ABOUT ME

My name is Rebecca Sheffield, MS, CCC-SLP.

I am the founder and owner of Connections Professional Speech Language Services, PLLC.

I have my Master’s of Science Degree from the University of New Mexico and graduated Magna Cum Laude. I hold the Clinical Certificate of Competence through the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and am licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners in Speech Language Pathology to practice in North Carolina. I have over 20 years experience working with children ages 2-years through 12-years. I have worked on the Autism Team within the public school systems in North Carolina and New Mexico. I am patient, loving, and engaging.

I have three children and one step-daughter. I have lived in the Durham area since 2020 and have over 20 years experience working as a speech language pathologist.

I have worked for each of these years, prior to 2022, in the public school system with children grades pre-K through twelve. 

“Connecting with others gives us a sense of inclusion, connection, interaction, safety, and community.”

— Susan C. Young

Career

My career started in Albuquerque, New Mexico at an elementary school whose student population included six classrooms with students with severe-profound needs. This experience was instrumental in leading to an understanding of the importance in connecting with children at their level and developing trust and open-heartedness. With these key connections, speech-language therapy not only becomes meaningful but relationships blossom. This can happen with any child and establishes a foundation upon which future progress can be laid. 


Other locations at which I have lived and worked include Gallup McKinley County, New Mexico (my hometown surrounded by several Native American populations including the Navajo/Dine’ tribe which is the largest native population in the country), Prescott, Arizona (served only preschool students full-time at the district’s designated pre-K site for two years), Charlotte Mecklenburg, and Cabarrus County. Each opportunity and location has provided me with the joy of developing relationships with students of many different backgrounds, cultures, disabilities, and personalities. 

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so many unique individuals and to have developed personal relationships with each one of them as I witnessed them grow and learn.

expertise

I have expertise in serving children with diverse needs especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and those age ranges from preschool through fifth grades. 

During each year of my career, I have had the opportunity to serve at least one student with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

I have been trained and participated in the administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS) and ADOS-2. I have served as both lead facilitator and member of Autism Problem-Solving Teams for school districts in New Mexico and North Carolina. This responsibility included observing students with ASD within their classroom and school environment, providing recommendations to the Autism Problem-Solving team and the student’s school team, attending Autism Problem-Solving team meetings to brain-storm ideas that would support other ASD students who were observed by other Autism team members, developing and implementing goals for growth/accountability of the Autism Problem-Solving Teams, providing professional development and training to staff and parents, and attending bi-annual state-led (Department of Public Instruction) trainings. 

I would love to be of service to you and your family in supporting the goals that you have for your child!

TESTIMONIALS

  • "We could not be more thankful for you and the support and skills you have taught ___. Thank you for everything. "

    — Zack & Tracey H.

MY THERAPY METHOD

  • CONNECT & MOTIVATE

    It all starts by establishing trust and learning what motivates your child.

  • Research-Based methods

    Next, research-based speech language therapy methods are used and tailored to your child’s needs

  • Refine

    Continual refinement of therapy activities and methods paired with support of parents in carrying over skills to the home and community ensures success and maintenance of learned skills.