Lina M. Slim-Topdjian, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCBA
Principle Partner and Director of Educational and Behavioral Services
ASAP - A Step Ahead Program.

Ms. Slim-Topdjian is a highly experienced Speech and Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, who has extensive experience working with children exhibiting a wide range of communication disorders resulting from sensory processing/sensory integration dysfunctions and physiologic impairments. She focuses her specialty around children with autism spectrum disorder and apraxia.

Ms. Slim-Topdjian has ove 20 years of clinical and educational practice in a variety of settings, mostly around children. This includes special services within public schools, children's hospitals and pediatric rehabilitation facilities. She also maintains a burgeoning pediatric speech-language pathology private practice, provides consulting services to child study teams for children with speech-motor disorders, developmental disabilities and that carry the disgnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Ms. Slim-Topdjian also offers parent training/consultation and education programs, conducts functional bbehavioral assessment and provides behavioral intervention plans children with challenging behaviors.

Prior to starting her own business, Ms. Slim-Topdjian had various clinical, supervisory and managerial positions in such reputable institutions as the University of Pittsburgh Medical College, Allegheny General Hospital, Saint-Agnes Children's Hospital and Overlook Hospital. Using her clinical background, Ms. Slim-Topdjian focused her career on developing early intervention programs for children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders-PDD within the public school systems and her private practice.

Her educational background in pre-medical studies and psychology enriches Ms. Slim-Topdjian's extensive knowledge in the current speech and language clinical practices and applied behavior methodlolgies, to children with PDD and other developmental disabilities. This well-rounded background has led her to create a unique blend of comprehensive therapeutic intervention plans tailored to the needs and learning style of each child. She strongly supports an inter-disciplinary approach in the intervention process. As such, Ms. Slim-Topdjian's programs are geared towards creating a positive and enriching learning environment by implementing evidence-based practices and integrating across multiple subject areas and incorporating a unique blend of age appropriate education, body movement, rhythm, music and gestural signing into the different therapy sessions (speech, communication, occupational and physical). Ms. Slim-Topdjian's techniques have demonstrated that with such a holistic approach, core therapy is enhanced and the child's own experience is enriched, hence leading to an accelerated therapy progress and the generalization of the newly acquired skills and behaviors.

Ms. Slim-Topdjian has graduated with a Masters in Communication Disorders and Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburg, and a degree in Biology and pre-medical studies with a minor in Psychology from the American University. She holds certification in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and holds Certificates of Clinical Competency and is a member of ASHA, NJSHA, MCSHA, UCSHA, JABA and ABA. She lives in Long Hill Township, NJ with her husband and two sons.