Welcome! I'm Anya Ashouri a speech-language pathologist with a subspecialty in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and formal training and certificate in Assistive Technology. I am committed to helping students access learning, express themselves meaningfully, and participate fully—academically, socially, and communicatively.

Who I Support

I specialize in working with students who:

• Have complex communication profiles

• Use or need AAC

• Expresses communication needs through behavior

• Struggle with literacy, executive functioning, or access to curriculum

• Have a history of stagnant progress or mismatched supports

• Require creative, system-level problem solving

I collaborate closely with families, educators, school teams and districts to design supports that are practical, respectful, and sustainable.

My Approach

My work is grounded in collaboration, empathy, and out-of-the-box thinking.

Growing up with a mother with severe disabilities shaped how I see disability—not as a limitation within a person, but as a mismatch between individuals and the systems meant to support them. That perspective informs everything I do: I approach students, families, and teams with compassion, humility, and deep respect for lived experience.

I believe the most effective supports are:

• Strength-based

• Student/client-centered

• Access-focused

• Driven with—not for—students and families

• Integrated into real classrooms and real lives
  
  

Professional Expertise

• Certified American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) Speech-Language Pathologist with a subspecialty in AAC and certificate and advanced training in Assistive Technology from California State University Northridge

• Have been working as a speech-language pathologist for 15 years in a variety of Preschool-12 school and college settings

• Former Board Member and Outreach Coordinator for AACcessible.org, where I helped launch the annual conference and foster collaborative community engagement around AAC for birth-5 year olds

• Assistant Associate Professor, Kalmanovitz School of Education, Saint Mary’s College of California — Instructor of Assistive Technology for Special Education Graduate Students

• Conduct Independent Educational Evaluator (IEEs) outside of Contra Costa County