NICOLE SURIZON, MS, CCC-SLP, ASDCS
Staten Island,NY
Summary
Medical pediatric speech-language pathologist and clinical educator with 18+ years of experience specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder, neurodevelopmental disabilities, AAC, medically complex pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, cognitive communication disorders, and interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluation. Expertise in early identification and differential diagnosis of developmental disorders, graduate clinical education, curriculum development, and team-based care across hospital, university, school, and early intervention settings. Recognized for leadership in community-based clinical programming, mentorship, and equitable access to diagnostic and therapeutic services for underserved pediatric populations. Extensive experience collaborating within multidisciplinary medical and educational teams to support complex communication, developmental, behavioral, cognitive, and feeding needs across infancy through young adulthood.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Educator / Clinical Supervisor
Rutgers University
Newark, NJ
08.2022 - Current
- Provide graduate-level clinical education and supervision within the Rutgers University Speech-Language Pathology Clinic, mentoring master’s students in evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, intervention, clinical documentation, and clinical reasoning skills.
- Hired during the developmental phase of the Rutgers M.S. Speech-Language Pathology program and served as a key contributor in the successful accreditation process for the CAA-accredited program and clinic.
- Developed and implemented medical speech-language pathology curriculum for graduate clinical training in diagnostic evaluation and intervention.
- Lead the clinic’s specialized Autism diagnostic panel focused on early identification, differential diagnosis, referral pathways, and intervention planning for children with Autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental disabilities.
- Provide high-level pro-bono diagnostic and therapeutic services to historically underserved and high-needs pediatric populations in Newark and surrounding communities.
- Specialize in comprehensive evaluation and treatment of Autism spectrum disorder, social communication disorders, developmental language disorders, AAC, pediatric feeding/swallowing disorders, airway and digestive-related disorders, cognitive communication disorders, motor speech disorders, and medically complex pediatric presentations.
- Train graduate student clinicians in neurodevelopmental assessment using both standardized and dynamic/play-based methodologies with emphasis on culturally responsive and neurodiversity-affirming practices.
- Provide direct instruction and clinical supervision in social communication assessment, differential diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders, early childhood developmental assessment, caregiver interviewing and counseling, play-based and naturalistic language sampling, narrative language analysis, AAC assessment and implementation, and functional communication assessment.
- Supervise student clinicians in the administration and interpretation of standardized and non-standardized autism and developmental assessments, including screening and diagnostic measures (M-CHAT, STAT, SCQ), social communication and pragmatic language measures (SRS-2, CCC-2), and developmental/caregiver-report tools (CSBS-DP, Infant-Toddler Checklists, Communication Functions and Means, communication temptation procedures, developmental milestone frameworks, and sensory symptom checklists), as well as standardized speech-language evaluations.
- Guide graduate clinicians in identifying early signs and symptoms of Autism spectrum disorder and related neurodevelopmental conditions, generating diagnostic impressions, coordinating interdisciplinary referrals, and initiating evidence-based intervention plans.
- Played a critical role in expanding access to developmental screening, diagnostic referrals, and early intervention services for children and families within the Newark community.
- Served as lead off-site clinical educator/supervisor for the program’s first external clinical placement partnership with New Jersey Regional Day School (NJRDS), supporting development of an innovative school-based clinical education model for graduate clinicians.
- Developed structured educational and therapeutic programming for students with significant cognitive and communication disabilities, including summer feeding groups, AAC-supported lunch social skills groups, classroom-based communication interventions, and social-emotional learning activities.
- Rutgers University M.S. Program in Speech-Language Pathology
Speech-Language Pathologist (Per Diem and Staff)
Children's Specialized Hospital
NJ
01.2012 - Current
- Provide inpatient and outpatient speech, language, cognitive-communication, and feeding/swallowing evaluation and treatment for children from birth through young adulthood with complex medical, developmental, neurological, and behavioral needs.
- Conduct communication and feeding evaluations, autism screenings, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment planning for pediatric patients with neurodevelopmental disorders and medically complex presentations.
- Selected as the speech-language pathologist for multidisciplinary Autism and Feeding specialty evaluation teams, collaborating with neuropsychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and ABA professionals to support complex diagnostic decision-making, interdisciplinary care planning, and family-centered treatment recommendations.
- Served in multiple clinical capacities across hospital departments over more than 10 years, including inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, autism evaluation, and feeding/swallowing services.
- Assisted in establishment of a new outpatient rehabilitation clinic in Newark, NJ, including departmental planning, procurement of testing and therapy materials, development of clinical resources, staff onboarding, interdisciplinary in-services, and community outreach initiatives.
- Served as primary SLP in the hospital’s outpatient Cognitive Rehabilitation Program responsible for evaluating and treating children with brain injuries and cognitive communication disorders in individual and group settings.
- Developed and implemented group-based cognitive rehabilitation and community integration programming while coordinating continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient services.
- Mentor speech-language pathologists, supervise ASHA Clinical Fellows and graduate student clinicians, and assist in recruitment and onboarding initiatives.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Jewish Community Center of Staten Island
Staten Island, NY
01.2016 - 01.2022
- Assessed and treated preschool-aged students with speech, language, social communication, sensory regulation, and feeding disorders within specialized preschool educational settings.
- Provided individual and group therapy utilizing push-in, pull-out, and teletherapy service delivery models.
- Collaborated with special education staff, related service providers, and families to support communication, feeding, sensory regulation, and social-emotional development.
- Provided mentorship and staff training related to Autism spectrum disorder, sensory integration, feeding therapy, behavioral regulation, and communication strategies.
Clinical Fellow Supervisor / Speech-Language Pathologist
TheraCare Early Intervention Program
Brooklyn & Staten Island, NY
01.2008 - 01.2022
- Provided speech, language, oral motor, and feeding therapy services in home and daycare settings for infants and toddlers (birth–3 years) with developmental delays, medical complexities, pediatric dysphagia, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Conducted developmental and communication evaluations to determine eligibility for Early Intervention services.
- Collaborated extensively with caregivers and interdisciplinary providers to develop individualized treatment plans and support carryover of therapeutic strategies within naturalistic environments.
- Supervised ASHA Clinical Fellows and supported mentorship and training initiatives.
- Selected as a member of the TheraCare recruitment team at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention.
Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities
New York City Department of Education
Brooklyn & Staten Island, NY
01.2008 - 01.2012
- Provided speech-language and feeding intervention services to students with Autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, cognitive impairments, motor speech disorders, and complex communication needs within specialized District 75 programs.
- Developed AAC supports, social communication programming, sensory-based feeding initiatives, and functional communication interventions for students with diverse learning and behavioral needs.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary educational teams and families to support individualized education planning, behavioral supports, transition planning, and access to communication across school environments.
- Conducted staff trainings related to AAC implementation, PROMPT techniques, motor speech disorders, and communication support strategies.
Education
Master of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, NY05-2008
Bachelor of Arts - Speech-Language Pathology & Communication Sciences and Disorders
Kean University
Union, NJ05-2006
Skills
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Neurodevelopmental Assessment
- Differential Diagnosis
- Social Communication Disorders
- AAC Evaluation & Intervention
- Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing
- Early Childhood Assessment
- Interdisciplinary Team Evaluation
- Cognitive Communication Disorders
- Motor Speech Disorders
- Developmental Language Disorders
- Caregiver Coaching
- Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice
- Curriculum Development
- Community-Based Intervention
- Pediatric Dysphagia
- Cognitive Rehabilitation
- Graduate Clinical Education & Supervision
Certification
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), ASHA
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS)
- New York State Speech-Language Pathologist License
- New Jersey State Speech-Language Pathologist License
- New York State Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities
- VitalStim Therapy Pediatric Certification
- PROMPT Technique Training
- Dysphagia Disorder Survey (Pediatric–Adult)
- Performing Evaluations in Early Intervention
Timeline
Clinical Educator / Clinical Supervisor
Rutgers University
08.2022 - Current
Speech-Language Pathologist
Jewish Community Center of Staten Island
01.2016 - 01.2022
Speech-Language Pathologist (Per Diem and Staff)
Children's Specialized Hospital
01.2012 - Current
Clinical Fellow Supervisor / Speech-Language Pathologist
TheraCare Early Intervention Program
01.2008 - 01.2022
Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities
New York City Department of Education
01.2008 - 01.2012
Master of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
Teachers College, Columbia University
Bachelor of Arts - Speech-Language Pathology & Communication Sciences and Disorders
Kean University
SCHOLARLY & PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Breaking the Silos: Integrating Motor, Sensory, and Caregiver Coaching in Feeding Therapy: A Case Study of Integrated, Cross-System Gains in a Medically Complex Toddler
- Poster Presentation, NJSHA Convention 2026
- Co-author and clinical mentor supporting graduate student scholarship in pediatric feeding/swallowing and interdisciplinary intervention.
Children Mislead: The Role of SLPs in Addressing Environmental Injustice Through Assessment and Intervention Practices
- Poster Presentation, ASHA Annual Convention 2025
- Co-author contributing scholarship focused on environmental justice, equity in assessment and intervention practices, and the impact of environmental factors on child development and communication outcomes.
Clinical Education: Supporting our Neurodivergent Students
- ASHA CEUs Supervision Course, NJSHA Convention 2024
- Co-author of a professional development course focused on strengths-based supervision of neurodivergent students in clinical education settings. Developed content on inclusive clinical teaching strategies, environmental and instructional accommodations, and barrier reduction to promote accessibility and learner success. Emphasized effective supervisory relationships and reflective practice to support individualized development of clinical competencies.
PECS: Effects on Social Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Toddler
- Poster Presentation, NJSHA Convention 2023
- Co-author and clinical mentor supporting graduate student research in Autism spectrum disorder and AAC intervention.