DAWN M. SCHOKNECHT, M.S., CCC-SLP

I received my Bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University in Communication Sciences and Disorder in 1991, and my Masters of Science degree from TWU in 1994. As a graduate student, I had numerous opportunities, including a semester in Baltimore MD interning at a renowned trauma center, to work with children and adults with a variety of diagnoses in different clinical and medical settings.

I began my career working with the adult neurogenic population, then in 1998, made the change to pediatrics, when I began at Easter Seals. Since making the shift to pediatrics, I found I especially valued my time spent with this population, and never looked back. I also worked for 6 years in a local school district, both as a school based SLP, and as a district augmentative communication specialist, with students age 3 to 22. Upon leaving the public school setting, I worked at the University of Texas’ Callier Center working with children, both individually and in specialty groups. Working at the university, I found myself missing being part of a multidisciplinary team with OTs, PTs, and other specialists, so I followed my passion and returned to the multidisciplinary pediatric setting.

My primary interests include working with children with receptive and expressive language struggles, articulation, social language skills, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, other speech disorders, and sensory feeding. I especially enjoy working with children that have limited verbal ability, as I have training in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). It is not primarily about the diagnosis, but about the child, and I believe in meeting the child’s and their family’s needs through child centered therapy that’s creative and fun, and family support. I believe family involvement is one of the most crucial aspects of successful therapy. I encourage questions and love to train family members on how to help their children meet their goals in all settings. I am happy to be a part of the Speech & Occupational Therapy of North Texas team.