Social Communication . Feeding . Speech . Language
(845) 920-1694
BRYNN GILL, MA, CCC-SLP
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
CO-DIRECTOR
Brynn holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology from Iona College and a Masters of Arts degree from Queens College, CUNY. She is a New York licensed Speech and Language Pathologist and is nationally certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Brynn began her career at the Children’s Learning Center of United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) in Nassau County, where she worked with children ages 2 through 21. She worked closely with team members, including OT’s, PT’s, teachers and families to create and execute individualized multidisciplinary treatment plans. Therapy sessions focused on feeding therapy, speech and language therapy as well as augmentative and alternative communication.
Brynn then transitioned to Southern Westchester BOCES, where she worked with middle and high school students on the Autism Spectrum. Therapeutic interventions focused on social pragmatic language, expressive and receptive language skills as well as executive functioning. She worked closely with various team members to formulate functional treatment scenarios, which allowed the students to receive therapy during community outings for functional carryover of skills.
From here, Brynn joined The Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in Yonkers, NY where she began working with medically fragile children in a subacute nursing facility. She had the opportunity to pursue her passion for feeding by working with post-NICU infants transitioning from tube to oral feedings as well as a range of children with feeding difficulties. This treatment setting allowed for collaboration between medical professionals and therapists as well as extensive education and support for parents and caregivers. Caregivers participated in therapeutic sessions and were educated on all aspects of the child’s care with the end goal, for some children, of transitioning back home. Brynn is trained in the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol as well as PROMPT Technique.
She is also a trained therapist in The Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S) Approach to feeding, which is a trans-disciplinary program for assessing and treating children with feeding difficulties and weight/growth problems from birth to 18 years. It integrates posture, sensory, motor, behavioral/learning, medical and nutritional factors to comprehensively evaluate and manage children with feeding/growth problems.
BRIANA MCKENNA, MS, CCC-SLP
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
CO-DIRECTOR
Briana earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology at Iona College and pursued her Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology at Mercy College. After earning her Masters Degree, Briana started on her journey working with children with developmental disabilities and delays at Prime Time for Kids Early Learning Center in New City, NY. Here, she began to learn the value of collaboration and working as an integral part of a child’s team. Briana learned how to design and implement individualized treatment approaches to developmentally delayed children and children on the autism spectrum.
In 2010, Briana moved on to join the team at Dramatic Pragmatics Speech and Language Center in Rye Brook, NY, a comprehensive speech and language center specializing in social communication. Here, she gained a vast amount of experience in providing group therapy to children in need of skills in social pragmatic language, and individual therapy to address areas of weakness in receptive and expressive language, higher level language, executive functioning, as well as articulation and phonology.
Briana teaches children and young adults social skills and language-based social thinking through the use of structured lessons, role-play, teamwork exercises and unstructured, naturalistic activities. Briana counsels and educates parents and caregivers with regard to their child’s areas of strength and weakness, treatment goals and strategies for generalization. She understands how invaluable collaboration with parents, teachers, and other professional service providers are in order to ensure that a child can meet their true potential.
Briana has experience working with children from as little as eighteen months to young adults in their twenties and all the ages in between. Her intuition, creativity, knowledge and passion for helping children and young adults are all evident upon meeting and working with Briana. Briana's clinical interests include autism spectrum disorders, social communication disorders, expressive and receptive language delays, and articulation and phonological disorders. She has experience providing inservices to educators and parents, providing practical tools to helping children across settings. Briana has additional clinical experience working with adults post stroke and traumatic brain injuries during her time at Helen Hayes Hospital. Briana is a New York State licensed Speech and Language Pathologist and nationally certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and is PROMPT trained.
RACHEL GLENN, MS, ED, CCC-SLP
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Rachel earned her Bachelors of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from SUNY Cortland and earned her Masters of Science in Education from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. She is a New York licensed Speech and Language Pathologist and is nationally certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Rachel started her career with Legendary Therapy in Bronx, NY where she worked with school age children (5-21) with receptive and expressive language disorders, cognitive communication disorders and fluency disorders. Through the use of an eclectic approach, Rachel worked with each of her student's educators in order to promote the least restrictive environment for her students to achieve their goals.
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Rachel then transitioned from a school setting into a skilled nursing facility at United Hebrew Geriatric Center in New Rochelle, NY. She administered bedside swallow evaluations along with determine the least restrictive diet consistency for her residents. Rachel provided dysphagia therapy in order to help her residents achieve their short and long term goals to promote self-feeding and/or achieve the highest level of independence while implementing compensatory strategies during meal times. In addition, Rachel evaluated and treated residents with various neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, CVA, TBI, Parkinson’s disease) along with providing cognitive linguistic therapy in order to improve the residents current executive functioning skills, memory, attention, logic and reasoning and problem solving skills.
In 2017, Rachel worked with Professional Consultation Services in New Rochelle, NY to provide speech-language therapy services to adults with intellectual disabilities (i.e. Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy) to which she developed functional hands-on activities within the individual’s home to promote independence within their natural environment. In January 2020, Rachel joined the team at Listening Partners in Purchase, NY. Here, she provided speech-language therapy services to EI and CPSE clients to improve their receptive and expressive language skills. Rachel is excited for the opportunity to be part of the team at Cornerstone Speech and Language Center and we are happy to have her on board!
CATHERINE MELVILLE, MS, CCC-SLP
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Catherine is an ASHA certified Speech Language Pathologist with over 20 years of experience in the field. She graduated from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY with a Bachelors of science in Communication Disorders with a minor in Biology. She then went on to receive her Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology from New York Medical College. As a student, Catherine gained experience with all aspects of speech therapy in both hospital and clinical settings. Upon graduating, she began her career working in Skilled Nursing Facilities throughout New York and New Jersey, providing therapy to adults recovering from strokes, brain injuries and neurodegenerative disorders. At the same time, she supervised undergraduate students in the Mercy College Speech and Hearing Center and was a guest lecturer as well.
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In 2005, Catherine made the jump into school based speech and language therapy by joining the team at Ann Hutchinson School in the Eastchester School District where remains presently. She works with students in both self-contained and general education settings. Catherine collaborates with psychologists, special education teachers, OTs, and PTs to develop and implement treatment plans to support the whole child. She also completes evaluations, and develops IEP and 504 plan goals as part of the district's RTI team. With her wide variety of experience working with children with expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, and AAC, in addition to her experience as a team player, Catherine has the unique ability to utilize the strengths of each child to help fill the gaps. When meeting Catherine, it is clear to see her passion, clinical expertise, and professionalism. We are thrilled she has joined our team!
HAILEY MAJANSKY, MS, CCC-SLP
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Hailey earned her Bachelors of Arts in Speech & Hearing Science with two minors, Education and Counseling from the University at Buffalo. She continued her studies at CUNY Hunter College where she earned her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Hailey holds both New York State licensure and New York Teaching Certificate for Teaching Students with Speech-Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She is nationally certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (AHSA).
Prior to graduation, Hailey's clinical experience included a special education elementary school serving children in K-5, a middle/high school servicing emotionally disturbed & intellectually disabled students, and a medical and rehabilitation clinic providing services across the lifespan. Upon graduation, Hailey began her professional career with the NYC Department of Education located in Bronx, NY where she currently works full-time within the NYC public school system. Hailey provides individual and group services to children aged 3-11 in self-contained, ICT, and general education classrooms. Hailey has experience with disorders in the areas of: articulation and phonology, expressive and receptive language, AAC, pragmatics, and fluency.
Hailey’s clinical interests are language-based literacy deficits. Hailey is Orton-Gillingham Trained and has future plans to obtain a second Masters in Literacy. Being born and raised in Rockland County, Hailey is ecstatic to join the team at Cornerstone providing services in her home community and we are excited to have her a part of Team Cornerstone!
KRISTINA PALOP MAYAÂ , MS, OTR/L
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Kristina is a feeding specialist at Cornerstone Speech & Language Center. She provides individual treatment sessions and is bilingual in Spanish. She graduated from Carleton College with a Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology and she completed her Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy at Columbia University.
Kristina began her career at a preschool for children diagnosed with special needs. Here, she treated children receiving CPSE and EI services. Furthermore, she supervised graduate students completing their Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy in addition to conducting evaluations. Kristina transitioned to a sensory based clinic where she worked with children on the autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing deficits and developmental delays. It was at this setting she discovered her passion for feeding therapy. Kristina is trained in the SOS approach to feeding therapy and she uses her calm and patient demeanor as a vehicle for delivering compassionate child and family centered care. She has used SOS with children ranging in age from 2-16 years of age.
As the mother of a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Kristina can relate to the journey of a caregiver who must navigate and integrate the daily challenges of what it is like to care for a child with special needs. She understands that no matter how little a success might be, those are some of the biggest moments to celebrate meaningful change. We are thrilled to welcome Kristina and her diverse experience to our center!