Speech and Language Pathology
Lori O’Keefe
Speech Language Pathologist – SLP Clinical Lead
Mississauga
Lori is a passionate Speech- Language Pathologist who comes to us from the East Coast. After graduating from St. Thomas University in New Brunswick with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, she pursued her Masters of Clinician Science in Speech- Language Pathology at Western University. Empowering and supporting families is important to Lori and she loves the opportunity Butterfly affords her to focus on this.
Lori is passionate about ensuring children have the absolute best start in life by utilizing their strengths to expand their communication skills. She enjoys working with children and their families and has experience in a number of areas including language development, social communication, stuttering, speech sound production and reading skills. Lori has a keen interest in motor speech difficulties and has taken a number of continuing education courses in this topic area in addition to being PROMPT certified. An avid reader, literacy is another passion of Lori’s and she is trained in the ‘ASCEND Smarter Intervention Structured Literacy Approach’ to help support struggling readers.
Get to know Lori:
- If Lori could only eat one food for the rest of her life, it would be french fries! Extra fun fact: she grew up in the French Fry Capital of the World.
- If Lori had to compare herself to a Disney character, it would be Rapunzel due to her long hair.
- Lori is embarrassed to admit the movie “Scooby Doo Zombie Island” scares her, but her sisters agree!
Marika Robillard
Speech Language Pathologist
Mississauga
Marika is a Speech-Language Pathologist with an undergraduate degree from Laurentian University and a master’s degree from Western University, both in the field of Speech-Language Pathology. Marika has previous experience working as a school-based SLP, which helps her better understand the skills children need to succeed in school and how best to navigate the system of school supports. She is now loving working in private practice where she can spend more time focusing on each individual client and family, and working directly with parents and caregivers. Marika loves supporting autistic clients and their families and learning about each individual child’s unique interests, strengths and challenges. She has taken the “Meaningful Speech” course where she learned more about the “other” natural way of developing language (Gestalt Language Processing). She truly enjoys applying what she’s learned in this course to better understand her clients who learn in this way, and to help them continue to build on the language they have already acquired. Getting to know each child and their unique style of communication is one of Marika’s favourite things about working at Butterfly!
Fun Facts About Marika:
- If Marika could have a super power, it would be teleportation! She has never been a fan of cars and highways and would love to never have to drive again.
- If Marika was on a deserted island and her needs were met, she would also bring her cat Jiji (who she could never live without) and a hula hoop or aerial hoop.
- If Marika was a celebrity, she would be famous for her aerial hoop skills.
Jessica Leggett
Speech Language Pathologist – Media/Marketing Manager
Mississauga & Burlington
Jessica received her Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Western University. She has had many opportunities throughout her studies and years at Butterfly to work with children of all ages with a variety of communication difficulties including: speech sound disorders (articulation), language delays, fluency disorders (stuttering), and motor speech disorders. Jessica’s passion especially lies within early language learning and articulation therapy! She also believes wholeheartedly in family-centred care. She is passionate about helping children find their way to successful communication and loves to watch each of her clients find their voice and spread their wings!
Get to know Jess:
- If Jess could be an animal, she would be an octopus because she loves being in water, and octopi are extremely flexible and adaptable.
- If Jess could only eat one food for the rest of her life it would be pasta! She loves carbs, especially pasta.
- If Jess could live anywhere in the world, she would live in Slovenia! She was able to travel there recently and loved it so much, she would love to go back!
Kelsey Argue
Communicative Disorders Assistant
Mississauga
Kelsey is a passionate Communicative Disorders Assistant. She received her undergraduate degree from Western University and completed her Communicative Disorders Assistant program at Durham College. Kelsey is dedicated to helping individuals improve their communication skills and overcome any difficulties they may have in expressing themselves or understanding others. Kelsey has experience working with children of all ages, who have experienced a wide range of communication challenges, including speech and language delays, articulation and motor speech disorders, and fluency disorders.
Get to know Kelsey:
- Kelsey’s silliest talent is that she can fold her tongue into the shape of a clover! Only around 15% of people can do this!
- Kelsey couldn’t live without her chapstick. Specifically, Burt’s Bees Lip Balm (with Vitamin E & Peppermint)
- Kelsey is most like Belle from Beauty and the Beast as she is constantly seeking new knowledge and opportunities like Bell, and she is not afraid to define what she believes in.
Holly Smith
Communicative Disorders Assistant
Burlington
Holly is a wonderful Communicative Disorder Assistant. She graduated from Brock University with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Language Sciences. She then pursued a post graduate certificate program in Communication Disorders from St. Lawrence College in Kingston. After graduating Holly worked in a private clinic where she had the pleasure of working with a large range of clients with varying levels of need and diagnosis. She then accepted a job in the Halton School Board where she worked with students with pragmatic goals as well as students on trials for AAC devices. Holly thoroughly enjoys working with children and youth and giving them chances to shine. The sessions she provides are always engaging and she works hard to incorporate the child’s interests to best foster generalization.
Fun Facts About Holly:
- If Holly could be any animal, she would be a duck as they are a superior animal that can swim, fly and run!
- Holly’s silliest and rarest talent is that she can peel a banana with her toes.
- The song “Starlight” by Taylor Swift best describes Holly.