Root-Cause Speech Therapy for Real, Lasting Progress.
More Than Speech Therapy. A Different Way of Understanding Why Your Child Is Struggling.
Elissa R. Mandel, MS, CCC-SLP, ASDCS, SPABA, MS SpEd, TSHH
Founder & Clinical Director | Published Author | International Keynote Speaker
For more than 30 years, Elissa has worked with children whose communication needs do not fit neatly into a traditional speech therapy model.
Elissa’s specialty is looking beyond the symptoms of a speech or language delay to understand the underlying skills a child needs in order to communicate.
Motor planning. Oral motor placement. Auditory processing. Sensory motor integration. Language development. Functional communication.
At Speech Works by Elissa, these pieces are not treated in isolation. Elissa looks at how they work together to determine why a child is struggling and what may help them move forward.
When Traditional Speech Therapy Is Not Enough
Families often come to Elissa after months or years of therapy feeling as though something is still missing.
Their child may be non speaking or minimally speaking. They may have autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, auditory processing challenges, a genetic or developmental condition, or a complex combination of needs.
Some children can make sounds but struggle to sequence them into words. Some understand far more than they can express. Some communicate through gestures, signs, AAC, scripts, or echolalia. Some have difficulty coordinating the movements required for speech. And some simply do not learn communication in the same way as their typically developing peers.
That question has shaped more than three decades of clinical practice.
A Highly Specialized Approach to Communication
Speech is extraordinarily complex. The brain must plan a movement. The auditory system must process and monitor information. Respiration and phonation must coordinate. The jaw, lips, tongue, and other structures involved in speech must achieve the appropriate movements and placements at precisely the right time.
When one or more parts of that system are not working efficiently together, speech can become extraordinarily difficult. Elissa specializes in identifying these underlying areas of need and developing highly individualized treatment programs around the child rather than forcing the child into a predetermined therapy model.
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech
- Motor planning disorders
- Oral motor placement
- Neurological sequencing
- Sensory motor speech integration
- Autism and communication
- Echolalia and gestalt language development
- AAC assessment and implementation
- Sign language and multimodal communication
- Auditory processing disorders
- Cochlear implant language development
- Auditory-verbal strategies
- Severe speech and language delays
- Developmental and genetic conditions
- Functional communication
- Greater independence
The Clinician and the Lived Experience
Elissa’s understanding of communication is both professional and personal. Before becoming a speech language pathologist, she was a late talking child who experienced selective mutism. As an adult, she was diagnosed with autism and ADHD.
Those experiences have influenced the way she approaches children who communicate, process information, interact, or learn differently. She understands that an inability to demonstrate a skill does not necessarily mean an inability to understand.
She also understands why therapy must meet a child where they are rather than continually asking the child to adapt to a system that may not match the way their brain and body process information. That perspective is woven into the philosophy of Speech Works by Elissa.
Three Decades of Clinical Experience
Elissa’s career has taken her across schools, hospitals, private practices, universities, specialized programs, and disability organizations.
- Clark County School District, Las Vegas, working within autism and hearing impaired programs
- St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, serving medically fragile children and children with developmental disabilities
- BOCES in New York, working within specialized educational programs
- Private practice ownership in New York and Nevada
- Clinical Supervisor at California State University, Northridge, supporting graduate speech language pathology training
- Expert witness in matters involving autism and speech disorders
- Outreach Manager and Communication Expert for The Aspie World
Elissa helped found Pal O Mine Equestrian Therapeutic Center in New York and has incorporated an understanding of movement, sensory processing, and adaptive recreation throughout her career. She was also appointed a Liaison for the 1996 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Equestrian Venue and served as a Sports Technical Officer for the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association.
Author, International Keynote Speaker, Advocate & Media
Elissa’s impact extends far beyond the therapy room. She is a published author, international keynote speaker, communication expert, advocate, and featured cast member of the documentary series Legacy Makers.
Elissa has spoken on stages in the United States and internationally, sharing her professional expertise and lived experience on communication, autism, neurodiversity, accessibility, masking, parent empowerment, and creating better outcomes for individuals with communication differences.
She is also a contributing author in 100 Women Who Lead, adding her voice and story to a collection highlighting women creating meaningful impact in their fields and communities. As a featured cast member of Legacy Makers, Elissa shares her personal and professional journey and the experiences that shaped her life’s work. The series is available through streaming platforms and the Inside Success app.
Education, Credentials & Advanced Training
Elissa’s clinical approach reflects extensive education across speech language pathology, special education, autism, auditory development, behavioral science, and communication.
Education & Credentials
- Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology with a focus in Aural Rehabilitation, Gallaudet University
- Master’s Degree in Special Education
- Doctoral coursework in Instructional Leadership, St. John’s University
- Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology, CCC-SLP
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist, ASDCS
- SPABA professional designation
- Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped, TSHH, New York State
- Extensive graduate level coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis through the Florida Institute of Technology
Motor & Speech Development
Auditory Development
Developmental & Sensory Approaches
Communication Systems
Behavior & Learning
While attending Gallaudet University, Elissa became fluent in American Sign Language and received specialized exposure to auditory rehabilitation, cochlear implant communication, Cued Speech, bilingual communication, and auditory based intervention. Rather than relying on one methodology, Elissa draws from this extensive background to determine which strategies are appropriate for the individual child.
Parents & Professionals Are Part of the Treatment Team
Elissa’s approach extends beyond direct treatment. She provides parent education, professional training, and interdisciplinary consultation, helping the people who work with a child understand that child’s individual communication profile and how to implement strategies consistently across environments.
A therapist may see a child for a limited amount of time. A parent is there for breakfast, getting dressed, car rides, playtime, dinner, bath time, bedtime, and thousands of naturally occurring opportunities to communicate.
The objective is not to turn parents into therapists. It is to give parents the knowledge and tools to become confident, informed members of their child’s communication team.
Speech Works by Elissa
Speech Works by Elissa was built for children who need an individualized approach and for families who want to understand the reasons behind their child’s communication challenges.
Treatment may incorporate speech production, motor planning, oral placement, auditory processing, language, AAC, gestures, sign language, parent coaching, professional training, and collaboration with other members of the child’s treatment team.
Because no two children have exactly the same communication profile, no two treatment plans should look exactly the same.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If your child is non speaking, minimally speaking, autistic, speech delayed, or has complex communication needs, the first step is understanding their individual communication profile.
Ready for Professional Help?
Begin with a free initial consultation and learn how Speech Works by Elissa may help.
Want to Learn More First?
Start with Elissa’s free Your Child Can Talk introduction to learn how speech develops, why some children struggle, and how parents can become an active part of their child’s communication journey.