Meet The Staff
Natalie Alvarez, OTR joined the Monkey Mouths team in 2018. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University with her Master of Occupational Therapy in 2014. Before joining Monkey Mouths, Natalie worked in pediatric outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation settings with a wide range of diagnoses including Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Turner Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Arthrogryposis, Sensory Processing Disorders, and Visual Motor Delays. Natalie grew up as the sibling of a brother with Down Syndrome and Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, which inspired her to pursue a career working with children as an occupational therapist. Her initial position as a pediatric occupational therapist at Shriner’s Hospital for Children further developed her skills and prepared her to provide evidence-based treatment with a focus on function and meeting the needs of the child and family. With a love for reading and learning, Natalie is always pursuing further education and knowledge to offer the best treatment possible with the greatest results in a fun, child-centered manner. When she is not providing therapy, you will find Natalie spending time playing with her little one, cooking with her husband, or meeting up with friends and family.
Randa Avance, M.S., CCC-SLP is a former Monkey Mouths therapist who returned to us in August 2018 after spending some time at home with her young boys. Randa is a speech pathology graduate from Texas Women’s University as well as a certified teacher (EC-12). She has 11 years of experience in pediatric hospitals, private practice and schools. Randa has training in Apraxia and speech intelligibility techniques with use of the Sound Card System, the Kaufman Apraxia System, Talk Tools Oral Placement Therapy, NDT Techniques and she has been PROMPT/Advanced PROMPT Bridging trained. Randa is experienced with numerous oral-motor/feeding techniques including Vital Stim, Sensory-Motor Feeding by Lori Overland, Deborah Beckman M.S., CCC-SLP, and Myofacial Release for dysphagia and voice. Randa has hearing impairment training in sign language and her fluency techniques include Preschool Fluency Training and Nina Reardon-Reeves M.S., CCC-SLP. She has also been trained in augmentative communications techniques including Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Comprehensive Augmentative Communication Evaluations for Low-Tech and High-Tech Communication Devices. Randa’s hobbies include paying with her boys, music and church.
Natasha Boylan, M.S., CF-SLP joined Monkey Mouths in 2017 as a speech pathology graduate from Texas Woman’s University. She is completing her Clinical Fellowship Year under the supervision of Karen Pieters and Erin Bernett. Natasha holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Texas at Austin. She previously worked as a special education teacher for 6 years in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD for children with moderate to severe disabilities. Natasha felt a career in speech-language pathology would provide a way in which to make a greater impact in the lives of children with disabilities and their families and is the reason she pursued a master’s degree. Upon employment at Monkey Mouths, Natasha received training in the Sound Card System, PROMPT Therapy, Lori Overland Sensory-Motor Feeding Therapy, Talk Tools Oral-Motor Placement Therapy, and Nancy Kaufman Apraxia System. In her free time she enjoys yoga, cooking, traveling and spending time with her husband, Chris. Hook ‘em Horns!
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I have tried other therapists in the past.
My child either never took to the therapist or we never saw any results. When we came to Monkey Mouths, Aaron started to thrive. His vocabulary... more
Ministry
Monkey Mouths is dedicated to alleviating injustice at the local, national and international levels. In addition to regular support of many local charities, beginning May 1, 2011, Monkey Mouths will donate a portion of all income to the International Justice Mission (IJM) IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for children who are victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.