Heera Chandani, M.A. CCC-SLP/L, has been a practicing speech-language pathologist since 2006. She has worked in schools, therapeutic day programs, hospitals, private practices, and in the home and community settings, with several multidisciplinary teams.  She has a wealth of experience working with people of all ages, with diverse neurological conditions, developmental disabilities, and disorders. Her areas of specialization include: apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorder, language delay, ADHD, AAC, auditory processing disorder, executive functioning and cognitive communication disorders, social communication (pragmatic) impairments, and

bilingual evaluations (Urdu/Hindi-English).

In addition to providing speech and language therapy services, Heera is committed to her work in IEP (Individualized Education Program) and disability advocacy services. She takes the time to understand each client's IEP,  504, and other individualized service plans; provide feedback to families; and advocate for their needs in school, adult service, and other team meetings.

Heera loves teaching; she continues to guest lecture for graduate courses every year at Northwestern University, while growing her interest in community wellness and neuroscience. Grounded in a love of learning, Heera continues to learn from some of the most prominent professionals in her fields of expertise and interest. Her global vision propels her to travel internationally every year to conduct workshops, present at conferences, and help families around the globe. She has presented at several local and international (e.g., India, Egypt, and U.A.E.) conferences to a variety of audiences, including families, medical and allied professionals, and educators. Additionally, she has helped international schools and families access funding, build classrooms, and develop therapeutic programs. 

Heera was born in the U.S. and was raised In Dubai, U.A.E., where her parents and extended family continue to reside. She feels blessed to have had the opportunity to grow and learn amidst a multitude of cultures, religions, and languages. She is multilingual being fluent and literate in English, Hindi/Urdu, and Sindhi, and in addition, literate in Arabic.  

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When Heera was nine years old, she committed her life to the service of others. Throughout her preteen years, her service endeavors included volunteering at Mother Teresa’s Orphanage in India and in schools in India and Indonesia. Later she helped set up special education programs in India and Africa. These special education programs are projects she aspires to continue in collaboration with visionary global teams.  A testament to her compassion is that one of Heera's most memorable birthdays was her 14th; it was spent at the school for the blind in Kolkatta.

Heera has been deeply shaped by her relationship with her younger brother, Dhiren, who has a developmental disability. The paucity of resources for children with special needs and the social-emotional challenges, were very much a part of her family’s journey and her choices about her career. She pursued her Bachelor’s in Special Education (P-12) and Elementary Education (K-8), at Western Washington University. After working in the field of special education, Heera earned her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University, with highest honors in 2006.

Dhiren continues to be Heera’s greatest motivation for striving to bring her vision into a reality - that of bringing hope, positive change, and smiles to others, one family at a time. Her philosophy revolves around a family-centered model with an emphasis on functional skills. Heera appreciates each individual’s unique personality and nuances; she focuses growth using the strength of their abilities to address their needs.  She believes in a multidisciplinary approach - this is essential in thoroughly understanding the whole individual and her/his total environment. What Heera loves most about her work is learning from her clients and families, and empowering them through partnership, working on mindsets, teaching them how to access resources, and helping reach their potential by meeting or exceeding their goals. She is very passionate about family education and advocacy!

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Heera has been the humble recipient of multiple awards, including Presidential Scholar, Woman of Western, Ambassador for International Peace, Hope of the Future, Bellingham Herald Diversity, Phenomenal Woman, Martin Luther King Jr., and Multicultural Achievement. She lives in Chicago with her brother, Dhiren. She is a nature lover and when time permits, you can find her traveling, photographing, figure skating, practicing yoga, studying spirituality, reading about neuroplasticity, and enjoying a cup of coffee.