Elizabeth Sautter, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist
Executive Director

Elizabeth is a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has been working with clients and their families since 1996. She has worked with individuals ranging from preschoolers to adults in private practice, schools, and hospitals. Elizabeth has particular expertise in the areas of social communication, self-regulation, and executive functioning. She was the Clinical Director for the CW Center for 10 years, during which time she managed and supervised group and individual therapy programs provided by speech, occupational, and educational therapists. She has extensive training in Social Thinking and has completed a mentorship and internship with Michelle Garcia Winner, Stephanie Madrigal, and Pamela Crooke. She has also been trained by Mindful Schools and enjoys practicing mindfulness on her own and teaching mindfulness in her therapy sessions, in the classroom setting and beyond. She appreciates the chance to collaborate with therapists such as Sarah Ward (Executive Functioning) and Leah Kuypers (The Zones of Regulation®) and thrives on mentoring and training other therapists, parents, and educators. Elizabeth is eager to gather and share information, and she conducts trainings for parents/caregivers and educators in the US and Canada. She is a collaborative Zones of Regulation® trainer and has co-authored articles and materials related to the Zones curriculum.

Elizabeth has authored the book Make Social Learning Stick! How to Guide and Nurture Social Competence Through Everyday Routines and Activities. In her blog Make Social Learning Stick, she shares her own parenting and life experiences raising two boys, one with learning and attentional differences. She also blogs for Communication Works and has written many articles over the years.

Along with presenting and writing curriculum, Elizabeth consults with families, supports therapists in the schools, and provides consultation for schools and educators. Elizabeth is a member of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and is actively involved with the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA) by presenting at their conferences and serving on the advisory committee. Elizabeth received her master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from San Jose State University. Her relationships with her sister and extended family members with special needs have made her work a lifelong endeavor.

Hillary Kissack, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist
Executive Director

Hillary has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for over 20 years. She is a co-founder and executive director of Communication Works. In working to grow and further develop Communication Works, her mission has been to create a supportive work environment where accomplished  therapists connect, collaborate, and grow their clinical skills and areas of interest, in turn providing much-needed services to diverse populations.

Hillary’s experience includes providing clinical and supervisory services in a variety of settings including public and private schools along with county speech and therapy programs, centers, and in-home services. Hillary has trained and supervised Clinical Fellows (CFs) and supported CW’s team of SLPs. She works directly with school districts across the Bay Area to maximize CW’s partnerships. Her expertise in early intervention and school-aged students has allowed her to serve individuals with speech, language, and social deficits, auditory processing deficits, oral-motor deficits, developmental disabilities, and autism.

As a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the California Speech-Language and Hearing Association (CSHA), Hillary along with other CW colleagues have provided numerous presentations. Topics include social communication and comprehensive supervisory trainings for professionals and families as well as resume writing and interviewing for graduate students and clinical fellows. Hillary obtained her master’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of the Pacific, Stockton.

Audra L. Elliott, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist
Executive Director
Director of Supervision

Audra has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for over 25 years. She has over 22 years of supervisory and therapeutic experience at the university level and in the private and public sector. She has trained and supervised part-time Speech-Language Pathologists in the university setting, trained Speech-Language Pathologists to become Supervisors and provided numerous professional trainings on supervision. She provides ongoing training and oversees CW’s Supervision Team, manages licensed therapists in the field, is in charge of our Clinical Fellowship (CF) Program, and assists with hiring. Not only has she supervised Clinical Fellows (CF’s) herself, but she developed CW’s elite Clinical Fellowship Program within Communication Works, which has been in place for the past 10 years. She created CW’s well-recognized University Internship Program and trained several Mentor SLPs on how to supervise graduate student interns.

Audra conducts program development, is a liaison to many of our district partners, and provides support to our employee team in many different areas. She has expertise in high profile case management, program development, school-based therapy, supervision, collaboration, family support and in working with autism, early intervention and deaf/hard of hearing populations.

Prior to joining CW, she owned her own private practice and was the director of special programs for the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic and Communicative Sciences and Disorders Department at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), where she taught clinical courses and supervised in the clinic. Audra has presented at several state and national conferences, provided trainings for professionals in medical and school-based settings, and professionally edited several publications in the field. She is currently co-chair of an Early Intervention Committee with the California Speech Language and Hearing Association (CSHA).

Theresa Christiansen, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist
Supervisor

Theresa has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for over 25 years. During that time she has had ten years of supervisory experience training Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) and has supervised Clinical Fellows (CFs). Theresa has worked in private as well as public school settings with preschool through high school students, specializing in language delays, articulation disorders, and autism. She also has a wide range of experience working with students enrolled in Special Day Classes (SDC) and providing staff training. Theresa’s favorite parts of being a supervisor are guiding a supervisee through the process of comprehensive caseload management and mentoring an individual to achieve “best practice” in all elements. Theresa is actively involved with several schools in the Oakland Diocese to develop speech, language, and social communication/regulation programs for students receiving a Catholic education. Theresa obtained her master’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from California State University, Chico.

Corinne Donohue, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist
Senior Supervisor

Corinne has been a Speech-Language Pathologist with Communication Works for over 10 years. During the past six years, she has supervised several graduate student interns and Clinical Fellows (CFs). Corinne has worked in elementary schools, preschool programs, and early intervention programs and provided in-home services for children three years and under. She has extensive experience with Special Day Class service delivery, developing and implementing social groups, working with students with autism and deaf/hard of hearing students, as well as those with language and articulation disorders. She has expertise with social communication assessments and High Profile Case management. Corinne assisted with a video project for the California Speech-Language and Hearing Association (CSHA) to educate families and caregivers on the expected milestones of speech and language in the two-year-old-child. Her favorite part of being a supervisor is watching the growth that occurs over the course of a CF’s experience. Corinne obtained her master’s degree in Communicative Disorders from San Jose State University.

Judy Ramos, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist
Supervisor/Bilingual-Spanish

Judy lived in Puerto Rico and attended The University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus where she showed an interest in child development and psychology.  After taking a long break from college, she traveled to different parts of the world while experiencing various Spanish dialects in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Spain.

Judy completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at California State University, Hayward. She has been a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for over 20 years. Throughout her career, she has worked in Bay Area public schools with elementary school students.  She has attended several Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology Symposiums domestically and internationally.

Judy began working for Communication Works 14 years ago as a Bilingual-Spanish Speech-Language Pathologist. Additionally, she has supervised Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, graduate student interns, and Bilingual-Spanish Clinical Fellows. Presently she supervises licensed Speech-Language Pathologists, and conducts bilingual-Spanish Speech-Language assessments in school districts.

Judy’s favorite part of being a supervisor is guiding new and experienced SLPs in understanding the process of identifying speech-language disorders vs. differences and reducing the number of over identification of Spanish dominant students in special education. Judy co-created and co-presented an in-house training on Understanding English Language Learner Referrals: Articulation and expressive language differences and variations in Spanish dominant students.  She is a member of the California Speech Language and Hearing Association, and of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Group 14, Cultural and Linguistic Diversity.

Lauren Shearer, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist
Supervisor

Lauren has been a Speech-Language Pathologist with Communication Works for over 6 years and has over ten years of experience in the field. She has worked in private practice, elementary schools, preschool programs, and early intervention programs that provide in-home services for children three years and under. Lauren has extensive experience with our moderate to severe population and special day class service delivery. Lauren currently is an Adjunct faculty member at Chapman University teaching the AAC course and Clinical practicum course for first and second-year graduate students. Lauren currently lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.