Our People
Laurie Jacobs, M.A. CCC-SLP
Social Skill Builder, Inc.
Laurie Jacobs, M.A. CCC-SLP, is co-founder of Social Skill Builder, a company launched in 1999 to provide computer-based tools for teaching social skills to children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Laurie, along with her sister and co-founder Jennifer, develops her software products based on the unique needs of her ASD clients.
Laurie is the owner of Community Speech Language Services, an independent speech pathology practice that treats pediatric and adolescent language disorders including Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and Down Syndrome.
Prior to opening her practice, Laurie serviced patients with adult and adolescent neurological disorders and facilitated social training groups at the Suburban Hospital Physical Rehabilitation Department in Bethesda, MD, the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Montrose, MD and the Loudoun Hospital Center Rehabilitation Department in Leesburg, VA.
At the beginning of her career, Laurie was a practitioner in Mercy Hospital Systems' Head Start Program, where she treated pediatric communication difficulties including autism, articulation, language delays and stuttering.
Laurie is a clinically-certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and has received the Council of Exceptional Children's Practitioner Presentation Award. She received a BS from Kent State University in 1989 and a MA from the University of Akron in 1991.
Jennifer Jacobs, M.S. CCC-SLP
Social Skill Builder, Inc.
Jennifer Jacobs, M.S. CCC-SLP, is co-founder of Social Skill Builder, a company launched in 1999 to provide computer-based tools for teaching social skills to children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Jennifer, along with her sister and co-founder Laurie, developed the software line when she recognized a deficit in quality products for children and adolescents with social competence issues.
Jennifer is responsible for guiding product development for Social Skill Builder. Now that research has demonstrated that teaching social skills is one of the most effective treatments for children with ASD, Jennifer ensures that the company effectively leverages technology to produce innovative learning solutions.
Prior to founding Social Skill Builder, Jennifer worked as a speech pathologist at Cook Children's Hospital in Denton, TX, Children's Hospital of Atlanta in Atlanta, GA and Starbright Children's Rehabilitation Institute in Austin, TX. Specializing in the treatment of children with ASD, Jennifer coordinated and conducted social skill groups and counseled families and educational professionals on improving children's pragmatic skills in various environments. She also worked closely with occupational therapists and psychologists as part of a team approach to social instruction.
Jennifer is a clinically-certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She received a BA from the University of Mississippi in 1996 and a MS in Communication Disorders from Baylor University in 1997.
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