Our Team Provides Personalized Care
Our Team
Karen Clapper, MS CCC-SLP/L BCS-CL
Board Certified Specialist in Child Language and Language Disorders
American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders
I established the practice in 1999 in order to have the autonomy to offer truly individualized services to the clients and families with whom I have the privilege of working and supporting. I, as well as my colleagues, use a holistic approach when comprehensively assessing each client’s personalized language-based needs. We look at all facets of language including language processing skills, executive functions and sensory awareness. This helps us to identify the core deficit of our client’s communicative impairment which allows us to develop a plan of treatment using a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down approach.
I obtained my Master of Science Degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which I immediately started after securing my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. I enjoy assessing all facets of language-based needs: Specific Language Impairment, Apraxia of Speech, Nonverbal Language Disorder, Stuttering and other speech disfluencies. My specialty is working with children, adolescents and adults who have language processing and executive function impairments. My passion for understanding the science associated with language processing and the executive functions needed to support the systems necessary to communicate effectively has fueled my motivation and enthusiasm to help others find their strength in communication.
Janel Gross, BS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
I earned my Bachelor of Science Degree at Temple University. I have been a practicing Occupational Therapist for 22 years and a proud part of the Communication Associates team for over ten years. I try hard to ensure therapy is fun and tailored to each individual child. I believe in the power of play and its valuable role in the therapeutic process. I have supported children in developing their fine motor coordination, visual motor integration, visual perception and handwriting skills and increasing their independence in self-regulation and activities of daily living. I have completed additional training in multiple areas such as sensory integration, early childhood development, handwriting development and various approaches to working with children with learning, coordination and regulation disorders as well. I love being an Occupational Therapist and thoroughly enjoy working with children, their families and schools in problem-solving and finding solutions to aid functional performance.
Laurel Orlando, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
I graduated from Temple University in 2020 with my Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. Prior to graduating from Temple University, I attended Wheaton College and received a Bachelor of Music in Voice degree. My educational background in voice prompted me to obtain my degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I aim to help children and adults improve their ability to communicate. I assess and treat language, speech sound, voice and fluency disorders. I approach therapy from a holistic and evidence-based perspective, and I have a special interest in the impact of language processing, executive functioning, oral motor and orofacial myofunctional skills on the functioning of my patients. I aim to responsibly integrate these perspectives into my approach to treatment and collaborate with other professionals in an interdisciplinary manner for the welfare of my patients.
Lauren Mangino, B.S.
Office Manager
Before joining Communication Associates as Office Manager, I worked in Early Childhood education after earning my degree in Communication Sciences from Temple University. I appreciate the opportunity to use my educational background in speech and language disorders. One of the many rewarding aspects of working at Communication Associates is experiencing the value of the services provided by all of the professionals with whom I have the privilege of working.
Paige deBlecourt Mansur, MS CFY-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
I graduated from Salus University in 2023 with my Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Before graduating from Salus University, I attended Eastern University and received a Bachelor of Science in Education. I was a Special Education Teacher, which inspired me to pursue the field of Speech-Language Pathology.
As a Speech-Language Pathologist, my goal is to assist individuals in their ability to communicate and have their voice heard. I assess and treat children with communication disorders such as articulation, expressive/receptive needs, social pragmatic disorders, and fluency disorders. My passion is treating individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder as this was the population I taught as a Special Education Teacher. My goal is to help each client reach their fullest potential and be an integral part of that process.
Kathleen Carickhoff, RD, LDN
Nutritional Support Specialist
Kate is available to offer pediatric, evidence-based nutrition interventions, providing professional input and guidance to you and your child to support appropriate nutritional health and habits. Kate graduated from St. Joseph’s University with a BS in Public Administration and Environmental Health & Safety. Quickly realizing her love for health and nutrition, she went on to pursue a new career and graduated from LaSalle’s School of Nursing & Health Sciences’ Didactic program in Nutrition. For the past 11 years, Kate has been working with various patient populations, including in hospital and outpatient settings, community-based organizations, patient transition from hospital to home, and most recently, home-based and early intervention counseling.
Taylor Gandolfo, M.Ed
Academic Tutor & Early Childhood Education Specialist
Taylor’s rich experience has been working alongside students with and without special needs at the elementary level. Taylor has also coached teachers working with students who are in need of emotional support. Taylor earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education at Kutztown University. She then received her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration from Grand Canyon University. Taylor has a strong passion for working with children in a teaching and mentoring capacity. Building trust and establishing relationships with her students is Taylor’s primary goal.