Meet our Team
Amy Pinder, MA, CCC-SLP/DIR is the owner and founder of Circles of Communication. She resides at The Potato House along with her husband, son, and pets. Amy is a New Jersey State licensed and ASHA certified Integrative Speech-Language Therapist and Mindfulness Coach certified in the DIR/Floortime model. She has over fifteen years of experience working with autistic and neurodivergent clients of all ages using a developmental, holistic, person-centered approach that spans cognitive, linguistic, sensory, motor, social, and emotional domains.
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Rooted in the belief that we need to feel safe, confident, and regulated in order to communicate optimally, Amy regularly incorporates play, yoga, and mindfulness into her practice to encourage clients to engage, explore, increase capacities, and effectively communicate through meaningful, experienced based activities that improve overall wellbeing. Her goal is to help all clients connect with their innate wisdom, find flow and joy in everyday activities, nurture the mind-body-spirt connection, strengthen self-expression, self-awareness, and self-advocacy skills.
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Amy graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges where she received her BA in Sociology in addition to New York State Teaching Certification in Elementary and Special Education, and from Kean University where she received her MA in Speech Language Pathology. She has experience assessing and treating children and adults with diverse communication challenges in a variety of educational and clinical settings including home-based intervention, preschool, public school and specialized private school programs.
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She has received extensive training in Natural Language Acquisition, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), Prompts for Restructuring Oral Motor Phonetic Targets (PROMPT), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Viconic Language Methods, and the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM). Amy is well versed in trauma-informed care as well as a Grounded Kids Yoga Instructor, Mindfulness Educator, and a Holistic Circus Therapy Provider.
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Amy is also the co-founder of Inclusion Festival, the nation's first and only music and wellness festival designed to be sensory-friendly and accessible, and the Executive Director for Accessible Festivals, a non-profit dedicated to making music and recreation accessible to all abilities. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time in nature, attending live music events, and connecting with local friends, family, and community.
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Arden Hawes, MS, CCC-SLP is a partner at Circles of Communication. With over 7 years of experience assessing and treating individuals across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings, she has found her niche working with individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences. Since joining Circles of Communication in March of 2021, Arden has cultivated a compassionate, client-led therapeutic style that is neurodiversity-affirming and incorporates elements of mindfulness, play, movement, art, animal care, gardening, and ample time outside. She places strong emphasis on the individual needs of each of her clients to address skills that are both functional and bridge unique educational, personal, and professional goals.
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Arden is a New Jersey and Pennsylvania licensed and ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She graduated with a BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh, then continued her education at La Salle University in Philadelphia where she earned her MS in Speech-Language Pathology. She has received training in neurodiversity-affirming practices, Natural Language Acquisition, Prompts for Restructuring Oral Motor Phonetic Targets (PROMPT), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in clinical practice, and trauma-informed care.
In her spare time, Arden maintains several hobbies including cooking, baking with sourdough, spending time in nature, foraging, and crafting herbal medicine and skincare. She is passionate about eating local, supporting small farms and sustainable agriculture practices, and learning about the intersection of physical health, mental health, and food. She lives with her boyfriend, Jamey, and their adored cat, Fern, in nearby Lambertville, New Jersey.
Leah Barron, MAT, RYT 200 is the Director of Online Programs for Circles of Communication. She is a special education teacher and registered yoga teacher with experience working in a variety of settings including public schools, private studios, and home-based instruction. She is passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga and recreation with individuals of all ages and abilities.
Leah believes that when you embrace the present moment, connect with an intention, and attend to your breath, you may experience a sense of peace and calm that benefits mind, body, and spirit. She is creative, intuitive and able to easily connect with others by recognizing their individual talents, tuning into their passions and interests, and guiding them to increase their capacities using a warm, accessible person-centered approach. Leah has participated in numerous trainings about autism, mindfulness, essential oils, and yoga across the lifespan.
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Leah is also the co-founder of Inclusion Festival, the nation's first and only music and wellness festival designed to be sensory-friendly and accessible, and the Program Director for Accessible Festivals, a non-profit dedicated to making music and recreation accessible to all abilities.
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Liz Stamat is a Special Education Tutor at Circles of Communication. She graduated from Kean University with a BA in Psychology and Minored in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She wears many hats at Circles of Communication, primarily supporting client's through direct instruction and by teaching online classes. She is always willing to help out and to learn new ways to assist client's in achieving their goals in a safe environment.
When she's not working, Liz enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons, Yu-Gi-Oh, video games, and listening to podcasts about animals and nature.
Angela Elzind, M.S., CF-SLP, is a new clinician at Circles of Communication, recently graduating with her MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders at East Stroudsburg University. She started her educational career at Kean University obtaining a BA in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and a minor in Psychology. Angela has worked and volunteered in many settings that promote neurodiversity-affirming practices. She enjoys being a part of a community that promotes self-advocacy and highlights the unique characteristics each individual brings to the table.
During Angela’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing field hockey, doing arts and crafts, and going to the gym. She is excited to continue her journey with Circles of Communication and being a part of a team that embraces the differences of all individuals that are rooted in the principles of neurodiversity acceptance.
Max Papperman is a co-owner of Circles of Communication. He wears many hats as property manager, animal caretaker, and advises on business operations. Max is also a geologist who specializes in environmental investigation and remediation at sites throughout New Jersey, a soccer player, and a music enthusiast.
Abilene is a tiny Chihuahua/Dachshund/Pomeranian/Toy-Poodle who was serendipitously handed to Amy at a music festival. She believes it is her job to alert Amy and Max to all environmental changes at The Potato House so you might hear her barking when you arrive or depart. Once you get to know her, she is calm, loving, and able to provide encouragement and laughs to our clients as they work towards their personal goals.
