Maria Balkji

I am a graduate student in Communication Science Disorders at Baylor University, completing my master's program in May 2025. I eagerly pursue clinical practicum and placement opportunities to build hands-on expertise in speech-language pathology.

Through internships in medical and educational settings, I have conducted comprehensive evaluations and implemented individualized treatment plans for adults with swallowing disorders, voice disorders, aphasia, cognitive-communication needs, and AAC requirements. I have provided direct therapy for fluency disorders, swallowing rehabilitation, and voice and language impairments while documenting progress to clinical standards.

I have substantial pediatric experience delivering therapy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and diverse language needs in school and clinic environments. I use evidence-based techniques including visual supports, social stories, play-based interventions, and AAC strategies, and I collaborate closely with teachers, parents, behavior analysts, and interdisciplinary teams to optimize outcomes.

In addition to clinical training, I bring long-term caregiving and early childhood teaching experience and have presented on Gestalt Language Learning for behavior technicians. I am multilingual (Armenian, Turkish, Arabic) and hold certifications and trainings such as Dynavox/AAC, MBSImP swallow assessment, MOCA, AHA BLS, and early childhood teaching credentials.