Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
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Debra Lee Cantu

McAllen,TX

Summary

Compassionate Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant with clinic and home health experience. Known for patience, empathy, building strong client relationships, and consistently supporting meaningful progress in speech and language goals. Passionate about being the voice for children and young adults and committed to achieving positive outcomes.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience

Work History

Speech Pathologist Assistant

Aptus Therapy Services
01.2024 - Current
  • Strong foundation with early intervention for children with autism, Down syndrome, stuttering challenges, spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, sensory integration issues, Edward syndrome, and speech and language development delay.
  • Experienced in articulation therapy, play-based learning, sensory integration, oral-motor therapy, TEACCH method, and AAC systems such as TouchChat and picture boards.
  • Advocate for patients and follow client-centered activities to support the development of receptive, expressive language skills, and articulation skills for overall communication success.
  • Promoted parent involvement in therapeutic progress through regular updates, education, and home activity suggestions.
  • Coordinated schedules with other professionals involved in each client''s care plan ensuring seamless collaboration across disciplines.

Leadership Team Member

Aptus Therapy Services
01.2024 - Current
  • Actively train students pursuing careers as SLP Assistants, supporting their skill development and professional growth.
  • Help coordinate patient scheduling to ensure appointments run smoothly and efficiently.
  • Assist in ordering AAC devices for clients and provide parent training to ensure families use these tools effectively.
  • Support open communication, mentor team members, and collaborate to resolve challenges for optimal outcomes.

Speech Pathologist Assistant

Angels of Care / Ageless Living Home Health
11.2019 - Current
  • Implemented treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists.
  • Promote parent involvement in therapeutic progress through regular updates, education, and home activity suggestions.
  • Developed tailored visual aids to support language comprehension and task sequencing for individuals with a variety of speech, language, and cognitive challenges.
  • Completed SOAP notes for client records.

Volunteer Catholic 3rd & Pre-k Catechist

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
08.2024 - Current
  • Assisted lead catechist in delivering engaging, age-appropriate lessons on God, prayer, and foundational Catholic teachings to children, fostering a meaningful and joyful learning environment.
  • Collaborated in leading children through Bible stories, Church teachings, and sacrament preparation, supporting their spiritual growth and understanding of the Catholic faith.
  • Utilized creativity to design and incorporate visual aids that enhanced children's understanding of lessons during catechism instruction.
  • Incorporated music to create a joyful atmosphere and encourage movement, helping children engage more deeply during faith-based instruction.
  • Maintained classroom by organizing, dusting, mopping and sanitizing surfaces.

Speech Pathologist Assistant

RGV Pediatric Home Services
03.2017 - 12.2019
  • As an employee at RGV Pediatric Home Services, I actively provide optimal home health speech services to treat inclusive students both English and Spanish speakers.
  • Promptly targeted functional objectives and facilitated treatment activities to support language and articulation development across all language domains.
  • Strengthened client relationships and built trust by maintaining open lines of communication with patients, families, and team members.
  • Promoted parent involvement in therapeutic progress through regular updates, education, and home activity suggestions.

Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant

Mission Rehabilitation Services
07.2017 - 02.2019
  • Educated families on strategies to facilitate communication development at home, enhancing overall progress in therapy sessions.
  • Maintained detailed records of patient progress, allowing for better adjustments in treatment plans when needed.
  • Increased patient engagement by creating interactive, fun, and stimulating speech therapy activities.
  • Completed SOAP notes for client records.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Communication Sciences And Disorders

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX
05-2015

Associate of Arts -

South Texas College
McAllen, TX
12-2011

Skills

  • Articulation & Language Therapy
  • Receptive and Expressive Language Support
  • AAC Systems (TouchChat, PECS, picture boards)
  • Oral-Motor and Sensory Integration Techniques
  • Play-Based & Functional Intervention
  • Early Intervention Support
  • Parent and Caregiver Training
  • Collaborative Communication with SLPs and Families

Languages

English
Full Professional
Spanish
Full Professional

Timeline

Volunteer Catholic 3rd & Pre-k Catechist

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
08.2024 - Current

Speech Pathologist Assistant

Aptus Therapy Services
01.2024 - Current

Leadership Team Member

Aptus Therapy Services
01.2024 - Current

Speech Pathologist Assistant

Angels of Care / Ageless Living Home Health
11.2019 - Current

Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant

Mission Rehabilitation Services
07.2017 - 02.2019

Speech Pathologist Assistant

RGV Pediatric Home Services
03.2017 - 12.2019

Bachelor of Science - Communication Sciences And Disorders

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Associate of Arts -

South Texas College

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Debra Lee Cantu