Empowering Children to Communicate and Thrive

Services

At the Center for Communication and Learning, we are dedicated to serving children with a wide range of communication challenges. Our mission is to provide top-tier services through individualized and group therapy plans that focus on family education, fostering the development of feeding, speech, language, literacy, and social learning skills. With a family-centered approach, we involve parents every step of the way—from evaluation and goal-setting to the implementation of treatment plans—ensuring ongoing success for your child.
teaching-kid-to-speak

Personalized and Family-centered care

Supporting children in developing their unique communication skills

Take the First Step Toward Stronger Communication

Schedule an appointment with our specialists and give your child the tools to succeed in speech, language, and social skills.
Contact CCL

Helping Your Child Communicate with Confidence

We Offer: 1:1 Therapy and Social Group Classes

At the Center for Communication and Learning, we provide specialized services to meet the unique needs of every child. Whether your child benefits from personalized, one-on-one attention or thrives in a peer-based learning environment, we have the right program to support their communication journey.
woman placeholder

Judy Valentin

Administrator

After 10.5 years working for a world renown Engineering, Construction and Management Company, Judy changed her field of work to join CCL as the Office Administrator and Billing Consultant. She has been with CCL for 7 years, and enjoys working at CCL with all the families and therapists. Judy’s main goal is to make sure to match the correct therapist according to the family needs, while ensuring all the insurance documentation is up to date, to avoid any interruption of services. Her reward and greatest joy are to see families satisfied with our services.

During her leisure time, Judy loves to travel with her family, gardening, and cooking.

woman placeholder

Jamie Fink, M.S., CCC-SLP

(ASHA) certified and Maryland licensed Speech Language Pathologist

Jamie is an American Speech, Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified and Maryland licensed Speech Language Pathologist. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders at Penn State University in 2021 and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University in 2023.

In addition to CCL, Jamie works at Ivymount School, where she focuses on enhancing functional communication skills for students with autism and intellectual disabilities. She specializes in helping high school and post-high school students develop vocational and social skills as well as self-advocacy strategies to support their transition into adulthood. Jamie also has experience in the areas of articulation, early intervention, AAC, and social pragmatic language at her time interning with Children’s National hospital outpatient.

Outside of work, Jamie is passionate about fitness, teaching group fitness classes, and traveling to new places. She loves spending time with her family at the beach and lake.

woman placeholder

Cara Schorr, MA, CCC-SLP

Member of The American Speech and Hearing Association

Cara is an American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She is licensed to practice in MD. Cara received her Bachelors of Science degree from SUNY Cortland and her Masters of Arts degree from St. Louis University.

Cara has over 26 years of experience working with the pediatric population in the areas of speech sound disorders, oral motor, feeding, and language. She has specialized training in orofacial myofunctional therapy and feeding therapy. Cara was on staff at CCL in 2002-2010 before working at Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program and returned to CCL in 2021. She loves working with children of all ages in collaboration with their families and other providers for a wholistic treatment approach.

woman placeholder

Mandy Shearer, M.A. CCC-SLP

(ASHA) certified and Maryland licensed Speech Language Pathologist

Mandy is an American Speech, Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified and Maryland licensed Speech Language Pathologist. She received her B.A. in Communication Disorders from Eastern New Mexico University and M.A. from The University of Northern Colorado in Speech-Language Pathology. Mandy has 16+ years of working with individuals ranging from pre-school to adults with communication needs in a variety of settings (schools, clinics and hospitals) in and out of the United States. Her awareness, respect and appreciation of cultures coupled with her professional knowledge has shaped the holistic approach she takes in working with individuals and families.

Mandy has the sheltered English immersion endorsement on her license and is passionate in working with individuals facing social-cognitive language and literacy challenges.

woman placeholder

Samantha Pannone, M.A. CCC-SLP

(ASHA) certified and Maryland licensed Speech Language Pathologist

She is an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified and Maryland licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park in Speech Pathology and earned a graduate certification in Bilingual Special Education from George Washington University. In addition to working at The Center for Communication and Learning for the past fifteen years, she also works in the public schools. Samantha is the coordinator of the Be Social Kids Program and proudly co-runs CCL’s social groups. Samantha’s passion is in working with young children and adolescents in the areas of articulation and language disorders, English Language Learning, fluency disorders, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and social learning challenges.

woman placeholder

Laura Levin, M.S.,CCC.SLP

(ASHA) Speech Language Pathologist

An American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Speech Language Pathologist. She is certified by ASHA and licensed to practice in both Maryland and DC. Laura is an experienced therapist with over 15 years of experience working with children from18 months old through adults treating speech, articulation, language, swallowing and voice disorders.

Ms. Levin received her Bachelor of Science degree in communication disorders from Emerson College in 1999 and obtained her Masters of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University in 2002.

Beginning in 2004, Laura joined the Howard County Infants and Toddlers program working in early intervention, providing therapy in both a home and school based setting for preschool children. Since 2007, Laura has worked in private practice providing therapy to pre-school and elementary school aged children.

She joined The Center for Communication and Learning team in 2017. Laura is PROMPT trained and Hanen certified.

In her spare time, Laura enjoys traveling, reading, running and spending time with her husband and three children.

woman placeholder

Ariel Chheda, MA, CCC-SLP

(ASHA) certified Speech-Language Pathologist

She is an American Speech, Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She is licensed to practice in both Maryland and Washington, DC. Ariel received her bachelor’s degree in Child Development at Vanderbilt University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

She previously worked at HSC Pediatric Center with children from birth to twenty-one assessing and treating a wide variety of speech, language, pragmatic and feeding disorders. Ariel has specific experience with children with autism spectrum disorder, behavioral challenges, social-pragmatic language difficulties, and feeding disorders. She has specialized training in the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk program for young children with language delays and the More than Words program for children with autism spectrum disorder and social pragmatic language challenges.

woman placeholder

Susan M. Abrams, M.A.CCC-SLP

Pediatric Speech – Language Pathologist

With over thirty years experience evaluating and treating children with speech, language and social learning disorders in Montgomery County. She is certified by the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensed by the State of Maryland in speech language pathology. She holds a Masters of Arts in Speech Pathology from Hofstra University and a Masters of Education in Counseling from George Washington University.

She is recognized as one of Maryland’s most respected therapists in the area of social thinking having completed the Social Thinking clinical training program with Michelle Garcia Winner CCC-SLP, in San Jose, California. She has presented at the Social Thinking Providers Conference, most recently in 2013 with Dr Judith Glasser, PhD. on Social Thinking Meets CBT. In addition, she has completed the NDT certificate course and treats children with neurological challenges. She has also trained in the areas of pre-speech and feeding with nationally and internationally known speech language pathologist Suzanne Evans Morris, Ph.D. and provides therapies in these areas.

Susan is the founder of Parent University, which sponsors dynamic speakers in the fields of health, psychology and education for the community. Be Social Kids Workshops is a unique program she developed to provide families with a toolbox for assisting their children to navigate the social world.

She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Maryland Speech-Language-Hearing Association (MSHA), and the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology (AAPPSPA). She is a recipient of ASHA’s ACE Award for excellence in continuing education, dedicating a commitment to lifelong learning. In addition to her clinical expertise, she has been an adjunct instructor at the Johns Hopkins University.

woman placeholder

Randi Rosenblatt, M.A., CCC-SLP

Owner and Director of CCL

She is a Speech-Language Pathologist with almost 20 years of experience. She is certified by the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensed by the State of Maryland in speech language pathology. She holds a Masters of Arts in Speech Pathology from George Washington University.

Randi is PROMPT trained and enjoys using these skills while working with children with apraxia and other articulation disorders. She has presented at the Social Thinking Providers Conference and leads the Be Social Summer Camp.

Randi’s work is focused on toddlers to pre-teens, assessing and treating a wide variety of speech and language disorders. Her clinical experience includes: apraxia, articulation, phonology, augmentative communication, language, and social thinking groups. She has worked in varied settings including private, public schools and in the home.