Casey Oliver, M.S., CCC-SLP

Casey Oliver, M.S., CCC-SLP 

My experience working in the public schools as a speech pathologist and being the parent of children in the Catholic school system has prepared and inspired me to create this unique speech pathology practice and vocal arts studio.   Being not only a speech pathologist but also a liturgical musician and voice teacher, my training and experience is ideally suited for teaching healthy singing and speaking technique to vocalists of all ability levels.  Communication and the human voice have always been passions of mine, and I strive to help people achieve both their communicative and artistic goals. 

Education

• Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Nevada, Reno (2000)
• Dual Bachelor degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno:  Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Concentration) and Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology (1998)

Professional Memberships and Certifications 

• American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence
• State of California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Bureau licensure
• California Commision on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Preliminary Speech Language Pathology Services Credential
• California Speech and Hearing Association (CSHA)
• National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
• National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM)

Professional Experience

• Owner/speech pathologist/voice instructor for Oliver Speech Language Pathology and Vocal Arts (OSLPVA), a private practice and vocal arts studio offering comprehensive speech-language pathology services, speaking and singing voice training, and liturgical music education services in Carmichael, California (August 2008-present) 
• Language, Speech and Hearing Specialist for the San Juan Unified School District in Carmichael, California (August 2009-present)
• Cantor at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California (2007-present)
• Volunteer cantor at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Carmichael, California (2007-present)
• Cantor at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Carmichael, California (April 2008-present)
• Owner/voice instructor/speech pathologist for Vocal Arts Studio, a voice studio and private practice offering singing and speaking voice assessments and therapy as well as traditional singing and speaking voice training in Las Vegas, Nevada (2001-2006) 
• Speech-language pathologist for the Vegas Voice Institute, a private practice specializing in medical speech-language pathology and voice disorders (2006-2007)
• Speech-language pathologist for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada (2000-2005)
• Music Coordinator and Director of Liturgical Music for St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Henderson, Nevada (2004-2007)
• Cantor for St. John Neuman Catholic Church in North Las Vegas, Nevada (2000-2003)

The Inspiration for OSLPVA 

In the spring of 2008, I volunteered to start a speech and language screening program at my daughter's school.  The response to the screening program was overwhelming.  I talked to the parents of the children who participated in the screening program, and I came to realize there is great need for focused and integrated speech-language services in the Sacramento-area Catholic schools.  The federally-funded programs offered by the school districts in this area are available to children in private schools, but those services are limited.  There are community clinics and private speech pathology practices in Sacramento, but the families at my daughter's school were not accessing them.  No services were being directly offered to students on campus during the school day.  I decided to take action and create a private practice to help meet the need for speech services at my daughter's school and other Catholic schools in the area.  But I am only one person...only one practice.  My long term goal is to develop a business model that can be replicated by other speech-language pathologists.  I want to encourage other therapists to reach out to the Catholic school community and to bring comprehensive speech pathology services to all Catholic schools. 

My background in singing, teaching voice, cantoring, and being a music director at a Catholic church inspired the "vocal arts" side of my practice.  Liturgical musicians faithfully serve the Catholic community but are offered limited practical support and training.  It is important to invest in music ministries by providing musicians the resources they need to serve at the best of their abilities.   I see the need for more education about vocal health, healthy singing technique, music in liturgy, and strategies to meet the unique challenges and responsibilities of being a liturgical musician. 

I feel both honored and called to serve the Catholic community in my own special way.  I strongly believe that other speech pathologists and voice teachers can also serve their individual faith communities by developing private practices and voice studios to meet the distinct needs of their religious schools and places of worship.