COMMUNICATION COUNTS
Therapy Services
“Providing functional communication skills to every child.”

MICHELLE HASS, M.A., CCC-SLP; M.Ed.

            Michelle graduated with an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders from St. Louis University in 1998.  She then moved back home to Overland Park to attend graduate school at the University of Kansas.  After completing her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology in 2000, she began working in the public school setting with children ages 3-18.  During this time, she had experience working with children at every functioning level and with many different speech and language differences.  In 2002, she began working in her school district's classroom for children with autism and found that she wanted to go back to school in order to serve these special children in the most effective manner.  She finished her Master’s degree in Special Education through the Autism/Asperger’s program at the University of Kansas in 2004 and is enjoying her sixth year working with this amazing and diverse population of children.  Michelle has extensive experience working with many treatment methodologies including: Applied Behavior Analysis, Verbal Behavior, Discrete Trial Training and challenging behavior interventions.  For the last four years, Michelle has been providing private home therapy for children as well as continuing her work in the public schools.  She feels that this has provided her with valuable insight regarding how to effectively work and collaborate with children, parents, other professionals and school teams in order to help each child reach his or her full potential.  Michelle founded “Communication Counts” in 2005 in order to best serve her clients and started running social communication skill groups due to the great need for more social skills training for children. 

Professional Experience & Continuing Education
  • Certification of Clinical Competence through the American Speech & Hearing Association
  • More than seven years of experience in the public school setting
  • More than three years of experience in private practice.
  • More than five years of experience working as a collaborative team member in a classroom for children with autism.
  • Founder and co-therapist of “Communication Counts” social communication skill groups
  • Camp Counselor at “Camp Determination” for children with ASD
  • Professional/Peer Reviewer for Autism Products for Linguisystems (International Speech/Language Materials Provider)
  • Presenter for Baker University regarding work in the field of autism.
  • Continuing education and training received from internationally known speakers such as:  Vince Carbone, BCBA; Brenda Smith-Myles, Ph.D; Nancy Kauffman, M.A., CCC-SLP; Tamara Kasper, M.A., CCC-SLP/BCABA; James Partington, Ph.D. and many others over the years.

Jennifer Eckert, M.A., CCC-SLP. (Co-therapist of Social Communication Groups)

Jennifer graduated with honors from the University of Kansas. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Science, she earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She has worked in the public school system for 5 years and is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 

As a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Jennifer provides private therapy, facilitates social skills groups and serves as a clinical fellow supervisor to new graduates.  She is passionate about helping children improve their communication skills and believes that effective communication is crucial for social, emotional, and academic success.