Jessica Ackerman, MSCCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 23 years of clinical and research experience in healthcare as a therapist specializing in memory, voice, and cognition in the aging and chronic disease population, a patient advocate, and an educator. Jessica is also a registered yoga and meditation teacher, committed to bringing access of transformational breath- based yoga and meditation to all. Jessica has incorporated the skilled practices employed across communication therapy, neurology specialty, counseling, yoga, meditation, and breath training to reach people where they are and bring them where they want to be, optimizing health and functional performance in training for life.

Research is widely accepted that breath-based yoga practices and mindfulness meditation reduce stress, anxiety, illness, and overall medical costs; and promote healing, health, and wellness through improved sleep, weight management, stress reduction, immune system, and overall health.

From decades of experience working with patients with Parkinson's and other Neurological deficits, Jessica is passionate about bringing effective solutions in communication to all people impacted by Parkinson's and other Neurologic diseases. In her SPEAK STEADY PROGRAM, Jessica systematically and clinically blends her expertise in voice and speech therapy for Parkinson's Disease, including LSVT LOUD, with a Breath-Based Yoga movement practice, to optimize communication and quality of life.

Jessica has had significant positive outcomes with her proprietary Speak Steady program, which aims to maximize vocal loudness, breath support for speech, and intelligibility of speech that so often impact communication effectiveness of people with Parkinson's Disease.

Within this construct, Jessica incorporates voice techniques for increasing loudness and precise articulation. The deliberate focus of this program is an effective complement to any movement-based programs, with neuromuscular training for positive outcomes in increased vocal loudness, breath support for speech, endurance, balance, and maximizing functional movement.

In working with many hundreds of patients with Parkinson's and neurological diseases, Jessica knows that Communication is Life. The impact of diminished verbal expression cannot be underestimated. She is a strong advocate that there are effective ways to improve communication, conversation, and socialization. She blends deep knowledge of brain science with art and sees each individual as a whole person, with the objective of maximizing overall quality of life.