Amy Miller, M.A., CCC-SLP

Clinic Director

Amy Miller received her Bachelor and Master of Arts degree from the University of Kansas in Speech and Language Pathology. As a graduate student, she was selected as a participant for the Communication and Autism Project. Her masters thesis “The Double Interview Task: Assessing The Social Communication of Children with Asperger Syndrome” sparked her interest in working with individuals with social cognitive deficits and lead her to her job at Michelle Garcia Winner’s Center for Social Thinking (now Teach SOCIAL! Silicon Valley), where she has been since 2004. Her experience at the center includes being a member of the assessment team, therapist, as well as serving in administrative roles. Her community and national experience include;, presenting poster sessions, leading round table discussions and speaking on teaching social thinking versus social skills. Currently she serves as a therapist as well as clinic director for TSSV. She is committed to serving the mission of TSSV through ensuring the clinic provide the highest quality services with cutting edge knowledge, for individuals with social cognitive challenges and their families in Silicon Valley. She is passionate about her job and is excited about the endless possibilities for TSSV.

Randi Dodge, M.S., CCC-SLP

Senior Therapist

Randi Dodge received her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Speech Pathology from California State University, Northridge. She has worked as part of the team at Michelle G. Winner’s Center For Social Thinking Inc., in San Jose, since 2003. The Center provides a range of services including social thinking groups, assessments, consultations and trainings for clients ranging from ages 3- adulthood. Prior to working at this Center, she worked for 3 years for the San Leandro Unified School District. Her caseload at SLUSD included working with students on the autism spectrum, including those with Asperger Syndrome, students with speech and language and learning disabilities. She is currently the senior therapist and her responsibilities include: leading many of the social thinking groups, staff training, school observations and consultations, school district trainings in the Northern CA area on various topics related to social thinking and co- trainer to other professionals that participate in the Mentorship Program at the Center. She is a passionate and dynamic therapist who has a real gift for breaking down and explaining complex concepts to students, parents, staff and professionals. She has also developed a 6 week long training class for parents whose children suffer with anxiety.

Deborah Hoffman, M.A., CCC-SLP

Director - Purposeful Play Program (PPP)

Deborah (Debby) Hoffman began her journey to TSSV in the late 70's training with Dr. Ivar Lovaas in the autism project at UCLA. Following her BA in Psychology from UCLA, she completed her Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology, from California State University at Northridge; thus combining social knowledge with speech and language development. Now, more than 20 years later, Debby is always excited to come to work at Teach SOCIAL, Silicon Valley.  Debby has worked in private practice and the public school system; she has presented at workshops and has been a mentor to new speech language pathologists. Debby brings tremendous knowledge and experience to the clinic.  Debby's first love continues to be working with young children who struggle with social cognitive deficits. She loves engaging children in purposeful play and watching their faces light up with the fun of positive playful interaction with others; while at the same time, educating and supporting their parents. Debby’s experience as a preschool teacher and parent, her warmth and enthusiasm, her knowledge of social skill development and experience working with children with social cognitive deficits is a winning combination. Debby makes therapy fun and engaging for children and their parents.  Debby believes that “as long as you laugh at least once, your day is not wasted.”  Debby never wastes a day, she gets to spend her day doing what she loves best, playing with great kids and their parents.

Susan Day, M.A., CCC-SLP

Therapist

“It feels like home”, says Sue Day after having the privilege of working for Michelle Winner at the Center for Social Thinking for the past 5 years. Now, as the clinic is a non-profit, Teach SOCIAL Silicon Valley, she feels thankful to be able to continue working with this special population of individuals having social – cognitive challenges. This tremendous staff of “dedicated, talented and wonderful professionals” continues to create an atmosphere which provides services to children and adults having such deficits.  Sue obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Speech and Language Pathology in 1976 and 1978, respectively. The Bachelor’s was obtained in her “hometown” of New Orleans, Louisiana and Master’s at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. After working in the public school system for 2 ½ years, she entered private practice - and never left. She has worked in and with a variety of public and private schools in the Bay Area since moving to California in 1984. Sue’s professional strengths are her extensive experience with language problems of all types in children and adults as well as her ability to work with families and other professionals to incorporate methods and strategies into the “real life” environments of home, school and community. Immersion into the world of social – cognition at this clinic over the past 5 years is considered to be the apex of her career.

Ryan Hendrix, M.S., CCC-SLP

Therapist

Ryan received her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in art therapy and master's degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Arizona. While at the U of A, Ryan met Dr. Pam Crooke, who introduced her to the unpredictable, quirky world of social thinking. Having grown up with a close family friend with Asperger Syndrome, the lessons resonated strongly with her. Ryan led social cognitive groups throughout graduate school, and together with Pam, authored a published journal article discussing results of a pilot study examining the efficacy of social thinking therapy. Following graduation, Ryan continued implementing social thinking principles in the Tucson community with preschoolers through adolescents. When opportunity knocked, she followed Pam west to the Center for Social Thinking in December of 2007. Ryan's artistic and creative talents allow her to present lessons in a visual, fun, and engaging manner. She spends her free time reading, thinking about practicing yoga, and exploring the bay area and has an unexplainable affinity for elephants, especially pink ones!

Laura Martinez, M.A.

Therapist

Information coming soon!!

Kelly Bleckley, M.A., CFY

Information coming soon!!

Linda Huff, PPP-Assistant

Information coming soon!!

Nancy Weston, Office Manager

Information coming soon!!

Kevin Tse, Bookeeper/Grant Writer

Information coming soon!!