Allison LeBouef, LOTR
Allison Harper LeBouef is our co-owner and co-clinical director. She and Marsha founded PTLC in 2007. Allison graduated from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans with a degree in occupational therapy. Since that time, she has concentrated her clinical skills on helping children and their families. She has worked with children in a variety of settings, including the school system, Early Steps, and in various sensory integration clinics across the state.
To ensure the highest level of care, Allison has participated in multiple courses related to pediatrics, specifically those related to sensory processing disorders and autism spectrum disorders. She is certified in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT), Interactive Metronome (IM), Integrated Learning Systems (iLs), Therapeutic Listening, the Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) and Handwriting Without Tears. She completed the introductory professional course in DIR/Floortime and LAMP (Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning). Allison has traveled to other sensory clinics around the country to further expand her knowledge and skill set.
Allison utilizes a sensory integration frame of reference to treat issues related to motor delays, handwriting difficulties, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and sensory processing disorders. She develops intensive programs, such as sensory diets and listening programs to make improvements as quickly as possible. Allison uses her creativity to encourage her clients to challenge themselves and achieve the “just right” challenge that provides permanent changes in motor planning, coordination, attention, and social interaction and engagement.
Marsha LeGoullon, M.A., CCC-SLP
Marsha Thibodeaux LeGoullon is our co-owner and co-clinical director. She and Allison founded PTLC in 2007. Marsha earned a Bachelor’s Degree from LSU in Baton Rouge and a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Texas at Austin in 1997. The majority of her career has been dedicated to advocating for children.
Marsha brings to the practice years of experience in private practice, public schools, early intervention programs, Head Start programs, and special assessment assignments. She is always seeking new knowledge and methods to benefit her clients.
Marsha believes without question that the role of speech therapy is to fill in the developmental gaps so that the child’s foundation is strengthened for further learning. She also emphasizes compensatory strategies to help with day-to-day functioning. Marsha is trained in PROMPT Technique and Beckman Oral Motor Protocol. She completed several courses through the ICDL and has attended the ICDL national conference in Virginia on “Redefining Autism.” In April 2013, Marsha also completed the DIR 202 course (3-month course) and is listed on the ICDL website as an Intermediate DIR/Floortime provider. She completed Course 1 of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) Course and LAMP (Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning). Marsha is TOTS-trained and can support parents in their decisions about tongue- and lip-tie releases. In October 2015, Marsha completed the 2-day Intensive Workshop for the Play Project and the first annual National Pediatric Developmental Differences Forum in Chicago, Illinois. In April of 2017, Marsha completed and passed the 9-month long DIR Fellows Course (CL-2) offered by the Profectum Organization. Marsha has extensive knowledge and training in development of co-regulation and reciprocity in communication (Greenspan), comprehension, expressive language, and cognitive skills—most of which are targeted directly through play.
Kari Caldwell, MOT, LOTR
Kari is our Occupational Therapy Supervisor and has been with Pediatric Therapy and Learning Center since 2012. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.
In 2015, Kari received her Sensory Integration Certification which includes instruction in administering and interpreting the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). In addition, she has become certified in Interactive Metronome (IM), Handwriting Without Tears (HWT), and Therapeutic Listening (TL). Kari has taken courses to further her understanding of executive functioning, praxis, the processing of tactile, proprioceptive, and interoceptive inputs, reflexes, as well as the neurobiological connections of trauma and sensory integration. She also completed a sensory integration intensive course which has helped her to design interventions that address developmental deficits across the five interdependent development systems. In addition, Kari has completed training in parent coaching in order to better foster meaningful collaboration between clinicians and families.
Kari has a strong passion for working with children and enjoys the teamwork involved in supporting children and their families. Her skill, experience, continued education, and compassion make her a very valuable member of our team.
Jaci Trahan, MOT, LOTR
Jaci has been a practicing occupational therapist since 2017. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Louisiana State University at Alexandria in December 2014. Before beginning her graduate degree, Jaci worked at PTLC as a therapy technician. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida in August 2017.
After graduating, Jaci worked as a travel therapist in a variety of settings including pediatrics, home health, skilled nursing, and mental health. She returned to the Acadiana area and re-joined our team. Jaci is a versatile therapist, effectively working with babies and children of all ages. Her favorite part of the job is helping children learn new skills, interacting with and educating families, and watching children have fun while participating in therapy.
Kayla LeBlanc Landry, M.C.D., CCC-SLP
Kayla received her Master’s of Communication Disorders from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Kayla has a natural ability to connect with children of all ages. She easily gains their trust and is able to push children forward to achieve their goals. Kayla is a highly skilled senior clinician who has been with PTLC since 2012.
Kayla is the Speech Pathology Supervisor. She has completed the Greenspan Floortime Approach for Professionals course, as well as the extensive DIR 201 course. She has the designation of “Basic Floortime Provider.” In addition, Kayla leads our team in the area of AAC and she has received an extensive amount of training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices, including training in Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP). In addition, Kayla is trained in PROMPT technique and has received on-site mentoring in the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol and Sensory Processing Disorders. Kayla is TOTS-trained and can support parents in their decisions about tongue- and lip-tie releases. Kayla earned her Hanen certification to lead the It Takes Two To Talk parent training program. In addition to in house training in the area of sensory integration and praxis, Kayla completed Course 1 of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) course in Atlanta, GA.
Kayla co-developed many of our social language and higher-order thinking groups. The success of these programs is largely attributed to her strong clinical and analytical skills as well as her commitment to the population we serve. Experience in these groups and classroom-type settings allows Kayla to support families who are looking for guidance to maximize their child’s success at home and in community programs.
Amy Boudreaux, M.S., CCC-SLP
Amy Boudreaux first joined our team in August of 2019 as a graduate student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After receiving a Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in 2020, Amy continued as a member of our therapy team through the completion of her 9-month clinical fellowship, ASHA certification, and state licensure requirements as a speech-language pathologist. Amy has both coursework and extensive on-the-job training/mentoring in DIR Floortime philosophy and techniques and has learned them effortlessly. Amy is TOTS-trained and can support parents in their decisions about tongue- and lip-tie releases
Amy has extensive experience with the BUDs Early Social Learning Groups and she has a deep love for early language intervention, but also enjoys working with her older kiddos on specific speech and language challenges. She easily connects with children and enjoys interacting with and supporting families to ensure that a child’s full potential is recognized and met.
Jaci Taylor, M.A., CCC-SLP
Jaci is a native of Opelousas, LA and currently resides in Lafayette. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology.
Jaci has years of experience working with children of various ages and disorders, including language disorders, articulation disorders, ASD, feeding disorders, and other developmental differences. Her in house and professional training in oral motor skills, tongue tie assessment, and feeding disorders allows her to address articulation and feeding difficulties with the most recent knowledge and evidence-based practice. In addition, she has completed the DIR-Floortime course and plans to continue her DIR training through certification. Jaci has an innate ability to connect with children and build on their strengths in order to achieve their goals. “All children should be not only accepted, but celebrated for who they are.”
Shannon Istre, M.A., CCC-SLP
Shannon Istre is an ASHA certified SLP who graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2019 with her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She currently lives in Rayne, but is originally from Chicago. Shannon is passionate about child led play being the foundation of learning and connection. She provides play-based, strengths-based, and neurodiversity affirming therapy that follows the child’s lead and capitalizes on their unique interests. She is skilled in identifying and supporting clients and their families in the stages of gestalt language processing and educating families about this style of language development. Shannon has earned certifications including The Meaningful Speech Course, AAC for Gestalt Language Processors, Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism, Hanen It Takes Two To Talk, and various other courses specializing in AAC. She is trained to conduct AAC Evaluations for those in need of assistive communication devices, and is passionate about presuming potential in every child.
Casie Tafaro, B.A., Learning Center Director
Casie earned her B.A in Communication Disorders from ULL in December 2020. She is from New Orleans but her passion for service, specifically working with children with special needs, has flourished in Lafayette. Her experience includes volunteering at New Orleans Speech and Hearing clinic in the children’s special needs social groups, the Literacy project at UL, the Aphasia project at UL, and at the Veterans Affairs hospital where she became familiar with various AAC devices relating to communicative disorders. These experiences guided her when she first came to PTLC as a group assistant/play partner.
Casie is well loved by the staff and kiddos at PTLC. Casie reports that she “loves working with kids because they push me to continue learning, expanding on new ways to improve support systems for them, and inspire me to grow in patience and kindness through every interaction!”
Annsleigh Noel, BA, BUDS Teacher/Group Leader
Annsleigh earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology in May of 2021 from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Since then, she knew she had a passion for working with children and found her way to PTLC. She began as a Play Partner while immersing herself in DIR Floortime. She was quickly promoted to Classroom Assistant and continued to learn what it takes to creatively encourage children through play. Her skill and commitment were obvious and she received a promotion to Group Leader.
Annsleigh is committed to showcasing children’s strengths while helping them emotionally, intellectually, and developmentally. She continues to immerse herself in therapeutic techniques and is pursuing continued education on the DIR-Floortime Model. Her favorite parts of the job include building relationships with families, recognizing/encouraging each child’s individual strengths, and promoting healthy growth and development.