Meet the Team:
Rebecca McDaniels MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Rebecca McDaniels is the founder and a co-director of bklyn speech. She is a neurodiversity-affirming therapist who believes that above all else, therapy should be child-centered and individualized to meet the needs of every child and family. She aims to create a comfortable, compassionate and therapeutic atmosphere for children and families where everyone plays a unique role on the child’s team. Rebecca strives to make sessions fun, engaging and functional so that children develop their speech and language skills as quickly and naturally as possible while doing what they do best, PLAY.
Rebecca works with a wide range of populations however she specializes in the treatment of complex speech disorders such as childhood apraxia of speech, dysarthria, cleft palate, velopharyngeal insufficiency and other severe articulation/ phonological disorders. Rebecca is recognized by “Apraxia Kids” (CASANA) as a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). She is highly trained in a variety of techniques such as PROMPT, Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC), Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment (ReST) and Ayres Sensory Integration.
Rebecca is ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) Certified and holds a TSSLD (Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities) certification. She has served as an adjunct instructor with TC, Columbia University’s graduate school program and has also provided therapy abroad as a clinical supervisor with the same program. Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences with minors in Special Education and Human Development from the University of Maryland. She received her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from TC, Columbia University.
Lauren Alpert MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Lauren is a co-director of bklyn speech. She is a New York State licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologist. She received her bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Community Health from Tufts University. She earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Lauren is trained in techniques such as PROMPT, the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, reflective supervision, and sensory integration.
Lauren is particularly interested in early intervention, pediatric feeding disorders, and motor speech disorders.
Chelsea Wertheim MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Chelsea is a New York State licensed Speech Language Pathologist and holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). She is certified as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). Chelsea earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. She is trained in PROMPT therapy, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Ayres Sensory Integration and the Social Thinking Curriculum.
Chelsea is a passionate and dedicated neurodiversity-affirming therapist who has sought out a wide variety of experiences with children of all ages and abilities. She has provided individual and group therapy to clients with a range of diagnoses including autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, articulation/phonological disorders, motor speech disorders, executive functioning/ attention difficulties, and genetic syndromes. By incorporating each child’s unique interests, Chelsea motivates her clients to achieve speech, language and feeding goals in a fun and natural environment.
Chelsea is an advocate for the clients and families that she works with, and works diligently to ensure that her clients are given every opportunity to achieve their potential.
Lauren Sher MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Lauren is a bilingual (Spanish) New York State licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified speech-language pathologist. Lauren received her bachelor’s degree from New York University with a dual concentration in Linguistics and Spanish as well as her master's of science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Long Island University.
Lauren has worked predominantly as a school and clinic-based pediatric clinician providing therapeutic interventions to individuals with diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, executive dysfunction, specific language impairment, developmental delays, articulation/phonological disorders, and motor speech disorders.
Lauren is a passionate disability rights advocate and activist who channels that zeal into her sessions with techniques that embrace and affirm her neurodivergent clients. She dedicates herself to creating a supportive, non-judgmental therapeutic space. Lauren is a fierce supporter of dual language acquisition. She works to cultivate an environment that promotes consistent, meaningful progress across languages for her clients.
Kacey Yahnke MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Kacey is a New York State licensed Speech Language Pathologist and holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). She is certified as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disability (TSSLD). Kacey earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Kacey has worked with infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and adolescents. She has experience working with children across a variety of settings, including clinic, home, and school based settings. Kacey has a passion for working with kids with complex communication needs using neurodiversity-affirming practices. Kacey’s goal is to enable all of her students to realize their potential!
Kisaira Henriquez MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Kisaira (“Kisa”) Henriquez, M.S. CCC-SLP, is a New York State certified bilingual (Spanish) speech-language pathologist with a Certification of Clinical Competency (CCC) granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Kisaira obtained her bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from St. John’s University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Long Island University. She holds a New York State TSSLD (Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities) certificate.
Kisaira has worked with infants/toddlers, school-aged children, and adolescents. She has experience working with children with language disorders, speech sound disorders, and complex communication disorders.
Kisaira keeps speech sessions engaging by using a play-based approach in order to build meaningful connections with her students and their families. Kisaira encourages collaboration with parents and other therapists, when applicable, to create a successful environment for her students.