The Learning Sphere

Our Expertise

Vanessa Zimmer-Powell, M.A. CCC-SLP has been practicing as a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist since 2000. She received her MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. At UT Austin, she was in the medical speech and language pathology track, and had a particular interest in early intervention and feeding disorders, which continues to this day. She is experienced in a variety of settings––school, early childhood, and private pediatric clinics. Vanessa believes that children have a vast capacity to learn through play. She enjoys being a part of “turning the lights on” for non-verbal children, and uses Melodic Based Communication Therapy and Kaufman approaches, combined with AAC, the philosophies of Hanen and/or DIR® Floortime, music, and a little of her own magic. For verbal children, she adds the Social Thinking® approach. For those children who need help with feeding, she loves using the philosophies of Susan Roberts, author of My Kid Eats Everything, and Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) eating programs, sprinkled with all of the things she has learned from the children, their parents, and 17 years of continuing education. Vanessa has a passion for creating new programs and materials, and is in the process of developing material for children with developmental apraxia of speech.

Andrea Easley Cronin, M.A. CCC-SLP is a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist with 15 years experience in pediatrics. She received her MA in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston. She has worked in a variety of settings including clinics, public schools and private practice. As a native Houstonian, she is knowledgeable about maximizing area resources and guiding parents to be strong advocates for their children. She has specialized in working with children with High Functioning Autism and has led social and executive functioning skills groups in private settings for over 10 years. She is trained in several methodologies including Introduction to the PROMPT Approach, Applied Behavioral Analysis, The Social Thinking Curriculum, DIR/Floortime, The Affect-Based Language Curriculum, and Melodic Based Communication Therapy. When not practicing she joyfully spends time with her two greatest mentors, her children.

Tasneem Kajani, M.A. CCC-SLP is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist with 11 years of pediatric experience. She received her MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston. Tas has worked in private school settings with children with neurological differences and in outpatient pediatric clinics. She has been trained in Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding (SOS), Prompts for Restructuring Oral Musculature (PROMPT), Social Thinking®, and DIR® / Floortime, Talk Tools, Melodic Based Communication Therapy, and trained in the methodology of Susan Roberts, the author of My Kids Eat Everything. Tas is passionate about discovering and encouraging a child’s full potential to grow and develop skills that will enhance their future. She is honored to be a part of each child’s journey in helping them to communicate with loved ones and to build meaningful relationships.