Elizabeth Hanna
An award winning speech language pathologist, actor and educator who has worked extensively with adults with a wide variety of speech and communication challenges for more than two decades
Her unique background allows her to combine the science of speech pathology, adult learning methodologies with the perspective of a professional actor to collaborate with her clients; creating a personalized program, built on your goals and abilities to help you to improve your ability to communicate as effectively as possible.
Speech Language Pathologist
Speech Language Pathology is the study of human communication behaviours and disorders. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) provide assessment and therapeutic intervention to those who experience difficulties in communication and swallowing. We help individuals who have trouble with speech or how sounds are produced – pronunciation or articulation, voice and stuttering or fluency. We also help those who have difficulty using language due to difficulties understanding or expressing ideas.
The main objective of Speech Language Pathology is to improve an individual’s ability to communicate in one’s natural environment, improving the overall quality of their life.
Speech Language Pathologists are Masters prepared with training in vocal and neurological anatomy, linguistics, phonology and educational psychology. They are regulated health professionals registered with the College of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists in Ontario (CASLPO).
Elizabeth has worked extensively in the hospital setting with adults with neurological disorders, including stroke, traumatic brain injuries and progressive neurological illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Her therapeutic work with patients and their families has taught her the value of listening and our infinite capacity for learning and growth.
Education and multicultural issues have been ongoing passions that have led her to her current practice. She was the recipient of a Change Foundation Grant that was used to develop Feeding all Tongues: a cross-cultural video to support safe-feeding practices in Mandarin, Cantonese and English has presented widely at conferences on interprofessionalism, internationally educated health professionals and other educational issues.
In the early 2000’s she was began to work in the area of accent modification, voice and professional communication, initially working at George Brown College developing and implementing curriculum for accent modification before starting her own practice.
Actor
Elizabeth’s background as an actor gives her a unique insights into the interaction of the many elements that create your communication profile.
The complex interaction of tone of voice, gesture, what we say and how we say it can slant our communication partners to see us as confident or fearful, antagonistic or assertive. She will help you understand the important role this interaction plays in how we appear to others in our work and our relationships and work with you to shape that profile to your advantage.
Elizabeth has worked as a performer in all media: radio, stage, large and small screen. Theatrically she has appeared at Canadian Stage, the Tarragon, Skylight Theatre and regional theatres across Canada including the included the Globe Theatre in Regina, the Centaur Montreal and the Manitoba Theatre Centre. With the Necessary Angel Theatre Company she has appeared at Festival des Ameriques and internationally at the BITEF International Festival in Belgrade.
She is best known as a voice artist providing narration for scores of commercials as well as appearing as a series regular in dozens of cartoon series including Care Bears, Barbar, Beetlejuice, Little Bear, Dog City, Sailor Moon, Yuko Mo and Me, currently appearing in the award winning cartoon series Daniel Tiger’s Neighbohood.
She is a graduate of the National Theatre School in Montreal and a member of the Association of Radio and Television Artists (ACTRA).
Educator
Teaching enriches our own learning and ensures we remain open to growth and change. Learning how we learn and how long-standing habits can be changed is crucial for shifting a client’s communication patterns.
Elizabeth’s work in education research and developing others as teachers enriches her practice. As Co –Lead of Interprofessional Education and Care at the University Health Network she collaborated with students, trainees and professionals across the health care system. She has been a Facilitator for the Stepping Stones Program, Centre for Faculty Development, University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital and active in developing and leading electives for the Centre for Interprofessional Education. She holds an Adjunct Lecturer appointment in the Department of Speech Language Pathology at the University of Toronto works regularly with SLP and medical students there, and has taught at George Brown, Humber and the Michener Institute. Most recently, supported by eCAMPUSONTARIO she has been developing Video Gaming Simulations designed to support the education of health care providers.
She is a graduate of the Education Scholars Program and the Faculty Development Program through the Centre for Faculty Development at University of Toronto.
