Bio:

Sara Connemara, M.S., CCC-SLP, attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her undergraduate studies, and received her master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2004.  She began her career as a speech-language pathologist in a private pediatric clinic in Downers Grove, IL.  She worked as part of a multidisciplinary team treating children with a variety of speech and language disorders, as well as, children with feeding disorders and those on the autism spectrum.  During this time, she developed a special interest in children with sensory processing disorders, and its impact on overall speech-language and feeding development.  She has fifteen years of experience providing family-centered therapy through private clinics and the early intervention programs in Illinois and Wisconsin.  Her areas of expertise include apraxia, articulation and phonological disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, auditory processing disorders, feeding disorders, and fluency disorders.  Now, as a mother of a child with severe food allergies, she also has extensive knowledge regarding symptoms, diagnosis, managing a restrictive diet, and how to avoid feeding issues.  In 2012, she joined Jordan Beck in private practice.

 

Treatment Philosophy:

When people ask what I do for a living, I smile and say “I get to play with kids all day”.  As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, I am fortunate to be able to help children with two of the most essential skills needed for daily life – communication and feeding.   In private practice, I love developing close relationships with the children and families that I work with.  Over the years, it’s been my goal to meet each family where they are in their personal journey.  I work hard to create therapy goals that blend essential information obtained from formal assessments and observations; but more importantly, I establish goals that meet the families’ needs.  Some children, I meet at the beginning of their journey.  I provide support to the families as they begin to ask questions and assist them if additional guidance is needed.  I meet other children that are already well into their journeys.  They have years of therapy behind them and they are ready for a change.  Each child I work with teaches me something new.  Each child is unique; therefore, therapy needs to be personalized in order to help them reach their full potential and beyond. 

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Favorite Quote:

“When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm, not join in their chaos.”   - L.R. Knost

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Certifications and Specialty Training:

• Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders: The Basics for SLPs

• Functional Assessment & Remediation of Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS)

• Childhood Apraxia of Speech: The K-SLP Methods & Behavioral Strategies to Build Successful Vocal Communication

• Understanding and Treating Language Disorders in Children

• Yoga & Mindfulness for Children & Adolescents: Proven Self-Regulation & Trauma Informed Strategies

• Connecting the Shoulder Girdle & Rib Cage for Function

• Self-Regulation in Children: Keeping the Body, Mind, & Emotions on Task in Children with Autism, ADHD or Sensory Disorders

• Pediatric Voice, Resonance, & Airway Conference

• Neurobehavioral, Social Emotional & Sensory Development in Infants: What All Rehabilitative Clinicians Need to Know

• Autism Subtypes, Feeding Issues & Nutrition Considerations

• AAC Assessment: Road Map to Success

• Beckman Oral Motor Assessment & Intervention

• Feeding Therapy: A Sensory-Motor Approach

• Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Assessment & Intervention

• Autism: Building Bridges from Isolation to Interaction

• Sensory Integration for SLPs

• Apraxia Uncovered: The Seven Stages of Phonemic Development

• ABCs of Pediatric Dysphagia

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What our families have to say about working with Sara...

"Our son improved right away in his language skills after starting therapy. Sara was so patient and was quick to identify his needs to work on them. He would come home each time with different abilities that he had not shown previously.  We were impressed by Sara’s patience, but also firmness in working with our child. She was able to gauge his temperament right away to know what type of limits she could set on pushing him further each session. This brought the most out of him!"