Terri Philpot, M.S., CCC-SLP
SLLC Owner, Lead Speech-Language Pathologist

Terri received her Master’s degree from the University of Mississippi in 1981. She established The Speech, Language and Learning Center, L.L.C. in 1990. She has been the sole owner and lead therapist for the past seventeen years. Prior to going into private practice, Ms. Philpot worked for eight years within the public schools as a CDC classroom director for children with severe to profound disabilities.

Ms. Philpot has served on State Student Evaluation Manual teams, State Department of Education Monitoring teams and TSHA Public Schools Committee. She served on the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists (TAASLP) Executive Council from 2000 through 2006. During her term as President of TAASLP she continued to work on reimbursement issues, private practice issues and ethical service issues for children with autism. She also served on the Council of State Association Presidents.

Ms. Philpot enjoys advocating for patients and worked during the 2006 Tennessee Legislative session to help pass the Autism Equity Act which mandates third party coverage for children with autism. She received Honors of the Association from TAASLP in 2006 and three consecutive Awards for Continuing Education from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) from 2002-2006. She is a member of ASHA, the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee (ASMT) and the Tennessee Disability Coalition (TDC).

Ms. Philpot’s professional areas of interest include services to children with autism spectrum disorders, behavior disorders, language and auditory processing disorders and feeding/oral-motor/swallowing disorders.

Beth Benson, M.S., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist

Beth Benson received her undergraduate training and degree from Middle Tennessee State University and her Masters of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Tennessee State University. She has been practicing speech pathology since 1992 in a variety of settings, including the public school system and private practice. Beth has been providing speech services at our Center for the past 14 years.

Her professional areas of interest include intervention services, language disorders, autism, social-language groups, augmentative speech services, apraxia, oral-motor and speech disorders.

Beth is certified in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and has completed training in Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention. She has completed extensive courses in Autism through TRIAD at Vanderbilt University and Nova Southeastern University.

She is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).

Beth C. Brazier, M.S., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist

Beth Brazier received her master’s degree from Tennessee State University in 2003. She has worked part-time for The Speech, Language & Learning Center since that time and has over seven years of experience in the public school setting. Beth provides services in the evaluation and treatment of children with various speech, language and voice disorders. She is trained in the Beckman Oral-Motor Approach to Swallowing and Feeding Disorders. Special areas of interest include pediatric speech and language disorders and autism. Beth is a member of ASHA.

Brittany Floyd, M.A., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist

Brittany received her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2000 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She specializes in Auditory Oral therapy for children with hearing impairments who utilize hearing aids and cochlear implants, as well as Total Communication and sign language. Brittany also evaluates and provides therapy services to children with Auditory Processing Disorder, as well as other language and articulation delays. Brittany is also trained in Beckman Oral-Motor Approach to Swallowing and Feeding Disorders. She has worked in the public school setting as well as the National Center for Childhood Deafness at Vanderbilt’s Bill Wilkerson Center. Brittany is a member of ASHA, TAASLP, and is licensed as a Speech Language Pathologist in the state of Tennessee.

Amanda Huntley, M.S., CCC-SLP Speech Language Pathologist

Received a Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders from The University of Mississippi in 1997 and a Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Science from Tennessee State University in 1999. She has 8 years of experience in numerous specialty areas.  Currently her main areas of focus include autism, augmentative communication, and early intervention.  Amanda is the Speech-Language Pathologist at The Kings Daughters Center for Autism and plays a leading role in assessment and treatment of communication of their students.  She also has experience with the assessment and treatment of adults with swallowing disorders. Her qualifications include flexible endoscopy and Vitalstim therapy for those with swallowing complications. Amanda is a member of ASHA, TAASLP, and the ASMT.

Tammy received her Master of Science degree from Central Missouri State University in May 2003. In the last four years, she has gained experience in a variety of settings from adults with aphasia and dysphagia to children with a variety of speech and language disorders. She has also worked with adults with mental retardation by providing services in their home nad/or work center. Her experience with children includes work in the school systems, early intervention in the home, and outpatient speech therapy. Tammy joined the staff at The Speech, Language and Learning Center in May 2006. She has provided therapy to children with Apraxia, early language disorders, articulation impairments, feeding problems, and autism. She enjoys the outpatient clinic environment because of the individual attention that the children receive.

Her recent training includes: Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) training in April 2005 and a seminar on child-directed interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders in February 2007.

Leslie James, M.S., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist

Leslie completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Middle Tennessee State University in 2003, majoring in Communication Disorders and Sciences. She completed her Masters Degree at Western Kentucky University in 2004 majoring in Speech-Language Pathology. Leslie is currently working through contract at Crockett Hospital providing acute care, rehab, and outpatient services. Her areas of experience include adult dysphasia, aphasia, cognitive deficits and working with children who have articulation and language delays. She is a member of ASHA as well as TAASLP.

Ashley Hood, M.A., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist

Ashley received her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2005. She also received a concentration in Aural Rehabilitation and specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children with a mild to profound hearing impairments who utilize hearing aids and cochlear implants. Ashley works with hearing impaired children using either an Auditory Oral approach or a Total Communication with sign language approach. In addition, she serves children who have been diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as children with developmental articulation and language delays. She is a member of ASHA and TAASLP.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Cindy Brown, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist

Cindy Brown, OTR/L, graduated in 1987 from the Occupational Therapy School at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her 20 years of experience have been in several different therapy settings, of which include: a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital, acute care therapy, outpatient adult and pediatric therapy, home health, nursing homes, a residential facility for severe/profound mentally retarded adults and children, and currently working in home health/community therapy in the Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities population and outpatient pediatric therapy. Cindy is a registered therapist in Hippotherapy. Her other professional areas of interest include assistive technology evaluation and recommendations, sensory processing disorders, mealtime issues, wheelchair evaluation and positioning, dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, aquatic therapy, developmental delay and pet therapy. Cindy is certified through the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy and is licensed as an Occupational Therapist in the state of Tennessee.

Shannon Hill, COTA/L

Shannon Hill is a 1997 Occupational Therapy Assistant graduate from Wallace State College in Hanceville, Alabama. He has worked for National Health Care and is currently employed with WillowBrook Health and Home Services working with the mental retardation / developmental disabilities population. Shannon works part-time with the Speech, Language, and Learning Center providing contracted services to children in the local public school system as well as to private patients in the Center.

Shannon has received special training in oral motor intervention, sensory processing disorders and autism. Shannon also enjoys providing treatments with pet therapy and aquatic therapy. Shannon is a member of the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy and holds Tennessee State licensure as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.  Shannon is a volunteer with Special Olympics in Alabama and Tennessee.

Jean Kelly , OTR/L, Occupational Therapist

Jean Kelly, OTR/L obtained her OT degree is Scotland in 1986. She has over 20 years of professional experience in both pediatric and adult therapies to our Center. Jean has worked in hospital settings with acute CVA rehabilitation, community learning disabilities teams, and in the public school setting. Her primary area of professional interest is work with children. “I enjoy the fun, and the blessing of working with children to meet their goals and achieve more independence within their school setting as specials individuals.” Jean holds a Certification with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and licensure in the State of Tennessee.

ADMINISTRATION

Has provided expert organization and billing/reimbursement services to The Speech, Language & Learning Center for over seven years. Carla is able to respond to any questions that our patients or referral sources may have regarding third party funding sources, TennCare, or private pay.

Sarah Sparkman, Receptionist

Currently receiving her A.S. degree in Office Administration from Columbia State Community College, Sarah will graduate in the spring of 2008.

Sarah provides clerical assistance as well as helping all staff to provide professional and creative sessions. Sarah is also the contact person for new referrals and scheduling in the Columbia Office.