ableU Live & Local-Philadelphia: AAC in Action

Julia Donofry, M.S., CCC‑SLP Julia Donofry is a speech‑language pathologist with over a decade of experience supporting students across a variety of educational settings. Her work has primarily focused on life skills classrooms, autistic support, and speech‑language/fluency intervention. Julia earned her bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University in 2013 and her master’s degree from La Salle University in 2015. She is currently completing her Reading Specialist certification to further support literacy‑based communication needs.

Outside of her professional work, Julia enjoys spending time with her three young children (a 4.5‑year‑old and 2‑year‑old twins), relaxing with friends and family, and getting lost in a good book on her Kindle.

Annie McCullough, M.S., CCC‑SLP Annie McCullough is a speech‑language pathologist with more than 10 years of experience, primarily in school‑based settings. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in 2013 and her master’s degree from La Salle University in 2015. Annie’s career includes a unique period working abroad in Paris, France — an experience that enriched her clinical perspective. She has extensive background in autistic support, serving both as an SLP and as a classroom coach to guide staff in implementing communication strategies. Annie also supports a wide range of speech, language, and fluency needs.

In her free time, Annie can be found chasing after her two daughters (4.5 and 1.5 years old), enjoying time at the beach, and giving plenty of snuggles to her dog.

Disclosure: Julia and Annie received payment for the in-person Live and Local event.

Nicole Casey, M.S., CCC-SLP is the founder of The Child-Led SLP, host of the Let Them Lead podcast, and creator of The Child-Led Autism Summit. With more than 11 years of experience as an SLP and clinic owner, Nicole champions child-led, neurodiversity-affirming therapy, with a special focus on supporting gestalt language processors and AAC users. Her approach centers on connection over compliance, honoring each child’s autonomy, sensory needs, and individual communication style. She encourages SLPs to lead with curiosity, build trust, and support all forms of communication—spoken, gestural, and AAC.

Disclosure: Nicole received payment for the in-person Live and Local event.

Ariana Gossard is a mother of four from NJ and the parent of a nonspeaking autistic AAC user. She spent years advocating for proper communication supports for her son and access to an AAC device. After transitioning to a specialized placement for school, his need for AAC was recognized and he was provided with a communication device through AbleNet. Over the past year, Ariana has navigated the success, challenges and learning experiences that come with supporting an AAC user at home, in school and in the community. She is passionate about sharing the parent perspective and helping professionals better understand the realities families face outside of the therapy room.

Disclosure: Ariana received payment for the in-person Live and Local event.