Bio

Ann M. Coleman, M.S.,CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

Ann M. Coleman earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Worcester State College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her Master of Science Degree in Speech/Language Pathology was earned from Northeastern University’s Graduate School of Boston-Bouve College of Human Development Professions in Boston, Massachusetts.

The first five years of Mrs. Coleman’s professional career was working in human resources for a major computer company. Her teaching background provided her with the skills required to interview, recruit, career counsel, train personnel, design a temporary employment program and write a monthly employee newsletter.

Mrs. Coleman spent the next twenty-two years of her professional career dedicated to the field of speech-language pathology. For eight years she provided speech pathology services within public schools in Massachusetts and in Florida. In 1990, she opened her own private practice in Fort Myers, Florida. In this solo practice she specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders in children and adults. Her patients ranged in age from 12 months to 85 years old. People with disorders of articulation, language, stuttering, voice, hearing and stroke came to her for help to communicate.

In 1992, Mrs. Coleman was the First Place Winner of Florida’s Language and Speech Association’s Marketing Award. In 2001, her first book, On Your Own: A Resource Manual for Starting a Successful Private Practice as a Solo Practitioner in Speech-Language Pathology was published by PRO-ED, an international publisher. Prior to her relocation to northeast Florida, she sold her thriving private practice to three speech pathologists where her work continued to be carried out in the community.

Mrs. Coleman is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Florida Language And Speech Hearing Association, Florida Writers Association and FWA’s Amelia Island Writers Group. She continues to work part-time as an independent contractor in the field of speech-language pathology.

Developing a life-long career in speech-language pathology was unplanned. As a young girl and throughout the author’s undergraduate college years, she desired to be an elementary school teacher. Reading, writing, books, teachers and school were always priorities in her life. What a shock it was in 1975 when she graduated from college prepared to teach school with no teaching jobs to be had. The teaching profession was flooded with education majors with no market demand for employment.

Speech-language pathology positions were as in demand then as they are today. Since Mrs. Coleman’s minor in college was in this field, she was able to obtain employment as a Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Impaired. Several years later she pursued a graduate degree in this challenging field which led to a wide range of professional growth and opportunities.

When asked about her profession, Mrs. Coleman stated, “ Helping people communicate is very fulfilling. To think that I do this for a living is a true blessing.”