Vanessa Chan-Felcman
Co-Founder, M.A., CCC/SLP

With over 23 years of speech therapy experience, Vanessa founded Family First Speech Therapy in January 2014 and joined with her colleague Michelle Reed, OTR in creating SPACE Therapy Gym, a pediatric therapy center that provides speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and applied behavior analysis in one convenient and fun location.

As one of only a few fully certified speech pathologists in Profectum and ICDL in DIR®️ / Floortime™️ in Houston, she understands her clients’ challenges – how they process language, how they become regulated and how they move their body in order to build a strong foundation for communication.

In 2017, she finished a two year program to become a certified trainer in the DIR/Floortime Model and it is her mission to use this certification to teach and empower parents, caregivers and all professionals about this powerful tool. Vanessa is most excited about the opportunity for team members at SPACE to continue learning from one another and other professionals in related fields in order to provide tailored programming for every child!

Outside of work, Vanessa also stays active in volunteer organizations with her children through Young Mens Service League and National Charity League.

Kenya Pye
M.S. CCC-SLP

Kenya was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. She became interested in the field of speech language pathology while studying Early Childhood Education at Alabama State University where she received her Bachelor of Science. Realizing her passion for helping the pediatric population to communicate, she went on to pursue a Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Alabama A&M University.

Kenya loves working with the pediatric population and takes special interest in speech sound disorders and child-led therapy. She is a DIRFloortime®️️ Provider, who loves integrating traditional speech therapy with basic floortime principles. She strives to recognize the unique and individual needs of each child and to work in conjunction with caregivers to create a well-rounded treatment approach to meet their communication and feeding goals.

In her free time, Kenya enjoys traveling, playing sand volleyball with her co-workers, and finding fun and exciting things to do in Houston.

Anna Pidala
MS CFY

Hi everyone! I’m Anna Pidala. I graduated from Baylor University with a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and I am a Speech-Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow. One of my main interests is feeding therapy, where I work with individuals of all ages to develop safe and effective feeding and swallowing skills. It’s incredibly rewarding to help people overcome challenges that impact their nutrition and overall well-being.

I’m also very interested in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). I believe everyone deserves the chance to express themselves, so I focus on providing the right tools and strategies for those with complex communication needs. Working closely with my clients and their families, I aim to find the most effective communication solutions to promote independence and improve social interactions.

My background in research has shaped my approach as well. I’ve done work with eye-tracking technology and early autism diagnosis, which has helped me understand the early signs of autism and the importance of early intervention. This experience allows me to provide tailored support to children on the autism spectrum, giving them the best chance for success from the start.

Outside of work, I love getting lost in a good book and exploring new restaurants around the city. Houston’s food scene is incredible, and I’m always up for trying something new. I also enjoy playing tennis—it’s a great way to stay active and have fun! I’m thrilled to be a part of SPACE Therapy and Gym, and I am committed to making a positive impact in my clients’ lives every day!

Gina Drummond
Clinical Director, OTD, OTR

Gina joined the SPACE team in July 2018 and can’t imagine working anywhere else! Gina was born in Houston but grew up in Dallas. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Gina knew she wanted to work at a play-based pediatric clinic following her clinical fieldwork in northern Italy, where she used the DIRFloortime® treatment approach with American military families.

Gina strives to implement evidence-based care and actively seeks continuing education experiences. She is a Proficient DIRFloortime® Provider and has formal training in Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, sensory integration approaches, and emotional-regulation for children. She is passionate about child-led play and following a child’s lead to promote progress.

Having grown up with a sibling on the autism spectrum, Gina builds strong connections with caregivers and relates to families on a personal level. Outside of SPACE, Gina is a contributing faculty member and teaches at the University of St. Augustine in the MOT and OTD programs. In her free time, Gina enjoys traveling, being outside, and spending time with family and friends.

Madison Gilbert
MS CCC/SLP

Madison earned her Bachelor of Art and Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Baylor University. She was introduced to the field of Speech Pathology during an internship working with kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence with the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA), as well as a Texas speech-language pathology license.

She is experienced in diagnosing and treating speech, language and feeding disorders in toddlers, pre-school children and school-aged children, as well as evaluating and treating swallowing and cognitive-communication disorders in adults. She enjoys working with a collaborative team in advocating for early intervention. She is passionate about working with children and their families in meeting their functional communication goals!

Madison enjoys playing with her puppy, working out, traveling and finding new adventures in her hometown, Houston!

Jordan Frye
MOT, OTR

Jordan first joined the KCOT/SPACE team in 2017 as a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA), and became a registered occupational therapist (OTR) in 2021. She has several years experience (since 2015) providing compassionate, client-centered care under the DIR/Floortime® Approach. Jordan’s passion is enabling each child to meet their fullest potential toward functional independence in fun and fulfilling ways. She is committed to providing compassionate and personalized care for her clients and their families, equipping them with those resources and strategies best suited to meet their unique needs.

Jordan has a BA in Psychology from Baylor University, an Associate of Applied Science degree from HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences in the Texas Medical Center, and a Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) from The University of Louisiana at Monroe. Jordan holds certifications in DIR/Floortime®, the Sensory Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, the Beckman Oral Motor evaluation and intervention protocol, as well as various sensory integration, reflex integration, bilateral coordination, and vestibular-proprioceptive activation techniques.

Jordan has trained in the application of a wide variety of therapeutic programs to support child development, including:

-Primitive reflex integration protocols (e.g., Reflex Integration to Support Education/R.I.S.E., Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Integration/MNRI, Rhythmic Movement Training/RMT)
-Sensory integration techniques (e.g., Bal-A-Vis-X for brain and body integration, the Wilbarger Protocol of therapeutic brushing, the Astronaut Training Protocol for vestibular-visual-auditory integration, Integrated Listening Systems/iLs for auditory integration)
-Regulation and social skills curricula (e.g., Zones of Regulation, A Little Spot of Feelings, Social Thinking)
-Handwriting development programs (e.g., Handwriting Without Tears Ⓡ, Size Matters Ⓡ)
-Feeding therapy and oral motor protocols (e.g., SOS Approach to Feeding, SOS: Food Science Ⓡ, Beckman Oral Motor protocol)

Hope Smith
BCBA

Meet Hope Smith, a dedicated professional with a strong foundation in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She earned her Bachelor’s degree in ABA from the University of North Texas, where she began her journey as a therapist specializing in early childhood intervention for severe behaviors. Even before obtaining her degree, Hope’s commitment to helping others was evident in her role as a Day Hab instructor, where she assisted adults with developmental disabilities in acquiring essential life skills, such as meal preparation, navigating public transportation, and ordering food.

Driven by a passion for supporting individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, Hope pursued a Master’s degree in ABA with an emphasis on ASD at Ball State University. During this time, she expanded her expertise by working in the in-home sector, gaining valuable experience with various behaviors, skills, and age groups.

Hope’s professional philosophy is beautifully encapsulated in her favorite quote: “I know I’m doing my job right when I work myself out of a job.” She aims to empower each client to achieve their definition of independence. Working within this community has been profoundly rewarding for Hope, as she continues to learn and grow with every client she serves. She is excited to bring her experience, dedication, and passion to the SPACE Therapy and Gym family, where she looks forward to further contributing to the lives of the children and families she works with.