Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist Jinan Erchid Champions a Future Where Every Child Has a Voice

Licensed speech-language pathologist Jinan Erchid says the most meaningful breakthroughs rarely unfold in big, dramatic moments. They happen in the quiet ones. She lives for the times when a child expresses a feeling without being prompted or when a toddler forms a new word and looks to their parents with pride. She treasures the relief that washes over a mother’s face the first time she hears “I love you” from a child who once struggled to speak at all.

“It is those small moments of progress that keep me inspired,” Erchid said. “Each one represents hope, growth and the power of connection.”

Her work may be clinical at its core, but its impact is deeply human. As a trilingual clinician of Arab background, a mother of three boys and an advocate for underserved communities, Erchid has built a career defined by compassion, cultural responsiveness and an unshakable belief that communication is a fundamental right.

She grew up speaking three languages, an experience that shaped her earliest understanding of identity and connection. It also sparked a lifelong fascination with the science of language.

“My journey began with a deep appreciation for how people connect,” she said. “I saw early on how communication challenges can affect confidence, relationships and learning. This field blends science, compassion and creativity. I knew I had found my calling.”

That calling eventually became a mission to provide high-quality, culturally sensitive speech-language services for children and families who are too often overlooked.

Erchid: ‘Community Service is a Responsibility’ 

Jinan Erchid’s story cannot be separated from her cultural identity. Growing up trilingual shaped not only her relationship with language, but her sensitivity to the nuances that many clinicians miss. She knew firsthand how dialect, accent and linguistic diversity shape how a child learns, expresses themselves and is perceived by others.

“Communication is tied to identity and culture,” she said. “Therapy must reflect those values.”

In the summer of 2015, that truth became even clearer when she witnessed a striking gap in services across the Arab Gulf. Families searching for help had few options, and culturally appropriate speech-language care was often unavailable.

“That experience changed me,” she said. “I realized how many children were being left behind simply because there were not enough bilingual or culturally aware clinicians.”

The shortage is not just global. It exists across the United States, particularly in communities in Florida, Texas and major urban areas where linguistic diversity is high but resources are stretched thin.

“One of the biggest challenges is the lack of bilingual and culturally responsive clinicians,” she said. “Too many assessments and interventions are not designed with linguistic diversity in mind. It can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed care.”

Her response has been consistent: advocate, educate and provide access wherever possible. Over the years, she has organized free speech and hearing screenings, created parent workshops and partnered with schools and community organizations to increase awareness of early intervention.

For Erchid, outreach is not extra. It is the work.

“Community service is a responsibility,” she said. “Every family deserves access, regardless of their circumstances.”

Erchid Says the Future of Speech-Language Pathology Involves Technology, Inclusion and Access

While Erchid’s roots are grounded in culture, her vision is firmly pointed toward the future. She believes the next decade of speech-language pathology will combine traditional clinical expertise with technological innovation to reach families previously out of reach.

“I’m particularly excited about the integration of technology and telepractice,” she said. “Digital tools, AAC devices and AI-supported language programs are helping bridge gaps for families who lack consistent care.”

The growth of teletherapy has already shown what is possible in both rural regions and underserved urban communities. In her own practice, Erchid trains families to use AAC devices, educational apps and communication tools that empower children to express themselves in new and meaningful ways.

“Technology gives us the ability to individualize treatment in ways we couldn’t before,” she said. “It increases access and helps families participate more fully.”

Her passion for digital access continues beyond the clinic. She collaborates with community centers to offer digital literacy workshops and is currently developing an online platform designed to connect families with culturally responsive resources and therapists.

Digital innovation, she believes, is not a luxury. It is a necessity for equity.

A Clinician Driven by Heart and Humanity

In her practice, Jinan Erchid works with toddlers with early language delays, school-age children with autism spectrum disorder, children who stutter and families navigating complex diagnoses. Each case requires precision and evidence-based practice, but also empathy and intuition.

“My approach centers on family collaboration,” she said. “Therapy is most effective when families are actively engaged and when interventions honor the child’s background and community.”

She integrates play-based strategies, functional communication goals and cultural awareness into every treatment plan. She also uses her fluency in Arabic and American Sign Language to serve families who might otherwise face barriers to progress.

The impact is often transformational.

One of her most memorable cases involved a four-year-old boy who arrived completely nonverbal. After months of therapy, parent involvement and AAC support, he spoke his first independent words. Eventually, he used language to express emotions.

“The day he told his mother ‘I love you’ was unforgettable,” she said. “Progress is not always fast, but it is always worth fighting for.”

Those experiences reinforce her belief that communication is more than a skill. It is dignity.

“Success is measured not only in data, but in dignity,” she said. “Confidence, independence and joy matter just as much as goals on paper.”

A Leader, A Mother and a Voice for the Next Generation

Balancing her practice with motherhood is one of Jinan Erchid’s greatest and most meaningful challenges. As the mother of three boys, she understands the fears, hopes and daily realities that many parents bring to the therapy room.

“My children remind me of the importance of patience and joy,” she said. “They shape my empathy and the way I support each family.”

Her days are full. Mornings begin with therapy planning or team meetings. Afternoons shift between school consultations, direct treatment sessions and community outreach. Evenings belong to her children, whether through homework, activities or quiet time together.

“Balance is something I have learned through experience, not perfection,” she said. “Wellness comes from being present wherever I am.”

Her long-term goal is to expand bilingual services, teletherapy networks and digital access for communities across Florida and Texas. She also hopes to travel internationally again, providing free speech-language services in regions where support is limited or nonexistent.

If she could give one message to the next generation entering the field, it would be simple.

“Stay curious, compassionate and humble,” she said. “This career is as much about listening as it is about speaking. Your ability to connect across cultures will shape your success more than any textbook ever will.”

She carries one quote with her as a guiding compass.

“To speak is to be human,” she said. “My goal is to help every child find that humanity in whatever form it takes.”

The Heartbeat of Her Work

When families hear the name Jinan Erchid, she hopes they think of someone who leads with purpose. She hopes they see a clinician who listens first, advocates boldly and shows up with the same empathy she brings to her own three children.

“I hope they see someone who believes every child, every family and every story matters,” she said. “Success is measured in dignity as much as data.”

Her work is grounded in resilience, elevated by compassion and shaped by a belief that communication belongs to everyone. She advocates for bilingual access, supports digital literacy and partners with communities that have long been overlooked. Her commitment stretches from local classrooms to international outreach, from early intervention programs to technology that opens new doors for rural families.

Across every setting, one truth anchors her work:
Every voice deserves a chance to be heard.