Dr. Nancy Z. Schwartz

   Clinic Director

Dr. Schwartz has 30 years of experience working with children with language problems and in particular, with children who are on the Autistic Spectrum and/or have Speech Apraxia.  She holds a Ph.D. in Speech, and a Masters in Communicative Disorder. She has been certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association and in Relationship Development Intervention^®. Dr. Schwartz has taught at multiple universities on both the undergraduate and graduate levels in California, Connecticut and New York.  She was the director of the Scottish Rite Institute for Childhood Aphasia in Los Angeles.

Felicia Fera

    M.S., CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association in Speech and Language Pathology)

After completing a Master’s of Science in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Rhode Island in 2000 and working in a public elementary school for two years in Bethel, CT, Felicia began working at the Communication Clinic of Connecticut as a speech/language pathologist. At the clinic, Felicia works with a caseload of preschool, school-aged children, pre-teens and teens conducting on-going assessment and therapy of a variety of ASD-related speech and language disorders. In addition, she consults to an intern program developed by the Torrington School System for adults with language/learning challenges, between the ages of 18 and 22 years. Aside from her work at the Communications Clinic of Connecticut Felicia is a consultant to the NEST program (the NYC Department of Education’s Collaborative Team Teaching program for higher functioning children with autism spectrum disorders.)  She also works at Hunter College, NY supervising graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in special education.  Specific interests include children with ASD’s, apraxia of speech, children with  Asperger’s syndrome,   school-aged and pre-teen/teen social groups.

Kelly Martin

    M.S., CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association in Speech and Language Pathology)

Kelly has more than 10 years experience helping children and adults with a range of physical, neurological and developmental disabilities.  She holds a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from New York Medical College.  Her special interest involves Augmentative and Alternative Communication and the use of technology when teaching children. She is licensed in Connecticut and certified by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Kelley Cardona

   M.S., CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association in Speech and Language Pathology)

Kelley has been a speech pathologist at the Communication Clinic of Connecticut since August 2004. She received her Bachelor and Master's degrees from Southern Connecticut State University.  She is a certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association. Her current clinical interests focus on the integration of thinking skills within the process of language development.

Carla Commisso

   M.A., CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association in Speech and Language Pathology) / TSHH

Carla has been a practicing speech pathologist for over 10 years, working in public schools, private practices and home-based settings throughout NY and CT. She has extensive experience treating children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as those with moderate to severe cognitive deficits and emotional difficulties.  She received her M.A. & B.A in Speech Language Pathology from St.John’s University in NY.  Carla is an ASHA-certified Speech Language Pathologist licensed in both NY & CT and holds a license as a Teacher of Speech and Hearing Handicapped in NY.

MaryBeth Magro Belfatto

   B.A., RDI^® Program Certified Consultant 

Mary Beth graduated with a B.A. in psychology in 1994.   Since 1995, she has worked part time with children on the spectrum as a home therapist incorporating ABA based therapy and/or worked as a school shadow.  In addition, she worked at Pathways, Inc. with psychiatrically disabled adults.   MaryBeth began full time employment at the Communication Clinic of Connecticut in March 2004 to work with children on the spectrum and their families as an RDI^® extender. She became a RDI^® Certified Consultant in early 2006.  Currently, she works individually with children and their parents guiding them through the RDI^® process. In addition, she sees children in dyads involving children who are at the same level of functioning.

Shaina Rotstein

   M.A., CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association in Speech and Language Pathology)

Shaina has been working at the Communication Clinic of Connecticut since relocating from New York in 2007.  She obtained her Master’s degree in Speech-language pathology from Queens College, and is licensed in both New York and Connecticut. Having worked in both school and home settings prior to joining the clinic family, Shaina enjoys working as a part of a multi-disciplinary team, training team members, and working closely with parents to promote carryover. Her specific interests include children diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum as well as children with Speech Apraxia. Her specialty involves nonverbal/prelinguistic children with whom she utilizes physical prompting to elicit speech and, if appropriate, she develops communication skills utilizing Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Jenny Wilkin

   B.S.

Jenny works at the Communication Clinic of Connectut as a shadow for three children in their school settings. Her job requires her to reinforce skills that have been taught in the clinical setting.

Jenny received her Bachelor of Science in Leisure and Recreation from Southern Connecticut State University in 2004. She has recently become certified to teach in Special Education and is currently working towards completing her Masters in Special Education with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University.  She previously worked as a Special Needs Paraprofessional within in a self-contained classroom for children with social and emotional disorders at Ridge Road Elementary School in North Haven.  She also worked at Newington High School as a Special Needs Assistant as a one-on-one support for a student with Down Syndrome, and with other students with special needs in the Transition Life Skills Program.