WELCOME TO
Innovate Speech provides the highest level of care to children in need of Speech Therapy. Our highly experienced staff create individualized treatment plans to address a broad spectrum of language and communication areas to meet the needs of children and their families in Orange County, California.
OUR TEAM
Kendra Fernandez, M.S., CCC-SLP
Kendra Fernandez is an experienced pediatric Speech Language Pathologist with a keen interest in early intervention, specifically in play, functional communication and parent education. She completed her Masters of Science at Purdue University and has over 10 years of experience working with children that have a diagnosis of Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, oral motor disorder, language delay, and articulation disorders. She has worked alongside and collaborated with Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Behavior Specialists, and Marriage Family Therapists which affords her a unique perspective when treating patients. Kendra promotes the notion of treating "the whole child" with a heavy emphasis on providing a natural play environment for language opportunities.
Marissa Owens, M.S., CCC-SLP
Marissa is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and Level 1 PROMPT certified clinician who is passionate about helping children find their voice. She specializes in working with children with childhood apraxia of speech and stuttering. In addition, she has experience supporting children with a wide range of needs- including autism, ADHD, down syndrome, oral motor disorders, articulation and language delays, and social communication challenges.
She believes that speech therapy is both an art and a science- bringing creativity, compassion, and evidence-based practice into every session. Her approach is rooted in play, knowing that children learn best when they feel regulated, engaged and supported. She also values strong partnerships with families, taking time to coach and empower parents so they feel confident supporting their child’s communication at home.
In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places with her husband and their two dogs, Enzo and Luna.