About Us
LAUNCH understands the needs of exceptional children and their families. With a complete staff of professionals and volunteers, we are here to provide support for the children and their caregivers through individual and group therapy services, parent support groups and religious education.
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Chantelle B. Varnado, PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Varnado completed her Bachelor's (1999) and Master's (2001) degree at Southeastern Louisiana University and her PhD from Louisiana State University (2015) in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has 19 years experience in the treatment of children with developmental disabilities in Livingston Parish Public Schools, at Children's Hospital of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Launch. Her research interests include treatments addressing speech breathing in children with cerebral palsy.
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Katelyn Schexnaildre, LOTR
Katelyn graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from ULM in 2009. She was a certified elementary educator for grades 1-5 from 2009-2011. She returned to ULM to pursue her associate degree in occupational therapy and graduated May 2012. She practiced in adult inpatient rehabilitation with various diagnoses such as traumatic brain injuries, cerebral vascular accidents, orthopedic injuries, and spinal chord injuries. She has also practiced in outpatient pediatric clinics, pre-schools, and Pat Walker’s Children’s House for Abused and Neglected children while a resident in Fayetteville, AR. She returned to Louisiana to pursue her master’s degree in occupational therapy and was a member of the first graduating class of master’s of occupational therapy from ULM in December 2015.
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Hanna Woodard, MOT/LOTR
Hanna received her Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies from Louisiana State University in 2019 and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2022. Her clinical experiences include pediatric acute care, pediatric inpatient rehab, outpatient pediatrics, and adult inpatient forensic mental health. Hanna has a passion for working with children through all stages of life to achieve their full potential! She is so excited to join the Launch team and make a difference in the lives of her patients and their families!
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Jessica Fradella, COTA
Jessica graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University in 2018. She worked as a therapy technician in an outpatient adult rehabilitation facility for 1 year. Jessica returned to school to pursue her associate’s degree in occupational therapy and graduated in 2020 from Delgado Community College. She has clinical experience in adult inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient orthopedics, and outpatient pediatrics. Her 2 month clinical experience in pediatrics allowed her to work with children with developmental disabilities, autism, sensory processing, disruptive behaviors, and cerebral palsy. Jessica is dedicated to using her knowledge and skills to provide early intervention in order to help children achieve their full potential.
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Dara St. Pierre, SLP
Dara received her Bachelor’s degree (2019) and Master’s degree (2022) in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Louisiana State University. She gained clinical experience serving pediatric populations and addressing a variety of needs such as sensory feeding difficulties, speech/language disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and fluency disorders in schools and outpatient clinics. Dara’s goal is to provide patients with compassion, fun, and the opportunity to succeed.
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Allison Arnold, SLP
Allison received her Bachelor’s degree (2019) and Master’s degree (2021) in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Southeastern Louisiana University. Her clinical experiences include pediatric and adult outpatient care and adult inpatient care. She has experience serving pediatric populations including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, speech sound disorders, and speech and language delays/disorders. Allison is passionate about working with children and desires to help each child reach their greatest potential through fun and meaningful therapy.
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Alex Herbert, SLP
Alex received her Bachelor’s degree (2018) and Master’s degree (2020) in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Louisiana State University. She has clinical experience serving the pediatric population with a variety of disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, genetic disorders, feeding and swallowing difficulties, speech/language delays, and participation on a multi-disciplinary cleft palate panel. She is passionate about early intervention and believes the key to success is parent involvement and multi-disciplinary collaboration.
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Rebecca Walker, SLP
Rebecca received her bachelor's degree (1998) and master's degree (2000) from Southeastern Louisiana University. She spent the firs six years of her career treating adult and geriatric populations, with a variety of communication, cognitive, and swallowing disorders, in an acute care and inpatient rehabilitation setting. Rebecca has spent the last nine (+) years working with people who have intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. She enjoys advocating for her patients and helping them have the best quality of life possible.
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Anna Walker, MOT/LOTR
Anna is a Central native who received her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University in 2018. She then moved to Mobile where she gained her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of South Alabama in 2021.
During her time in college and graduate school she became passionate about advocating for individuals with autism and seeing teens with disabilities acheive independence. She is ecstatic to join the team at Launch and live out her purpose of helping people. She can’t wait to support her patients and their families as they achieve all that they’re capable of with fun and functional activities. |
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Brianna Fasullo, DPT
Brianna graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Business Administration from Louisiana State University in 2018. Brianna graduated with her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in 2021. She has clinical experience in pediatric and adult outpatient care and adult inpatient care. She has experience working with various pediatric populations including children with Torticollis, Cerebral Palsy, Idiopathic Toe Walking, Gross Motor Developmental Delay, Autism, and various other orthopedic impairments. |
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Meaghan Neyrey, SLP
Meaghan received her bachelor’s degree (2017) and master’s degree (2019) in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Southeastern Louisiana University. Her clinical experiences include serving pediatric patients in the school system and outpatient settings as well as adult patients in skilled nursing facilities and hospice care. She has clinical experience serving pediatric populations including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, hearing impairment, speech sound disorders, speech and language delays and disorders, social communication deficits, augmentative communication, and feeding disorders. Meaghan is passionate about providing a way for every individual to share their thoughts and ideas with the people around them to improve overall quality of life for the client and their loved ones.
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Tina Joiner
Tina has been in the medical field since 2004. She has worked in chiropractics, family practice and psychiatry. She’s worked with the foster care system for several years to help children achieve permanency in safe and loving homes. During that time she has gained valuable experience in helping children with special needs access medical services. She had a sister with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus who greatly influenced the passion she has for helping children and families. Her extensive insurance and billing knowledge allow her to assist families by helping them get the most of their benefits. She joined the Launch team in May of 2018 as our office manager.
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Ainsleigh LaCombe, SLP
Ainsleigh received her bachelors degree in Communication Science and Disorders in 2019 from Southeastern Louisiana University and her masters degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2021 from Southeastern Louisiana University. Her clinical experiences include pediatric and adult outpatient and pediatric patients in the school system. She has clinical experience with speech/language delays/disorders, autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, feeding difficulties, cerebral palsy, and various neurological and genetic conditions. Ainsleigh is passionate about helping each child reach their greatest potential through multi-disciplinary collaboration, building relationships, and creating a welcoming, fun environment.
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Danielle Roblin, OT
Danielle graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from LSUHSC in 2003. She has exclusively worked with the pediatric population for the past 13 years in both outpatient and home health settings. She has experience serving children with many different diagnosis, including Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Sensory Modulation Disorder, Feeding Disorders, Hydrocephalus, and other neurological impairments. She has also served as a team member of the Infant, Child, and Family Center, which serves children birth to six years old, who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol and/or other drugs.
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Ashlie Erwin, SLP
Ashlie received her bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2005 from Louisiana State University and her master's degree in 2008 from Southeastern Louisiana University. She has spent the 13 years of her career treating the pediatric population in the local public-school setting. She has spent the last 4 years providing PRN speech therapy services at Launch. Ashlie believes in the importance of early intervention and the implementation of functional life skills within and outside the clinical setting. Her goal is to help her patients have the best quality of life possible. When not providing therapy, Ashlie enjoys spending time with her husband and sons. |
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Jill Broussard, PT
Jill graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Cal State Long Beach in 1990 and relocated to Louisiana in 1992. She has specialized in pediatrics for the past 12 years. While working as an Early Interventionist she serves the birth to three population and is especially fond of medically fragile children. Her caseload includes Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Pediatric Stroke, Prematurity and Developmental Delay. When she isn’t helping children meet their physical therapy goals she enjoys spending time with her seven wonderful children.
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Jade Coxe
Jade earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Southeastern Louisiana University in the Fall of 2019. She is an integral part of the Launch team! She has a servants heart and enjoys helping the community. In her spare time Jade enjoys traveling and selling real estate. |
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Jordan Johnson
Jordan is a recent graduate of Medical Training College and has a diploma in Medical Office Health and Information Technician. At Launch, she works as our Patient Care Coordinator supporting billing, scheduling, and maintaining HIPAA Regulations. Jordan spends her spare time enjoying her two beautiful girls. |
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Michelle Landry
Michelle received her CPC through AAPC in 2016 and has been with Launch since. She is our insurance precertification specialist. Michelle's experience working with children in the childcare setting is what inspires her to advocate for our patients. She is an active member of our community and resides in Watson with her husband and daughter. |
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Kaleigh Scallan, COTA
Kaleigh recently graduated in December 2021 with her Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy from ULM and will graduate this year (2022) with her Bachelor’s degree in Health Studies. She plans to pursue her Master’s degree soon after through the ULM Bridge Program. Kaleigh found her love for pediatric therapy during her clinical rotation at Launch, in which she gained experience working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental delay, sensory processing deficits, Cerebral Palsy, and fine motor delays. She also has clinical experience involving outpatient orthopedics, hand therapy, and psychiatric health. Kaleigh is passionate about working with children to help them achieve success in all aspects of their lives throughout individualized, meaningful, and FUN therapeutic interventions! |
MORE THAN THERAPY SERVICES
LAUNCH provides high-quality evidence-based practices conveniently located for the residents of Livingston Parish and surrounding areas. This enables children to participate in optimal therapy, academic, and family time.