Vanessa Zimmer-Powell, M.A. CCC-SLP

Vanessa Zimmer-Powell has been practicing as a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist since 2000. She received her MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. At UT Austin, she was in the medical speech and language pathology track, and had a particular interest in early intervention and feeding disorders, which continues to this day. She is experienced in a variety of settings––school, early childhood, and private pediatric clinics. Vanessa believes that children have a vast capacity to learn through play. She enjoys being a part of “turning the lights on” for non-verbal children and children who are very difficult to understand. Over the years has used a variety of approaches including Melodic Based Communication Therapy, Kaufman, Hanen, DIR® Floortime, AAC, music, and a little of her own magic. For those children who need help with feeding, she loves using the philosophies of Susan Roberts, author of My Kid Eats Everything, and Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) eating programs, sprinkled with all of the things she has learned from the children, their parents, and many years of continuing education.

Vanessa has a passion for creating new programs and materials, and in March of 2023 released two unique story-based interactive apps for children with childhood apraxia of speech. Her app company is Talk Tales and her app website is talktalesbooks.com.

Vanessa@thelearningsphere.com

Tasneem Kajani, M.A. CCC-SLP

Tasneem Kajani, Tas, is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. Tas started her career at The Monarch School as a Professional Educator for children with neurological differences in 2006. She then went on to receive her M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston in 2011 and has provided speech therapy in outpatient pediatric clinics since that time. She is trained in DIR® / Floortime, Social Thinking® Clinical 1A training, Prompts for Restructuring Oral Musculature (PROMPT), Talk Tools, Melodic Based Communication Therapy, Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding (SOS), and trained in the methodology of Susan Roberts, the author of My Kids Eat Everything. Tas is passionate about discovering and encouraging a child’s full potential to grow and develop skills that will enhance their future. She is honored to be a part of each child’s journey in helping them to communicate with loved ones and to build meaningful relationships.

Tas@thelearningsphere.com

Andrea Easley Cronin, M.A. CCC-SLP

Andrea Easley Cronin has been practicing as a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist since 2002. She received her MA in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston. She has worked in a variety of settings including clinics, public schools and private practice. As a native Houstonian, she is knowledgeable about maximizing area resources and guiding parents to be strong advocates for their children. She has specialized in working with children with High Functioning Autism and has led social and executive functioning skills groups in private settings for over 10 years. She is trained in several methodologies including Introduction to the PROMPT Approach, Applied Behavioral Analysis, The Social Thinking Curriculum, DIR/Floortime, The Affect-Based Language Curriculum, and Melodic Based Communication Therapy. When not practicing she joyfully spends time with her two greatest mentors, her children.

Andrea@thelearningsphere.com

Esther Skibell Levine, M.A., C.C.C -SLP

Esther Skibell Levine, M.A., C.C.C., a licensed speech-language pathologist began her career in 1970. She initially worked in Spring Branch ISD and was selected to work with several different programs addressing the special needs of children with more involved speech and language issues. During her last three years with the school district, Ms. Levine provided speech and language therapy to children in the early childhood program. That experience influenced Ms. Levine to open her private practice in 1980, providing in-depth speech-language evaluations and therapy, with a focus on early intervention for children with speech and language issues. In July of 2019, Ms. Levine stepped back from active participation in the daily running of her practice and began her formal association with *TheLearning Sphere* speech-language pathologists, Tasneem Kajani and Vanessa Zimmer-Powell, who will assume many of the responsibilities of her private practice. Ms. Levine is excited about this association, knowing that
clients, present and future, are in excellent hands.

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