Carla Brooks has been a speech/language pathologist (SLP) for over 40 years. She specializes in the development of social communication skills (Pragmatics). Carla’s interest in the development of communication in children with visual impairment stemmed from her research on gestures and requesting skills in toddlers who were unable to see gestures used by their parents. Autism spectrum disorder is also an area of focus for Carla. She works with families helping identify nonverbal behaviors that may be attempts at communicating a child’s wants and needs. Carla also has a special interest in unconventional verbal communication (ex. echolalia, repeated questions and statements, etc.).

Carla has worked in a variety of settings including the University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital, public and non-public schools in California and Washington and in private practice. She currently has a private practice located in San Jose, CA and provides consultations to families and professional groups.

Since the mid-1980s, Carla has presented over 100 workshops in the Northwest and across the United States, including presentations on nonverbal and verbal communication of children with visual impairment/blindness in collaboration with Washington State Department of Services for the Blind. Carla received a B.A. in 1970 and an M.A. in 1975 in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She continued her post-graduate education at the University of Washington from 1981-1985.