Nicolette Traa, M.S., CCC-SLP

My name is Nicolette Traa, M.S., CCC-SLP, but my clients call me Ms. Nikki. I am a Speech-Language Pathologist or SLP at Interactive Kids in Linwood, NJ. I have been an SLP for almost three years with Interactive Kids. Before becoming an SLP, I worked as an ABA therapist for two years at Interactive Kids. As an ABA therapist, I provided behavioral, educational, and vocational-based services for individuals with disabilities such as autism, nonverbal learning disorder, ADD/ADHD, behavior disorders, and other impairments. I also collaborated with family members and other therapists to write treatment plans and reports as well as practiced discrete trial teaching, social skills instructions, communications development using multi-modalities, and natural environment training. After working as an ABA therapist, I knew I was working with the right population, but something was not right. I went to Stockton University for my undergraduate degree and was accepted back into their graduate program for my Masters in Communication Disorders. I immediately knew I was in the right field and have never looked back.

I have been working with children with Autism for about five years now and also have experience with children with Down syndrome and American Sign Language (ASL). I evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders, work collaboratively with professionals from many other disciplines and teach application of techniques used during sessions by modeling appropriate interventions and providing ongoing consultation to staff and parents of persons receiving therapy.

I am trained in Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Handle with Care, Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI), and completed Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP) training. I have received a Congressional Gold Medal as well as the Patriot’s Path Council Trailblazer Award for my community service, volunteer work, and personal achievements such as being a camp counselor for Leadership Excellence Direct Results (LEDR), coordinating blood drives for the Red Cross, volunteering for the Live Nativity and Code Blue for Zion Methodist Church and The Cross Ministry, being a paraprofessional at Upper Township Elementary School, coaching for First Tee of Greater Atlantic County, and fundraising for 21 Downs Walk.  

I am currently engaged to my fiancé, Paul, and we are renovating our forever home. We plan on getting married in 2021 with our two dogs by our side. We love spending time with our dogs, being outside, quad-riding, going to the beach, fishing, etc. We are also very family-oriented people and love sharing our favorite activities with our growing family.  

Although I do not have children of my own, I treat all of my clients as if they are my own children. I can not imagine being in any other profession, as I have learned just as much, if not more, from my clients than I have taught them. The goals they accomplish every day, whether big or small, keep me going and make coming to work one of my favorite things to do.