Dana M. Merritt, MS, CCC-SLP, IMT:  Homeschool Conference Speaker and Workshop Leader Details

• Special: Autism
• Special: Speech Therapy

Why is My Child Struggling to Learn?
Have you home schooled your child and are they still struggling? Is your child struggling in speech, language or learning? Have you tried every phonics program, reading program, writing program and math program and your child is still struggling to learn? Or is your child “a bit more immature than his/her peers”? Come and find out how the "eye gates," the "ear gates" and the "motor gates" are critical for learning. Children with intact auditory, visual and motor processing skills have the tools necessary to learn how to learn. We want every child to reach his full potential and we believe that “The proper diagnosis is critical to remediation.”

Why is the Ability to Spontaneously Imitate so important?
Come and learn the newest research about the importance of imitation. Imitation has been called the “social glue” that helps hold families and even societies together. Come and learn about the importance of mirror neurons and a developing child's ability to learn new material. Come and find out how the "eye gate," the "ear gate" and the "motor gate" need to “fire together” to enhance imitation skills. Children who have Autism are known to struggle with the ability to imitate. Research has proven that children with Autism have a “broken mirror neuron system.” Children who develop good auditory, visual and motor processing skills then have the tools necessary to develop their “mirror neuron system.” We want every child to reach his full potential and we believe that “The proper diagnosis is critical to remediation.”

Imitation, the Mirror Neuron System and Autism
The ability to imitate helps us connect with those around us. We imitate facial movements, tone of voice and body positions automatically and even non-intentionally. This is referred to as automatic mimicry. This behavior helps us build rapport with those around us. Research has proven that children who have Autism have a “broken mirror neuron system.” Come learn about the importance of the Mirror Neuron System. Come learn about neuroplasticity.

Learn About Visual Processing Disorders

Visual Processing Disorders in Children & Adults

How Visual Processing Skills Affect Speech-Language Learning Skills

The Science of Learning: Newest Research from Brains R Us

•Speech-Language Pathologist
•Interactive Metronome Therapist
•Owner: Merritt Speech & Learning
•Certified professional with Scientific Learning for Fast ForWord
•Has taught home schooled K-12th graders
•Developer: “A Time for Phonics” (phonics program)
•Trained as a Vision Therapist in 1996
•Has received the Innovative Therapist Award, the Pat Wilson Award, and the The Top Provider Award.
•Member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
•Member of the Florida Speech-Language-Hearing Association (FLASHA)
•Member of the Jacksonville Area Speech Pathologist Association (JASPA)
•Graduate of the University of South Florida

Dana M. Merritt, MS, CCC-SLP, IMT, is a graduate of the University of South Florida and has been a Speech-Language Pathologist since 1981. She was trained as a Vision Therapist in 1996. She has gained valuable experience from teaching K - 12th grade in a home-school setting and has developed her own phonics program called “A Time for Phonics.” Dana became a certified professional with Scientific Learning for Fast ForWord in March, 1997 and a certified Interactive Metronome in May, 2003. She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Florida Speech-Language-Hearing Association (FLASHA). She is also a member of the Jacksonville Area Speech Pathologist Association (JASPA.) She is experienced in the differential diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders due to developmental delay. She is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of auditory, visual and motor processing disorders.