Kelley Challen, EdM, CAS, expert transition specialist and national speaker, has been developing and directing programming for teenagers and young adults with an array of developmental and learning abilities since 2004. In 2013, she began working as Director of Transition Services at NESCA, providing individualized transition assessment, planning, consultation, coaching, training, and program development services, and she continues in this role today. Ms. Challen is skilled in assessment and consultation aimed at determining optimal timing for a student’s transition to college, technical training, adult learning, and employment, as well as identifying and developing programs and services necessary to minimize skill gaps. Ms. Challen is one of the only professionals in New England specializing in assisting families in selecting or developing programming as a steppingstone between special education and college. She has a unique understanding of local postgraduate, pre-college, college support, college transition, postsecondary transition, and 18-22 programs. She earned a BA in Psychology from The College of William and Mary and an MA of Education and Graduate Certificate in Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is co-author of the chapter, “Technologies to Support Interventions for Social-Emotional Intelligence, Self-Awareness, Personality Style, and Self-Regulation,” for the book Technology Tools for Students with Autism: Innovations that Enhance Independence and Learning. She is also the mother of two children and two puggles who continually help with her inventive and flexible thinking!

Kate and Amy are co-founders of SLP Nerdcast. Kate is a dually certified SLP / BCBA who works primarily as an "AAC Specialist." She owns a private practice with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, augmentative alternative communication intervention and assessment, and consultation. Amy is an SLP who also works as an "AAC Specialist" in a public school setting. Amy's primary interests are AAC, typical language development, motor speech, phonology, data collection, collaboration, coaching, and communication partner training and support.