Dr. Barbara Roca is a bilingual speech-language pathologist and Clinical Director of BrainTools, specializing in the assessment and treatment of children with developmental language disorder (DLD), dyslexia, and related language and learning differences. With more than 30 years of clinical experience, she has devoted her career to understanding how spoken language, written language, executive control, and academic learning work together across development. Her work is guided by the belief that meaningful advances in understanding children’s language and learning require an interdisciplinary perspective. She draws on research across multiple disciplines to synthesize evidence on how these developmental systems interact and how those relationships can inform more integrated clinical care.

Driven by a commitment to advancing clinical practice, Dr. Roca synthesizes research across disciplines to develop integrated models of clinical care that bring assessment, intervention, and data-informed clinical decision-making together within a coordinated system of care. Rather than approaching spoken language, written language, executive control, and academic learning as separate domains, her work emphasizes their interconnected nature and explores how understanding these relationships can lead to more coordinated, individualized, and effective care. Through this work, she seeks to make complex developmental processes visible and clinically actionable, helping clinicians make informed decisions that support meaningful learning and long-term functional outcomes.

This integrated approach is particularly relevant for children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions, including dyslexia and attention and executive function difficulties. By integrating evidence across disciplines, she has developed clinical approaches that recognize the interconnected nature of spoken language, written language, executive control, and academic learning while supporting culturally and linguistically responsive practice for bilingual and linguistically diverse learners.

Dr. Roca holds a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology. She is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), trained in PROMPT, and fluent in English and Spanish.

Throughout her career, Dr. Roca has collaborated with clinicians, educators, researchers, universities, and schools to advance interdisciplinary approaches to language, literacy, and learning. She has presented her work at local, national, and international conferences and has provided consultation and professional development to organizations in the United States and internationally. Through consultation, professional development, clinical program development, and collaborative partnerships, she works to advance evidence-informed practices that improve language, literacy, learning, and educational outcomes for children.

Elsa Martinez is an English-Spanish bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinical Supervisor at BrainTools. She is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She earned her Master of Arts (M.A.) in Speech-Language Pathology from Indiana University (IU), with a specialty concentration in bilingual language development through the university’s Spanish and English, Speech Therapy Education, Practicum, and Services (STEPS) program.

The program’s specialized clinical and field experiences with children and families fostered a multicultural perspective and provided opportunities for a collaborative approach to the assessment and treatment of speech and language disorders. Elsa is currently completing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Applied Learning Sciences at the University of Miami, where her doctoral work focuses on translating learning science research into evidence-based educational and clinical practice.

Elsa’s research interests include dyslexia, executive functioning, language-based learning disabilities, and the science of learning. As a clinician at BrainTools, she provides comprehensive evaluations and intervention for children with language-based learning differences while collaborating on the organization’s research and development initiatives. Her doctoral training allows her to bridge research and practice by integrating current findings from cognitive science, learning sciences, and instructional design into BrainTools’ clinical frameworks, therapist training, and intervention development.

As Clinical Supervisor for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) and Clinical Fellows (CFs), Elsa designs and implements supervisory training programs, mentoring systems, and professional development initiatives grounded in evidence-based practice. She is passionate about translating research into practical strategies that improve clinical decision-making, strengthen therapist expertise, and ultimately enhance outcomes for children and families.

Elsa has presented research findings, professional papers, and professional education seminars at the national level.