About Us

Jackie Anderson M.S., CCC-SLP

Hi, I’m Jackie, founder of Ascend Pediatric Therapies, LLC!

 I’m a certified speech-language pathologist with specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating speech and language disorders in toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children. I am passionate about supporting neurodiverse children and their families through neurodiversity-affirming, evidence-based, and play-centered approaches.

I am certified in the Hanen Centre’s More Than Words program and have extensive experience administering the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) as part of multidisciplinary teams. In 2022, I received formal training in the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) framework and gestalt language processing, further deepening my commitment to child-led, connection-focused therapy.

Currently, I serve as a Research Scientist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Autism Services, Science, and Innovation (CASSI), where I contribute to research that advances early identification and support for young children with autism and other developmental differences. Previously, I also served as an adjunct professor in the Master of Science SLP program at Monmouth University, where I had the opportunity to help prepare the next generation of clinicians.

Originally from Monmouth County, NJ, I completed my education and training in the South — earning a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University and a Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I spent over seven years at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD, providing care to families from around the world and leading parent coaching and professional development seminars on language development and autism.

I believe therapy should be engaging, affirming, and joyfully tailored to each child’s unique strengths. I’ll work closely with your family to help your child grow in confidence and communication — and to make the process meaningful every step of the way.

At Ascend Pediatric Therapies, every therapist on our team shares this passion. We’re so glad you’re here, and we can’t wait to support your child’s journey.

Awards

Certifications