Therapy. Ashley graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and minor concentration in Fine Arts in 2007. In 2012, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Kean University. Ashley found her passion in speech, as it married her interests in the health sciences with verbal and written communication. Ashley has worked in public schools and private practice settings. She has clinical experience in providing speech-language therapy to children with various communication needs, including those associated with: language/learning disorders, articulation/phonological disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, pragmatic language disorder, stuttering, ADHD, Verbal Apraxia, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury, and more.
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Ashley is fully certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs, and the NJ Department of Education. She is a PROMPT Level 2 trained therapist. With her energetic and holistic approach to therapy, she is sure to make a positive difference in your child's life. ​
Pamela Menear, Office Manager
Pam has been supporting Little Birds Pediatric Therapy operations since summer of 2022. Pam ensures patient experience is smooth during our onboarding process and then continues to uphold our practice policies and procedures for therapists and established patients as well. Pam coordinates insurance, communicating with physician offices, HR departments, and more, to make every effort to ensure the best possible insurance coverage for our patients' care. Pam also handles scheduling and claim submission.
Mary Margaret Kurta, M.A., CCC-SLP
Mary-Margaret graduated from Douglass College, Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Correction in 1985. In 2011, she graduated from Kean University with a Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. She has worked in public schools, specialized schools and has provided in-home services. Mary-Margaret has clinical experience in providing speech language therapy to children with a variety of communication needs including those associated with nonverbal communication, feeding, hearing impairments, cochlear implants, stuttering, language/learning disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, pragmatic language disorder, Down Syndrome and Verbal Apraxia.
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Mary-Margaret is fully certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association and the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs.
Natalie Soto, M.A., CCC-SLP
Natalie graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts in Russian and Japanese Language and Literature. In 2001, she graduated from Montclair State University with a Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. She has worked in public schools, specialized private schools and at a children’s hospital. Natalie has clinical experience in providing speech language therapy to children with diverse communication needs. She is skilled in treating children who present with language disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, pragmatic language disorder, Down Syndrome and other global developmental delays. Natalie is also proficient in training and implementation of augmentative and alternative communication devices.
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Natalie is fully certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association and the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs.
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Amanda Schullman, MA, CF-SLP
Amanda graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Arts in communications with a minor in marketing. In 2024 she graduated with a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. Amanda has worked in public school settings, providing speech and language therapy to elementary, middle and high school students. She has experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, ADHD, Expressive/Receptive language disorders, articulation/phonological disorders, hearing impairments, learning disabilities, and apraxia of speech. Amanda is excited to utilize her experience within the private practice setting here at Little Birds. She is dedicated to her role as an SLP and strives to improve the quality of life for all of her clients.
Amanda is a certified CF by the American Speech-Hearing Association and the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs.
Brenda Puskas, M.A., CCC-SLP
Brenda graduated from Rutgers College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor concentration in Sociology in 1995. In 1999, she graduated with a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Montclair State University. Brenda’s personal life experiences drove her passion into this amazing field. She is convinced she has the best job in the world! Brenda has worked in private and
public schools, private practices, and inpatient and outpatient hospital settings. She has clinical experience in providing speech-language therapy to children with various communication needs, including those associated with: language/learning disorders, articulation/phonological disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, pragmatic language disorder, stuttering, ADHD, Verbal Apraxia, Voice Disorder and more.
Brenda is fully certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs, and the NJ Department of Education. Brenda develops individualized therapy programs that include home programs and caregiver education to help each of her clients reach their overall communication potential. She works hard to establish a strong connection with each and every client.
Kaitlyn Terlecky, M.S., CCC-SLP
Kaitlyn graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders in 2009. In 2011, she graduated from Seton Hall University with a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology. She has over ten years of experience, working with children and adolescents with complex communication needs including but not limited to language disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, pragmatic language disorder, fluency, Down Syndrome, Verbal Apraxia and other global developmental delays. Kaitlyn is skilled at implementing various evidence-based treatment approaches, some including the picture exchange communication system, American Sign Language, sensory strategies, communication devices/boards and visual/tactile sound cues. She is passionate about making a difference in the lives of her clients and is committed to providing therapy in a positive, fun and engaging environment.
Kaitlyn is fully certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association and the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs.
Kayla Madoff, , M.S. Ed, CCC-SLP
Kayla graduated from Sacred Heart University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a concentration in Health Sciences in 2018. In 2022, she graduated from Monmouth University with her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Kayla works full time in a specialized school, providing services to students ages 5-21 with multiple disabilities. Kayla believes in providing therapy in a holistic approach, provide support to the whole person, not
just their speech deficits. Kayla also believes in implementing sensory strategies and current evidence-based practice as her therapy approaches. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with varying needs, relating to areas of disorders such as receptive and expressive language, articulation/phonology, pragmatic language, feeding and swallowing
disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, AHDH, verbal apraxia, and traumatic brain injuries. Kayla is also proficient in training and implementation of augmentative and alternative communication devices.
Kayla is a certified clinical fellow by the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs and the NJ Department of Education. Kayla develops individualized therapy programs including home programs to provide caregivers to help each of her patients reach their overall potential of functional communication skills.
Diane Chabak, M.A., CCC-SLP
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Diane graduated Magna Cum Laude from Quinnipiac University with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Fine Arts. She graduated From Adelphi University with her Masters in Speech and Language Pathology in 2012. Her true passion is helping people to communicate effectively. Diane has worked in all types of speech settings including young adult day settings, private practices, early intervention and school settings both in New York and New Jersey. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults with varying needs including articulation and phonological disorders, pragmatic language disorder, verbal apraxia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and more. Diane loves including physical activity and crafts into sessions whenever possible and is passionate about collaborating with families to build the best support system possible.
Diane is fully certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association, the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs, and the NJ Department of Education.
Cathy Bendock, MA, CCC-SLP
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Cathy is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist graduating with a Master’s degree from Loyola University Maryland in 2019. With years of experience working with children, she has had the pleasure of supporting a diverse range of communication needs, such as language disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, articulation/phonological disorders, ADHD, pragmatic language disorders, and early language development. Her therapy approach is centered around creating a fun and supportive environment where children can thrive. By building strong partnerships with families, she works together to help your child reach their full communication potential. Cathy is fully certified by the American Speech-Hearing Association and the NJ State Board of Consumer Affairs.