VernaAnn Kotansky, MA, CCC-SLP, is a nationally certified speech-language pathologist and President of Resources at Lakeshore Speech, LLC. A native of Western New York, she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo.
With more than 30 years of experience, VernaAnn has dedicated her career to helping children communicate confidently through innovative speech and language therapy. Her professional expertise spans hospital, rehabilitation, developmental center, and public school settings—always with a focus on empowering children through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and the use of communication boards.
Her areas of interest include AAC and Assistive Technology, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Social Communication/Pragmatics, and Executive Function. VernaAnn holds advanced certifications in Assistive Technology for Communication and Classroom Applications from the University of South Florida. She is also T.E.A.C.C.H. certified, PECS trained, and a proud Martha Holden Jennings Scholar.
VernaAnn maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is an active member of the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OSLHA), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT). She continues to provide school-based speech therapy services, ensuring her clinical practice remains current and family-centered.
As President of Resources at Lakeshore Speech, LLC, VernaAnn leads with a mission to make communication accessible to everyone. Her company designs and produces affordable, high-quality communication boards and AAC resources that promote inclusion in schools, playgrounds, and communities across the nation. Resources at Lakeshore Speech’s Playground Communication Boards are now used nationwide to support individuals with communication differences and to raise awareness about AAC.
VernaAnn lives in Lakewood, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters. She is passionate about helping families, educators, and communities understand the power of AAC and communication boards to foster inclusion, connection and a voice for every individual.