St. Nicholas Center for Children

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

In May, we celebrated Mother's Day in a fun way! We went to The Children's Museum at Port Wonder. We know what we do is successful because of the support of our families!

05/29/2026

☀️🍦Keri Hilton and Sweet Frog Lake Charles brought some sweet treats for our friends. We can’t think of a better way to kick off summer! 🐸🍨

05/29/2026

🎙️ Team Spotlight: Michelle Kramer, SLP & Therapy Supervisor 🎙️
Meet Michelle Kramer, a speech therapist and therapy supervisor at St. Nicholas Center who is all about service, flexibility, and pure joy! Michelle spends her days making a difference and helping our kiddos find their spark. ✨

✨ A Heart for Service
Michelle chose Speech-Language Pathology because she wanted a career that allowed her to serve others and make a lasting impact. Whether she’s supervising the team or working one-on-one with a patient, that purpose shines through in everything she does!

🏆 A Major Milestone
We live for progress like this! Michelle recently celebrated a huge win with a patient who started therapy in September and had yet to find their voice.
This patient just used 40 verbal words and phrases in a single session! Not only are they talking more in the clinic, but they are also using their AAC device and verbal skills to communicate with their family at home. 🗣️🏠

💡 Michelle’s Therapy Essentials:
The "Magic" Item: Bubbles! 🫧

Clinical Focus: Michelle is passionate about Early Intervention and AAC, and she’s currently diving deep into Gestalt Language Processing (GLP).

Pro-Tip for CFs: "Be a flexible thinker!" In this field, being able to pivot is your greatest superpower. 🦸‍♀️

⚡ Fast Favorites:
Walk-up Song: 🎵 Happy by Pharrell Williams

Favorite Word: Snickerdoodle! 🍪

Recharge Routine: Playing with her dogs, gardening, or getting a good workout in. 🪴🐾💪

Michelle’s commitment to her patients and her team makes SNC a better place every day.

05/22/2026

City Councilman Matt Vezinot has a heart of GOLD. Any time we have a maintenance need at SNCC, he arrives ready to help. We are so grateful for his acts of service to our kids and our mission.

05/15/2026

💙💦At St. Nicholas Center, we invite our families to participate in our water safety program utilizing skilled instructors who are certified in special needs swim. 🏊‍♀️

As we honor International Water Safety Day, we’re proud to share that Erin Brooker Lozott, Program Director at Els for Autism, has been published in Autism Spectrum News.

Her article, “Safe and Inclusive Aquatics for Autistic Individuals: An Evidence-Based Approach to Water Safety and Skill Development,” highlights the urgent need for accessible, evidence-based swim instruction for individuals with autism.

With drowning remaining one of the leading causes of death in the state of Florida for individuals with autism, this work reinforces a critical message: water safety is not optional; it’s essential. Through structured, individualized instruction and family involvement, aquatics can build not only life-saving skills but also confidence, independence, and connection.

This International Water Safety Day, we remain committed to creating safer, more inclusive aquatic environments for all. 💙 Visit https://autismspectrumnews.org/safe-and-inclusive-aquatics-for-autistic-individuals-an-evidence-based-approach-to-water-safety-and-skill-development/ to read the full article.

05/15/2026

We were so excited to honor St. Nicholas Center supporters, Dr. Bob & Rachel Anderson with the Spirit of St. Nicholas Award at A Brewer’s Plate. Please take a moment to watch this video and congratulate them.

This is "The Spirit of St. Nicholas Award 2026" by Healthy Image on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

05/15/2026

🎙️ Team Spotlight: Elizabeth Scofield, SLPA 🎙️
Say hello to Elizabeth Scofield! Originally set on being a teacher, Elizabeth pivoted to the world of speech therapy after seeing her younger cousin find his voice through therapy. Today, she brings that same passion for one-on-one connection to every patient at St. Nicholas Center!

✨ From Teaching to Therapy
Elizabeth’s heart for service is rooted in family. Witnessing her cousin's journey showed her just how life-changing this field can be. Now, she’s dedicated to helping other families experience those same crucial breakthroughs.

🏆 A Heartwarming Win
Success isn't always about the number of words—it’s about the joy of connection.

Elizabeth recently celebrated a major win with a patient who initially didn't want to participate. By finding the child’s favorite things, she helped them discover the pure joy of interacting with others! 🌟

💡 Elizabeth’s Therapy Essentials:
The "Magic" Tools: Anything creative! You’ll often find her with a Magnadoodle or drawing directly on a marker board table. ✍️🎨

Words of Wisdom: "Assume you always have something to learn, whether that be from a fellow therapist, client, or family member."

Clinical Passions: She is currently focused on Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and AAC.

⚡ Fast Favorites:
Walk-up Song: 🎤 Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey (bringing that classic inspiration!)

Favorite Word: Delicious 😋

Recharge Routine: Heading home to spend quality time with her 8-month-old!

Elizabeth’s humble, "always learning" attitude and creative spirit make her such a valuable part of our team.

05/14/2026

🎙️ Team Spotlight: Alex Viola, SLP 🎙️
Meet Alex Viola, an SLP at St. Nicholas Center who knows that sometimes the biggest impacts come from the smallest, most meaningful moments. Whether she’s fueling up with caffeine or rocking out to classic hits, Alex is all about celebrating the progress of her patients!

✨ The Power of Connection
Alex finds her greatest joy in the long-term relationships she builds with her families and the collaborative spirit of the SNC interdisciplinary team. She is currently most passionate about Early Intervention and Social Communication, helping our kiddos navigate the world with confidence.

🏆 A Heartwarming Win
Sometimes, the best part of the day happens before the session even starts!

Alex recently shared the incredible feeling of walking into the lobby and hearing a cheerful "Hi Alex!" from a child who had not found their voice when they first started therapy. There’s truly no better sound! 🗣️👋

💡 Alex’s Therapy Essentials:
The "Magic" Tools: The ever-reliable bubbles and a classic game of Go Fish. 🫧🃏

Advice for CFs: "Be flexible and appreciate the small gains/wins that are made every day."

Clinical Interests: Deepening her expertise in Feeding & Swallowing and Social Communication.

⚡ Fast Favorites:
Walk-up Song: 🎸 Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones

Favorite Word: Snicklefritz 🍭

Recharge Routine: One word: COFFEE!!! ☕️☕️☕️

Alex’s dedication to her patients' "small wins" leads to massive breakthroughs.

05/13/2026

Hooray for Our Graduate! 🎓✨
Today, we are celebrating a very special milestone for one of our favorite friends! Watching you grow, learn, and hit your goals has been the highlight of our time together.

From mastering new skills to showing us all what resilience looks like, you’ve worked so hard to get to this moment. While we will miss seeing your smiling face every day, we are so incredibly proud of the person you’ve become.

The world is a little brighter because of you! Congratulations on your graduation—we can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll do next. 🌟💙