Dennis Xavier
Dennis Xavier
Dennis Xavier is a trained American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Board-Certified, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and a licensed California school-based credentialed SLP with interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and special education services. He worked with individuals on the autism spectrum for 15+ years and helped pioneer treatment for autism through the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps
In 2004, Dennis Xavier graduated with his Bachelor of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences from Sri Ramachandra University and dove into his Master’s degree in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, graduating in 2004 from Manipal University. Xavier served in a variety of clinical settings: Office, Public School Setting, University Medical Center, and Affiliated Hospitals. Xavier worked with Dr. B. Rajashekhar, who helped Xavier realize his passion for diagnosing and treating a wide range of Speech or Language Impairments (SLI) caused due to neurological problems in children, non-syndromic hearing loss and autism. His research areas focused on the genetics of non-syndromic hearing loss in asian population.
In addition to hearing research, Xavier has interests in the area of providing comprehensive language, speech, and hearing therapy to individuals born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial anomalies. He volunteered for Operation Smile Vietnam, (Hanoi, 2007) and Operation Smile India (Kolkata, Bolpur, 2006) International Medical mission in suburb and rural parts of the country to work with a multidisciplinary team to understand and learn about treatment and management for cleft and craniofacial anomalies.
After graduation, Xavier completed his clinical fellowship year with The University of the State of New York, NY State Education Department to be certified as licensed Speech–Language Pathologist in the State of New York. Xavier worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) at the multiple centers operated by New York State Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities in New York City. During his service, Xavier unearthed a passion for helping families cope and thrive with autism. Autism’s reach is broad, the neurological disorder leads to difficulty in communicating and socializing with forms ranging from mild to severe.
In 2013, Xavier joined an interdisciplinary team in California and provided language and speech services to individuals in an assigned public school district who have not acquired the necessary communication skills for their age and/or ability to communicate effectively. Xavier’s primary goal is to identify, remediate, improve, or alleviate individuals’ social-communication problems within the educational environment. He actively case managed a caseload with a myriad of diagnoses including but not limited to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), pervasive developmental disorders (PDD-NOS), and other cognitive deficits for a wide range of pupils ranging from grades K–12 in special education. Xavier made it his mission to reach as many individuals as he could to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and empower special education specialists/teachers of individuals with special needs and complex communication needs. Xavier is a committed board-certified school-based credentialed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and international special education services. His expertise include implementing Telepractice to individuals with special needs and complex communication needs throughout the U.S. He actively provided telepractice by linking clinician to client or clinician to clinician for assessment, intervention, and/or consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has extensive experience serving students with AAC needs in school settings and to develop new designs and/or adapt appropriate AAC systems or programs to help students successfully access the academic curriculum and make progress in the educational environment.
In 2020, Xavier volunteered and embraced the vision of SEED Sessions with his mentor and colleague, Marvel Philip. The SEED Sessions is an telepractice platform striving to provide and improve the level of virtual Speech, Language and AAC services available to individuals with significant communication challenges by supporting speech-language pathologists and connecting them with individuals with complex communication needs. His current research areas focus on interventions to support the academic, language, and social development of students with AAC needs in general education classrooms and other school settings. In addition to AAC research, Xavier has interests in the area of innovations related to special education technology, EdTech, online teaching and support to families and teams serving children with significant communication difficulties. His indomitable spirit, passion, and determination to promote the best practices in the field of speech-language pathology & audiology professional services with a multi-disciplinary team in innovation, assessing and planning appropriate special education program adjustments for individuals having exceptional needs in communication based on the use of “scientifically-based research” and evidence-based practice (EBP) standards to meet their goals and objectives with full integrity and zest and create positive and successful learning outcomes for students.