OUR CORE VALUES EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO BE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS EDUCATE CAREGIVERS, PEERS, PROFESSIONALS AND THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATE TO BUILD LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS
(left to right) Lisa, Megan, Yuki
AAC Connection is the vision of three friends who established a strong bond through their combined efforts to help one child communicate. The success of this first unintentional collaboration slowly gave shape to the idea that we can help others – both individuals benefitting from AAC and caregivers – find their own voice, too. We’re here to better the day-to-day lives of all those touched by AAC.
Megan Fucci, Speech Pathologist Megan Fucci is a celebrated speech language pathologist who brings 15 years experience to AAC Connection. Megan believes in a highly personalized, 360-degree approach to each child she partners with in her work. She looks at complex communication needs as it relates to the individual, and the family. Megan is committed to collaborating with fellow colleagues and caregivers every step of the way to maximize each child’s potential and ensure they have the best means to communicate. Megan realized her passion for the field of speech pathology during an inclusive adaptive high school program that matched students with non-verbal peers to participate in gym activities. That exercise ignited Megan’s passion to help others find their voice. Megan graduated with a Masters in Communication Disorders from the University of New Hampshire and gained valuable experience in the field of pediatric speech pathology at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, New York
Yukiko Okuma, Special Educator Yukiko Okuma boasts over 30 years as a special education teacher and school leader. Yukiko’s career path is rooted in her childhood where she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education thanks to her teacher parents who were committed to improving the life of villagers across Angola, Africa. Non-verbal children in need of the most are at the heart of Yukiko’s concentration; she’s truly passionate about communication and language. Yukiko holds a Masters Degree in Education for Exceptional Children from San Francisco State University, and a doctorate in educational psychology from New York University, where she also served as an adjunct professor to aspiring special education teachers. Yukiko is a certified Montessori and NYS accredited teacher, and formerly served as Director of the Preschool for Multi-handicapped Children at Roosevelt Hospital.
Lisa Hancock, Parent Lisa is the mother of seven-year old Max, the child whose complex communication needs brought them all together and sparked the founding of this business. Lisa and her family live and breathe AAC. Her knowledge, passion, and unrelenting advocacy on behalf of her son, and subsequently countless others in his position, is incredibly inspiring. Lisa’s professional background in technology and high-profile project management, combined with her family’s journey, proves an invaluable asset for AAC Connection and its clients. Lisa knows full well that the two greatest barriers to moving towards an AAC system are getting started and sticking to it. AAC Connection exists to help deliver more success to caregivers and their teams. And for those who do not yet have a team – AAC will either serve as your team, or help you to build one that is the best fit for your loved one. We can help you find your child’s voice; I know – we did for mine.