Social Coach at San Carlos Charter
March 2018 – December 2020

Speech-Language Pathologist at Peninsula Associates
September 2012 – March 2018

Speech-Language Pathologist at Pacific Autism Center for Education
August 2007 – August 2012

Partial list

Boston University
MS, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Boston College
BA, Italian

Beth Harmon has over 15 years of experience in the field of special education. Originally from the east coast, Beth earned her Bachelor’s degree in Italian and in general education in 2001. She worked for 2 years after graduation at "The Campus School," a school for students with multiple and severe special needs. In 2007, she earned a Master’s degree from Boston University in Speech and Language Pathology. During that time she interned and later worked at the Ely Center in Newton, MA, a comprehensive therapy center offering speech & language pathology, mental health services, and occupational therapy with a special concentration and expertise in social cognitive development. 

After graduation, Beth worked for 5 years at the Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE) in Santa Clara, CA as a Speech and Language Pathologist. She gained experience working with students aged 3-22 with various degrees of Autism ranging from mild to severe. Following PACE, she spent time working at the Peninsula Associates and the Morgan Autism Center in San Jose, CA working with a similar population utilizing the "Morgan Center Model" for educational services. Across both settings, she gained extensive knowledge in AAC (Alternative and Augmentative Communication) while working with low and high tech voice-output devices including Big Mac, Tech-4, GoTalk, Dynavox, Vantage, Accent, and iPad with communication apps such as Proloquo2Go, TouchChat and LAMP. She also created hundreds of low-tech visual supports using Boardmaker. In addition, she spearheaded creative social projects (e.g. school plays using voice output communication devices) and provided multiple trainings in local and national conferences on the integration of technology, visual supports and AAC use into best speech therapy and educational practices.

Beth has attended multiple Social Thinking™ conferences across her career and is passionate about helping students communicate effectively in social situations, as well as helping them find the joy and desire to form bonds with peers and adults using effective communication strategies. She is dedicated to integrating social opportunities and  technology across her therapy practice as a means to increase her client's independence in communication. Her hobbies include running, cycling and yoga.