Front Range Children’s Therapies LLC is committed to providing high quality, evidence-based, culturally responsive therapy. Our mission is to create a welcoming therapy environment where all children and families are heard.
We believe in individualized, child-centered, evidence-based therapies. We believe in the power of play! Children learn through their environment and through play. With play therapy, we utilize toys that are familiar to the child to expand their language skills.
Family and community are important to a child’s growth and success. We will give you tools and strategies to help expand your child’s speech and language skills after their therapy session is over. You can use these ideas in daily routines and out and about in the world.
Victoria Ortega
Owner and Speech-Language Pathologist
Hi! My name is Victoria (she/her), but I often go by Tori. I am a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and the owner of Front Range Children’s Therapies LLC.
I grew up in Southern Colorado and spent many years in New Mexico as well. I love working with children and always have. I’ve been working with them in one form or another for over 20 years. I’ve taught preschool, provided after school care, worked in the nursery, babysat, and nannied. I’ve worked with preschool-age children as a Speech-Language Pathologist in clinics, schools, tele-health, daycares, and clients’ homes.
My experience includes working with children with a variety of disabilities and communication delays including expressive and receptive language delays/disorders, speech sound disorders, Apraxia, Down Syndrome, Cri-du-chat Syndrome, Autism, William’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, seizure disorders, and many others. I’ve also worked with AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) users by evaluating the child and recommending appropriate AAC systems, programming vocabulary, teaching users how to use an AAC system, and applying for funding for a speech generating device.
Things to know about me:
- My passion is early childhood! I love working with young children and exploring the world with them. We move around and make a lot of noise and have a lot of fun while getting stuff done.
- I love learning! I also really like researching. I do a lot of professional development courses, read research, and participate in online learning communities.
- I am a neurodiversity affirming therapist. I believe that there are a variety of neurotypes including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourette’s Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and many more. These are differences in how the brain works. Neurodivergent people don’t need to be “cured.” My job is to listen to neurodivergent voices and help my clients develop communication skills, perspective-taking, self-advocacy, self-determination, setting and observing personal boundaries, giving and obtaining consent, and safety. Learn a little more about neurodiversity here.
- I presume competence. This means that I view all children as having the capacity to think, learn, and understand the world. I do not assume that they can’t understand or are incapable. They may need supports or accommodations to succeed, and I specialize in helping each child identify the most helpful solutions.
- I believe that there are many ways to communicate. Communication comes in many forms and helping children and families discover ways to connect is so rewarding. Whether through body movement, sign language, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), writing, drawing or using spoken words, it is all valid!
Licenses and Training:
- Bachelor’s of Science in Speech and Hearing Science from The University of New Mexico
- Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
- The Children’s Communicative Competence Project – a federally funded training grant through Penn State which provided additional classwork and specialized training in AAC evaluation and services. These courses were taught by Dr. Janice Light (a leading researcher in AAC).
- ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association) Certified Member
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies – Licensed/Certified Speech Language Pathologist