Team
Kati Anderson, M.S., CCC-SLP
Kati Anderson, M.S., CCC-SLP is an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and Delaware-licensed speech-language pathologist. Kati is a 2003 graduate of Loyola College, where she graduated summa cum laude. She received the special honor and recognition of graduating first in her class in the speech-language department. Kati went on to receive her master’s degree in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department of James Madison University in Virginia. While at James Madison University, Kati published research and presented nationally on topics in speech pathology and healthcare, technology and telecommunications in speech pathology, feeding therapy, HIPAA and health services, and social skills and language.
Kati has extensive professional experience working with children diagnosed with a wide variety of communication and related disorders. After serving as Program Coordinator and Supervisor of Feeding Services in New Jersey, Kati moved to her hometown and opened Central Delaware Speech-Language Pathology as a sole practitioner. Central Delaware Speech-Language Pathology, Inc. has successfully grown to encompass therapy offices in both Dover and Lewes, the addition of sub-specialties of care in pediatrics that include occupational therapy, ABA, tutoring, reading services, feeding services, and AAC evaluations and treatment, the provision and oversight of services to over 19 schools in the Delaware region, and a team of nearly 40 dedicated and highly-skilled service providers and related associates.
Building on a foundation in continuing education and research-based therapy techniques, Kati has training and experience in Physical Restructuring of Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) program for feeding. She has over 20 years of experience in providing and supervising high quality care for her young patients and students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental delay, apraxia of speech, traumatic brain injury, genetic syndromes, use of AAC, feeding disorders, processing disorders, fluency disorders, voice disorders, and social skill impairments. Kati’s specific expertise includes services to children with complex needs, including children using AAC and those with behavioral challenges.
Kati was raised in Delaware and is honored with the privilege of serving Delaware’s children. As a mother, Kati believes in treating every child under her care with the same level of dedication and skill as she would want shown to her own children. She gives back to her community and has served on the Board of the Child Help Foundation, Brain Injury Association of Delaware, and Next Generation Committee of the Southern Delaware Community Foundation. Kati is a proud mother to Ryan and Ava, a loving partner to Chuck, and enjoys spending time with her family, camping and enjoying nature. Kati’s philosophy in therapy is, “Every child has limitless potential. An excellent therapist provides the foundation, the tools, and the encouragement for each child to achieve his or her personal best.”
Donna Ortelli, M.S., CCC-SLP
Donna is a native to Delaware, having grown up in the Dover area, and graduating from Dover High School and Delaware State University. She moved to Massachusetts shortly after college where she raised her two children. While teaching high school marketing, Donna decided to pursue a graduate degree in Communication Disorders. She graduated in 2000 from Worcester State University in Massachusetts with a Master’s of Science degree in Communication Disorders.
Over the past 20+ years, Donna has worked in both public and private schools, in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida and Delaware, with both pre-school and school age speech and language delayed children. Her areas of experience include: articulation, apraxia, auditory processing, receptive-expressive language, fluency, and pragmatic disorders. She has worked with a wide range of disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental disabilities, genetic syndromes and other impairments. After relocating to Delaware in 2009, Donna worked in the public schools, first for Lake Forest School District, and then Smyrna School District. She became part of the CDSLP team in 2011, originally as a part-time clinician, and then after retiring from the public schools, going to full time.
Donna has received two ACE awards from ASHA for her demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning through continuing education. She has a Certificate of Completion in Lindamood-Bell Phoneme Sequencing (LIPS), PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT), S.O.S. Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding (S.O.S), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), and Barton Screening for Dyslexia.
Donna is active in her community, volunteering her time in both the Delaware Speech-Language and Hearing Association (DSHA) and serving as a Town Council member for her local community, Leipsic. Free time pleasures include working in her flower garden and being at the beach. She absolutely loves being “Mimi” to her two grandchildren!!! On working with kids, Donna simply says: “I love working with children, as I feel they help to keep me young!”
As of 2017 Donna partnered with Kati and Christine to continue to offer exceptional speech and language therapy in our communities!
Donna’s philosophy of care is, “A child is like a flower in your garden. Plant the seed, allow its roots to grasp and grow. Provide it with sustenance and nourishment. Tend to it daily. Keep the weeds from strangling out its ability to grow straight and strong and you will be delighted at how magnificent it will blossom and shine!”
Jason Anderson, MSA Owner
Jason was a co-owner of Central Delaware Speech-Language Pathology with his wife and company founder, Kathleen Anderson. Jason’s primary focus was on marketing efforts and corporate finances.
In his full-time career, Jason served as the Senior Director of Ticket Sales & Operations at Dover International Speedway. Jason played an integral part in our community by being a lead member of the “Autism Day at the Races” planning team. In 2012, the Speedway hosted the first-ever Autism-friendly event in NASCAR history in conjunction with the “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Families on the spectrum were treated to a day of educational speakers on a variety of topics, food and an exciting NASCAR race. When necessary, families were able to migrate to a dedicated quiet-room away from the track, featuring muted lights and dampened sound.
Jason completed his Master of Sports Administration at Ohio University, was the Treasurer for the Brain Injury Association of Delaware, and was the chair of the Sponsorship Committee for the Delaware Sports Commission.
Jason tragically lost his life in a car accident in January of 2015, in which he saved the life of his wife and 1-year old son. Jason was fully committed to Central Delaware Speech-Language Pathology’s mission and to serving children. The Jason Anderson Foundation for Youth Sports was created in his honor to continue his legacy of giving. In loving memory of Jason – his example of living life to the fullest and always giving back will be carried on in all that we do.
Lynette Stratton, M.S. CCC-SLP
Lynette Stratton, M.S., CCC-SLP is an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and Delaware certified speech-language pathologist. Lynette received her undergraduate degree in speech pathology (with a minor in psychology) from Cortland State University and went on to Syracuse University, where she received her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Lynette has extensive professional experience working with children diagnosed with a wide variety of communication and related disorders. In New York, she worked as an elementary school speech pathologist as well as an itinerant speech pathologist for Children’s Therapy Network, serving children with special needs, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental delays, behavioral challenges, genetic syndromes, expressive/receptive language disorders, auditory processing disorders, phonological disorders, cleft lip/palate, and fluency disorders. Lynette also has training and experience with the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). In addition to being employed at CDSLP, Lynette currently works as a speech pathologist in the Indian River School District.
Lynette was raised in central New York and lived there with her family until 2020 when she relocated to Delaware with her husband after becoming “empty nesters” of 3 children. In addition to enjoying the Delaware beaches, Lynette enjoys walking/biking, traveling, watching her boys play college lacrosse and visiting her daughter in Hoboken, NJ. The staff at CDSLP has been extremely welcoming since she started her position as an SLP in June 2023.
Jenna Gruwell, OTR/L
Jenna is a National Board Certification for Occupational Therapy and Delaware licensed therapist. She attended Wesley College for her undergraduate degree in Pre-Occupational Therapy and completed her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Wesley College in 2020. She is from Camden, DE and has had a wide range of experiences in the surrounding communities.
Jenna’s experiences include working with students and children with special needs ranging from behavioral deficits to physical impairments. She has a special interest in helping children with sensory regulation difficulties. She also has experience with adult populations in acute care and outpatient settings as well as a diverse background in assisting those from other nations, furthering her cultural competence skills. Jenna believes that working to help people of all walks of life find meaning in their everyday occupations is an essential driving force to overall health and wellness.
Allison Gruwell, M.S., CCC-SLP
Allison is an American Speech-Language Hearing Association certified and Delaware licensed therapist. She is originally from Dover, Delaware. She attended the University of Delaware, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Science with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology in 2015. From there, she attended Towson University, where she graduated with a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology in May, 2017.
Allison’s experience includes internships in both educational and medical settings, with a wide variety of patients and clients. Since beginning her career with CDSLP in 2017, Allison has continued to gain experience working with a wide variety of patients and diagnoses in both educational and outpatient settings. She shares a particular passion for working with non-verbal communicators who require the use of augmentative or alternative forms of communication. She was certified in the Hanen More Than Words Program in 2020, and also in 2020 was awarded an ASHA Award for Continuing Education.
More recently, Allison has taken on the role of Director of Special Programs, helping to network with others to create and facilitate new groups and activities relevant to specialized areas of our therapy services.
Eric Oberender
Eric resides in Milford, Delaware. Eric has been an employee at CDSLP since 2016. His job skills include various custodial related tasks, maintaining and protecting CDSLP. Eric participates in Autism Delaware’s POW&R Program, which stands for productive opportunities for work and recreation. He is assisted at his job by his Direct Support Professional (DSP), who is designated by POW&R, as well as natural support from CDSLP. Eric is a valued member of the CDSLP Family. Eric is very hardworking and motivated with a keen eye for detail. We are lucky to have him on our team and look forward to many more years working beside him!
Eric enjoys being active and exercising. He is a Special Olympic Delaware Athlete. He participates in numerous sports, but his favorites are long distance running and aquatics.
Kirstyn Brackin, M.A. CCC-SLP
Kirstyn is a Delaware native and attended the University of Delaware where she received a Bachelors of Science degree in Cognitive Science with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology in 2019 and her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2021.
Kirstyn’s previous experience includes treating a variety of disorders and age groups in both the educational and medical settings. She interned at Capital School District and Bayhealth Hospital in Dover, Delaware. During her time at Bayhealth, she had the opportunity to work in both the inpatient and outpatient setting treating COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In November 2021, Kirstyn had the opportunity to nationally present at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association conference on the importance of using Patient Reported Outcome Measures in addition to Performance-based Language Measures.
Erin Anglin, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Erin is a licensed and board certified Speech Language Pathologist. She graduated from East Carolina University with an undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Erin continued on to complete her Masters of Education in Communication Disorders at North Carolina Central University. Throughout her graduate and post-graduate career, Erin has worked with a variety of age groups with various speech and language disorders. She has worked with adults with neurogenic disorders and aphasia, accent modification as well as treating traumatic brain injured veterans with cognitive impairments at the Womack Army Medical Center in North Carolina. After graduate school, Erin moved to Los Angeles where she worked primarily with the pediatric population in both the private practice and public school settings. After almost 9 years, Erin and her family have recently relocated from Los Angeles back to the East Coast and she look is looking forward to continuing her career in her home state.
Vanessa Cooper, M.A. CCC-SLP
Vanessa Cooper, M.A., CCC-SLP is American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified and Delaware licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She is originally from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and is a 1991 graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, with her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Vanessa moved to the beach in 1991 where she began her 30-year tenure with Cape Henlopen School District. While with the school district, she provided speech services to students pre-k through twenty-one years of age with various forms of communicative disabilities. Vanessa also provided oversight of Clinical Fellowship Year positions as a mentor as well as to function as a collaborative team member of referral teams to evaluate an educational classification of Autism. While working for the school district, Vanessa also assumed the role of a Special Education Coordinator assisting families and transition-age students at the middle and high school levels with their individualized educational plans. Vanessa has extensive experience as she also worked part-time as a speech pathologist for Children’s Beach House, Milford School District, EBS HEALTHCARE: Early Intervention and Children’s Therapy Center of DE, and Sunny Days Early Childhood Developmental Services, Inc.
A few other highlights and professional activities of Vanessa’s career included serving as an adjunct professor with Wilmington University, coordinating recruiting events to address shortages of Speech Language Pathologists within school districts, serving as a co-author of several presentations in 2007, 2008, and 2009 for the Association for Behavior Analysis International Autism conference, serving as a committee member at the “Most at the Coast” Conference (to assist with coordinating program-wide conferences/ special events to address professional development needs appropriate to special education and Autism), receiving an Administrative Certificate for School Principal/Assistant Principal, serving as part of a group that initiated an advocacy campaign in 2017 and Senate Bill 126 (SB 126) (which helped attract and retain highly qualified speech-language pathologists and audiologists and public schools in Delaware), and serving as a member and participant of the State Monitoring Review Board for the Delaware Autism Program
Sarah Sipple, C-SLPA
Sarah is certified through American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant. She graduated in 2020 from West Chester University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Communication Science and Disorders. Upon graduation, Sarah moved to Nevada where she obtain her SLPA certification working within the speech department at an elementary and middle school. Sarah is currently a graduate student at Emerson College and looks forward to becoming an SLP soon.
Sarah is a Delaware native who loves to enjoy time with her family and two dogs!
Bethany Wright, M.S. CCC-SLP
Bethany is American Speech-Language Hearing Association certified and a Delaware licensed therapist. She received a Master’s in Speech Pathology from Misericordia University and an Autism Certificate from Arizona State University. Bethany has worked for the Sussex Consortium with the Cape Henlopen School District as a speech pathologist since 2019. Previously, she served at the Meadowood Program within the Red Clay School District. She has served students from preschool to 21 with a variety of communication needs. Bethany has experience working with individuals on functional communication, social thinking concepts, augmentative and alternative communication, expressive/receptive language, and vocational skills. She has completed courses in Picture Exchange Communication Systems, Pyramid Approach to Education, ADOS administration, and PROMPT training. Bethany resides in Lewes, Delaware and loves to spend time at the beach, running, and traveling!
Erica Brittingham, M.S. CCC-SLP
Erica is an American Speech-Language Hearing Association certified and Delaware licensed therapist. She is originally from Milford, Delaware. She went to East Stroudsburg University for undergrad, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders in 2017. From there she went to Towson University to receive her Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology in May 2020.
Erica’s previous experience includes treating a variety of disorders and age groups in both the educational and medical settings. She interned at The John S. Charlton School in Caesar Rodney School District and Alfred I. duPont Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.
Megan Murphy
Educational background: Received my Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science in 2022 from Misericordia University. Received my Master’s in Occupational Therapy in 2023 from Misericordia University. Passed my National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy exam in 2023.
Practice/Professional background: Licensed and registered occupational therapist in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Had a fieldwork placement at Perry Point VA Medical Center and was involved with mental and physical health of veterans. Worked at Tower Behavioral Health Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital and helped create the sensory room for adolescents. Currently working at Excelcare at Lewes Skilled Nursing Facility and part time at PAM Rehabilitation Hospital.
Personal/professional interests: I spend most of my free time with family and friends outdoors, mostly at the beach! I work and practice with a wide range of ages, on any day I could go from a session with a 1 month old to a 100 year old! I am a huge Philly sports fan and I would love to coach softball someday!
Therapy model/mission statement: We rise by lifting others.
Kevin Williams, Jr
Kevin was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 2. He attended school in the Cape Henlopen District where he received early intervention services. Kevin graduated in 2016 and receives supported employment through the POW&R program at Autism Delaware. He is employed at Child Inspired Therapy and Central Delaware Speech and Language.
Kevin enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies and listening to music. He also loves attending church and participating in Special Olympics where his events are swimming and bowling.
Hailey Lyons, CDA
Hi, I’m Hailey, a CDA for the Milford District! I currently live in Harrington, Delaware, with my boyfriend, daughter, and two puppies! I have 5 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, as well as background in elementary education.
In my free time, I enjoy taking my daughter on walks at the park, shopping, and reorganizing.
Sarah Owens
Educational background: I have a Bachelors degree in Exercise Physiology and an Associate’s degree as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. I currently serve as a Director of Rehabilitation in a Post Acute Rehab setting that primarily focuses on short term rehabilitation to home. Throughout my years of experience, I have noticed similarities in therapeutic interventions between the geriatric and pediatric populations, and I hope to continue to expand my scope of practice at CDSLP.
Personal/professional interests: When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my husband and two daughters Harper (4.5) and Zoe (1.5) and our black lab Lincoln. Since we live by the beach, we do love the beach! But we also enjoy skiing and taking day trips to various cities around the area.
Therapy model/mission statement: I am a firm believer that movement and body positioning can play an integral part in all therapeutic interventions. When we have a better awareness of our body and how we are positioned during specific tasks our movements can make more sense and have more meaning which in turn can carryover into function.
Caitlin Davis
With over three years of experience in pediatric occupational therapy, Caitlin graduated from Delaware Technical Community College in 2022 where she obtained her OTA associate degree, then shortly after became certified and licensed as a COTA. With that being said she has had the privilege of supporting children in both school and outpatient clinic settings. Caitlin specializes in sensory integration and emotional regulation, using these skills to help children thrive in their everyday environments. Caitlin is passionate about creating individualized, play-based interventions that address motor, sensory, and emotional needs, while targeting independence and confidence. Caitlin’s mission is to collaborate with families and caregivers to build skills and empower children—whether it’s mastering fine motor tasks, navigating sensory challenges, or simply gaining the confidence to explore their world.Through compassion, creativity, and evidence-based strategies, she is dedicated to helping each child grow in their own unique way, celebrating every milestone along the way. When Caitlin’s not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and corgi … most likely binge watching some reality tv in between.
Emma Traynor
Emma Traynor has been with the company since August of 2023. Currently, she supervises our Central Delaware Assistants (CDA for short), who support SLPs in the various districts we work in.
Nishita Gadani
Hi! My name is Nishita Gadani and I am a CDA here at CDSLP. I work at Capital School District at Booker T. Washington Elementary School and Mainsite KCCS. overall health and wellness.
Nathalie Barnes
From: Prince George’s County MD.
Education
-COTA/L in 2016
-B.S. Exercise Science
-Master’s in occupational therapy-December 2025 from Delaware State University
Practice/Professional Background
Nathalie has a combination of academic knowledge, research, and hands-on experience in her work with children and families. She has worked in both pediatric and adult rehabilitation settings, school systems, and outpatient clinics and now focuses primarily on early childhood intervention. Delivering data driven, personalized, play-based, and child-led occupational therapy services designed to foster independence, confidence, and functional growth in young children.
Personal/Professional Interest
Nathalie adores her family and friends; she has one son and enjoys being out and about with them! She loves the color yellow and has a newfound interest in flowers. She is Passionate about helping children and families thrive with inclusive play, and practical strategies that integrate therapy into daily life within the home and community. As a mother herself, she deeply values the role of caregiver collaboration in achieving meaningful therapy outcomes.
Therapy Model/Mission Statement
Empower children to learn, grow, and thrive in their unique way.
