Empowering Families Together

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Shannon is a speech-language pathologist who has been proud to be part of the Autism

Specialists LLC team since completing her graduate program at the University of New Mexico in

2020. She enjoys working with a diverse range of individuals across the lifespan, including

children, teens, and adults, who benefit from speech-language therapy.

Shannon specializes in providing individualized, strengths-based care for those seeking support

in social and pragmatic skills, expressive and receptive language, and speech. Her therapeutic

approach centers on creating a nonjudgmental, supportive, and respectful environment where

clients feel empowered to develop strategies that make their communication more effective

and functional across different settings and relationships..

Valentina is a speech-language pathologist who earned her Master of Science in

Communicative Disorders from Eastern New Mexico University in 2016. She began her career at

Autism Specialists that same year and has been a committed member of the team ever since.

Valentina’s passion for working with individuals with autism began in high school, when she

babysat for a speech-language pathologist and was inspired by the meaningful impact of the

work. Additionally, she has experience working PRN for skilled nursing facilities and home

health services.

Over the years, Valentina has worked with a wide range of clients—from toddlers as young as

two to adults over the age of 60—gaining valuable experience across the lifespan. She has

appreciated the diversity of her caseload and the professional growth it has offered.

Valentina now serves as the Director of DD Waiver Services at Autism Specialists. In this role,

she oversees daily operations and supervises a multidisciplinary team of SLPs, OTs, and BSCs

who support individuals on the DD Waiver. She remains deeply committed to expanding and

refining these services to ensure they are as effective, supportive, and person-centered as

possible. In addition, she supervises incoming clinical fellow SLPs as they begin their journey as

practicing clinicians in the field.

Outside of work, Valentina enjoys spending time with her husband and two young

children—often on the sidelines for soccer or gymnastics. She also loves to travel and create

lasting memories through shared family adventures.

Monica is a dedicated occupational therapist who earned her degree from the University of

New Mexico in 2011. She has been with Autism Specialists since the very beginning and has

embraced the diverse opportunities the role offers - working with children and adults with

developmental disabilities. Currently, she focuses on providing services for adults on the DD

Waiver and provides services in clinic and out in the community. In addition, Monica has

extensive experience working with inpatient adults in various rehabilitation facilities.

Outside of her clinical work, Monica channels her passion for movement and wellness into her

own business, BodyLanguage Studio. Whether leading a muscle-toning barre class, guiding

clients through balance-focused yoga, or riding to the rhythm in spin, she blends her

therapeutic knowledge with fitness expertise to support whole-body health and well-being.

Marlie Neish, M.S., CF-SLP, is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist with a passion for

helping individuals of all ages find their voice and communicate with confidence. Marlie has

received a bachelors degree from NMSU and Master's degree from UNM. She has always had a

special interest in serving the Autistic community after a close family member was diagnosed

with ASD. Each step of her educational and life journey has been to move towards helping

others with ASD grow their communication skills. This unique perspective along with practical

education shapes her therapy techniques to better serve her clients. When not in the clinic, she

enjoys staying active by playing volleyball, cultivating her garden, and exploring new cultures

through travel. These hobbies, much like her work, are all about growth, connection, and

discovery.

Steven received his M.S. in speech-language pathology from the University of New Mexico in

2022. While earning his degree, he worked as a research assistant in the UNM augmented and

alternative lab delivering technology-based language intervention services with nonspeaking

preschool-age research participants. Prior to graduate school, Steven worked as an educational

assistant at the Highland Special Education Complex, where he developed a passion for

adapting curricula to the varied strengths, challenges, and motivators of individual learners.

Outside of work, he may be found trying to devise the perfect trivia night team name with

friends, enjoying a good book under a shady tree, or competing in local old-school arcade game

tournaments.

Margaret Wood is a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist with over 30 years of experience

helping children and adults improve communication, social interaction, and independence

across medical and educational settings. Since 2016, she has worked at Autism Specialists,

supporting clients of all ages with communication, language, and executive functioning needs.

Margaret also serves as an autism consultant for the Technical Assistance Program (TAP)

through Cooperative Educational Services, presenting The Autism Toolbox Series—free

workshops offering practical, evidence-based strategies to educators, therapists, and families

across New Mexico (www.cestap.org). She is passionate about equipping individuals and their

support networks with the tools and confidence to foster meaningful communication and

connection. Margaret’s free time is filled with many ventures focused on faith, family, and food.

She treasures spending time with her husband, adult son and daughter, large extended family,

and dear friends. Margaret enjoys cooking a variety of cuisines and blessing her loved ones with

the fruits of her labor.