About Us
The therapists of Building Bridges Therapy are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. As children begin to reach adolescence, most are ready to begin therapy outside the clinic environment. Therapy at this stage should focus on the independence of clients as they continue to age. Building Bridges Therapy was founded to provide the “next step” in therapy programs targeting life, social, and vocational skills in functional environments.
Our therapists also recognize that parents of children with disabilities also need support. We provide parental support including consultations and feedback to help parents establish realistic goals and expectations for their children.
View our Therapists by Type:
Speech Therapists
Marla Mann, M.Ed. CCC-SLP
Marla Mann, M.Ed. CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and owner of Building Bridges Therapy. Marla graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She completed her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders at Georgia State University. Marla has had clinical experiences in the school system, private clinics, and hospitals. She was a presenter at the 2005 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention in San Diego on Child Abuse and Communication Disorders. Marla has received two Awards for Continuing Education, ACE Awards, from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She has given lectures on pediatric feeding disorders and social skills. She has attended courses on Pediatric Feeding Disorders, Oral Motor Treatments, Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, Social Skills, and is a certified provider of the FastForWord program. Marla has experience treating feeding disorders, language delays, apraxia of speech, articulation disorders, auditory processing disorders, and social skills.
Lorissa Alexander, M.A., CCC-SLP
Lorissa Alexander, M.A., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist for Building Bridges Therapy. Lorissa graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.A. in Speech Pathology in 2003. She then received her M.A. in Audiology and Speech Pathology from the University of Memphis in 2005. Lorissa completed her clinical fellowship year working in a speech and hearing clinic treating children in the clinic and in the community at local United Way facilities. She has also had experience working in school systems in elementary, middle, and high schools and in an extended care facility. She is a certified member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and holds her GA speech-language pathology license. Lorissa is PROMPT trained provider and has experience treating children with motor speech disorders, such as Apraxia. She has also received training on feeding problems with children, assessing and treating motor speech impairments, and Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices/programs, including DynaVox and Boardmaker Plus v.6. She has experience in language development, articulation, fluency, feeding and oral motor skills, as well as social skills groups.
Jorri Sanders-Marchi, M.Ed. CCC-SLP
Jorri Sanders-Marchi, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is a Speech and Language Pathologist, working full-time, providing Speech and Language therapeutic services for Building Bridges Therapy, Inc. Jorri obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in the area of Communication Science and Disorders from Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA. She received her Certificate of Clinical Competence through ASHA in August 2009 while working with a diverse population in East Haven, CT. Jorri has gained invaluable insight, direction and experience in the field of Speech and Language Pathology while working for the Connecticut Public Schools Systems, the Georgia Public Schools system and with wide variety of persons ranging from birth to twenty-one presenting with speech and language related disorders. She recently completed continuing education courses in the areas of pediatric feeding, specific language disorders and oral motor activities and dysfunction. Jorri also has extensive experience in the areas of treating language disorders, feeding, Apraxia, fluency, articulation, oral motor dysfunction, treating receptive language deficits, and developing/ implementing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques as a method of treating individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
Brittany Avera, M.A. CCC-SLP
Brittany Avera, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist for Building Bridges Therapy. Brittany graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She completed her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Central Florida as well. Brittany has had clinical experience in skilled nursing facilities and private clinics. Brittany is a certified member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and holds her GA speech-language pathology license. Brittany has received training in Beckman Oral Motor intervention. She has experience in language development, articulation, feeding and oral motor skills, fluency, voice, and cognitive/linguistic development.
Occupational Therapists
Barbi Ward, MS, OTR/L
Barbi Ward, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist participating in running several of the groups, individual therapy and consultations for Building Bridges Therapy. Barbi graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences in 1999. She completed her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2002. She has focused her occupational therapy career in pediatrics. Barbi has clinical experience including outpatient rehabilitation, private clinics, school system, and hospitals. She has attended courses on Autism, Asperger’s, Social Skills Training, feeding, handwriting (Handwriting Without Tears), and extensive training in aquatic therapy.
Carolyn Moshier Turner, OTR/L
Carolyn Moshier Turner, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist providing individual therapy, screenings/evaluations and consultation for Building Bridges Therapy. Carolyn graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science. She is a member of the American OccupationaI Therapy Association and the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association. In the past, Carolyn has worked along the East Coast in a variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, Home Health, Skilled Nursing, as well as Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Centers. Over the last 16 years, she has specialized in Pediatrics within the school systems, home-based and clinic-based settings; Carolyn has strong clinical experience with children who have Developmental Delays, Genetic Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism Spectrum, Neurological and Orthopedic Issues. Carolyn has attended a variety of courses on Sensory Integration, Motor Coordination, Feeding, Autism/Asperger’s, Handwriting and Aquatic Therapy.
Jill Feldman, OTL/R, C/SIPT
Jill Feldman, OTR/L, C-SIPT, is a native New Yorker and graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2001. Since that time, she has solely practiced in the pediatrics, in nearly all settings. Jill has received several speciality trainings/certifications, such as being certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test, Therapeutic Listening Basic and Advanced, The Listening Program, Oral Motor Beckman Interventions, Basic Myofascial Release Techniques, and Handwriting Without Tears. In addition, Jill enjoys providing community outreach to pre-schools, counselors, teachers, parents, daycares, and elementary schools on the benefits of addressing developmental concerns early and how occupational therapy can help children in all areas of their lives. In 2009, she presented at the GPAT conference in St. Simons, Georgia on the subject matter of Sensory Integration in the Classroom. She thoroughly loves working with children, their family’s, and all others that interact with that child to ensure expedited progress towards success and independence. Jill lives in Cumming, Georgia with her wonderful husband, daughter, and 75 pound boxer. She enjoys being with family, reading, exercising, and going out to eat with friends in her spare time.
Physical Therapists
Sumi Chatani, PT, DPT
Sumi Chatani, PT is a physical therapist and member of the Forsyth County team for Babies Can’t Wait, participating in individual therapy and coaching visits for Building Bridges Therapy. Sumi graduated from Knox College in Illinois with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biopsychology in 2000. She completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Emory University in 2004. She has experience in a variety of settings including acute care and long term rehabilitation centers, but has focused primarily in pediatrics. She has over 6 years experience in out-patient and home health pediatrics. Sumi is also a certified TheraSuit provider, and has led several intensive therapy programs combining traditional land based and Aquatic physical therapy.