Meet the Speech Space Team

Megan C. Littlepage, MS, CCC-SLP                       

Monica T. Phillips, M.E.d, CCC-SLP
Megan graduated in 2006 with a Masters in Communication Disorders from University of Texas at Dallas. She has worked in public schools, along with DC charter schools and private clients in the home, school, daycare and clinical settings. Megan specializes in oral-motor therapy, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), feeding, and language delays in children from 12 months to 5 years old and has experience working with a variety of children who exhibit speech and/or language disorders, apraxia, motor planning delays, and oral motor weaknesses. She incorporates functional play into her sessions, giving feedback on why each skill in important. Megan believes that open and frequent communication with families is an integral part of working with young children and encourages active participation from family members of the children she works with. Megan lives in NW DC with her husband, daughter, and french bulldog. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, exploring DC, reading, eating cookies, and traveling. Learn more about Megan's background and approaches. 
Rachel Oakford, MS, CF-SLP                       
​Rachel is a clinical fellow in speech-language pathology. She graduated in 2019 with her Masters in Communication Disorders from Emerson College in Boston. During her graduate career, she was fortunate to work with clients in a wide array of settings including public and specialized schools, a clinic, and a rehabilitation hospital. Rachel is passionate about working with the pediatric population and is particularly interested in early speech and language delays, augmented and alternative communication, and autism spectrum disorder. She prefers a play-based approach to therapy to allow children to learn skills in the most meaningful, fun way possible! Prior to her work in speech therapy, Rachel studied linguistics at the University of Michigan (go blue!) and spent 3 years as a behavior therapist at an early intervention autism center. She is currently enjoying working her way through the Smithsonian museums, exploring the DC food scene (recommendations welcome), and conquering the NYTimes Sunday crossword puzzle.
Monica graduated in 2010 with a Masters in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She specializes in working on early language and speech development with young children (12 months to 6 years of age) and prefers a play-based approach. Monica has a passion for working with children who exhibit delays in speech and language development, weaknesses with language organization, delays with social and problem solving skills, and Childhood Apraxia of Speech. She has experience working within DC schools, as well as, working with private clients in their homes, daycares and schools. Monica grew up in south Florida, but has enjoyed living in DC since graduation, despite the cold winters! When not working, she enjoys traveling with her husband (especially to warm locales!), trying to get better at yoga and seeking out new restaurants to share meals with friends. Learn more about Monica's background and approaches. 

Our Specialties

Speech & Articulation                             Oral Motor & Feeding 

Articulation refers to the way children produce sounds in words. We work with children who have delays or weaknesses in their acquisition and development of sounds due to developmental delays, oral-motor weaknesses, phonological processes and apraxia of speech. ​
​Children with oral-motor weaknesses often have difficulties with their articulation development, as well as with feeding and eating ("picky eaters", not getting adequate nutrition, etc). We work to strengthen and build awareness of children's oral musculature through a variety of activities, such as whistles, bubbles, or feeding and drinking activities. 

Language Development                       Social Skills & Play

We help children with both expressive and receptive language, as well as language processing. Receptive language is the ability to understand what is being said and can include things like following directions or understanding questions, Expressive language is the ability to use language and includes things like grammar, vocabulary and  answering questions. Language processing is the ability to understand and use vocabulary, grammar & follow directions seamlessly when the burden of language is on a person. Weaknesses in these domains of language can occur due to a variety of diagnoses, such as, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays and language processing disorder.
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Play is the foundation of critical thinking and problem solving. We help children navigate their social and play environments with peers by working on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Difficulties with social skills and critical-thinking skills can stem from a variety of underlying reasons, including weaknesses in attention, foundational language skills and other diagnoses.