ABOUT SHANNON

Passionate about helping others 

ENJOY LIFE!

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Shannon Locke, M.S., CCC-SLP

Shannon graduated from Missouri State University cum laude with her Master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 1998. Prior to this degree, she worked every spare minute through High school and College with individuals with developmental disabilities and autism through local camp programs. She has accumulated 25 yrs of experience with autism, communication disorders, and other developmental disabilities in community-based, medical, private practice, and school settings.

In 2010, Shannon created and directed the Ozark Area Autism Clinic at a local private hospital, offering a multidisciplinary differential diagnosis of ASD and was subsequently named Director of the new Pediatric Therapy Dept. Shannon also developed S.L. Speech & Language Solutions, now known as Autism Outfitters, in order to offer further private consultation, education, programming, and public speaking services for individuals in need in her area.

Shannon has taught undergraduate and graduate students per course at Missouri State University (MSU) for both the Communication Sciences and Disorders Dept. and the Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education dept. and most recently was an Autism Resource Specialist for the Missouri-Department of Elementary and Secondary Education through MSU's Project ACCESS. In this role, she was one of three full-time statewide Specialists consulting with and training public educators serving students with autism across Missouri.

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Shannon lives in Nixa, MO with her husband Scott "Hippie", daughter Kaitlyn, dogs Lady and Busiek, and cat Kasha. The family enjoys skydiving, camping, kayaking, and traveling together and any other activity that gets them out and about to enjoy life! Shannon believes in and lives her life to love others and nature and celebrate our differences while fostering our connectivity.

Certifications

• MO Board Certified & ASHA Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist since 1998

• Four-time recipient of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) ACE Award!

• Certified Administrator of the ADOS - Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule

Experience

• Educator

• Advocate

• Consultant

• Adjunct Professor @ MSU

• 10+ years school SLP

• Chair of the MO Speech-Lang Hearing Association (MSHA)2020 Convention 

• Member of development team for the American Speech Language Hearing Assoc. (ASHA) Board Special Certification in Autism Spectrum Disorders

• MO First Steps provider

• Developer of Ozarks Area Autism Clinic

• Director Pediatric Therapy Services- Ozarks Com. Hospital

• In-District Autism Consultant Project ACCESS

• Private Contractor Rural MO & AR schools

• Previous President Tri-Lakes Sertoma club

• Active: MO Family to Family org., ASHA Special Interest division for Autism, and many more…

• Family Member and Case Manager for two adult individuals with significant disabilities

• Skydiving Coach