Madi Sunderland, M.S. CCC-SLP

Free At-School Speech Screenings

Hello! My name is Madi, and I'm a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in NOVA! My passion to become an SLP started when my youngest sister was a delayed talker. This opened my eyes to the profession and I knew it was the right career for me.I pursued my career to empower individuals across all ages to find their voice. After earning my bachelor’s degree from James Madison University, I completed my master’s in speech-language pathology at George Washington University, where I gained hands-on experience in diverse clinical settings. I believe in a total communication approach when building communication skills by incorporating sign language, AAC, and nonverbal communication. I am committed to evidence-based practice and compassionate and engaging care, optimizing outcomes in the lives of clients and their families.Outside work, you can find me enjoying being outside with my husband and son. I love to spend the day at a winery or finding a new local hiking spot!

What's a Speech Screening?

I understand that educators and parents deeply value their children's speech, learning, and social development. That's why I offer free speech screenings at schools, where I conduct speech and language assessments on-site. These screenings are offered at no cost and are designed to quickly determine whether a child may have speech or language difficulties that could benefit from a full evaluation. Each screening will take approximately 10–15 minutes and will include but not limited to:

Articulation

  • Overall Intelligibility: Can unfamiliar adults understand the child?

  • Sound Acquisition: Can the child pronouce certain sound (e.g., /v, s, z/)?

  • Speech Sound Elicitation: Use picture cards or a sound screener to elicit target sounds in words.

receptive language

  • Follows directions: 1-step, 2-step, depending on age

  • Understands basic concepts: e.g., colors, size, quantity

  • Answers simple “wh-” questions: what, where, & who

Social-Pragmatic Skills

  • Eye contact, turn-taking

  • Initiating and maintaining interactions

  • Response to social cues

stuttering or dysfluencies

  • Signs of stuttering: repetitions, blocks

  • Voice quality: hoarseness, pitch issues

  • Physical and Emotional Signs: Facial tension or grimacing

Learn More

How do free at-school Screenings work?

  • Screen: We provide free at-school speech screenings for children. If I notice any disfluencies, I will make a note.

  • Coordinate: We share results with families. If a full evaluation is recommended, we'll help them get started using their insurance.

  • Start: We begin therapy at school and accept all major insurances. You can learn more below.

Evaluation and Therapy at School During School Hours

If an evaluation or ongoing therapy is recommended, I can provide services at the school during regular school hours. I believe this is the best option for children and family for several reasons:

  • Children receive therapy in their natural learning environment — children feel more at ease in familiar settings, which reduces anxiety and increases their confidence to participate in therapy sessions.

  • There's no disruption to the school day — children don't need to leave for therapy sessions. They remain in the school environment, ensuring they do not miss valuable instructional time.

  • It's convenient for parents — this can eliminate the need to coordinate transportation to therapy appointments.

Insurance

I accept All Major insurance commonly used in the area, including:

  • Anthem BCBS

  • Aetna

  • CareFirst

  • United Healthcare

  • Cigna

  • Kaiser

  • Tricare

  • Most Medicaid Plans

Private Pay

If you would like to pay out of pocket, I can accept credit card and HSA accounts.

  • 60-minute one-time evaluation rate: $199

  • 30-minute recurring session rate: $95

I'm a parent. How do I sign up?

If you're a parent interested in free screenings, please share this website with your child's school, and I'll coordinate with the school staff for screenings.If your child's school has scheduled a free screening with us, please click the sign up button below complete my in-take form. It takes less than two minutes!

I'm a school staff. How do I schedule screenings for my school?

If you work for a school and is interested in scheduling a free at-school screening with me, please fill out the contact form below or email us directly at [email protected] for questions.I look forward to hearing from you!