ABOUT US
Why choose the Kinard Center?
The Kinard Center founder and lead clinician, Dr. Jessica Kinard, PhD CCC-SLP, is a bilingual (English/Spanish) speech-language pathologist who has served as research, teaching, and clinical faculty for 10 years at UNC Chapel Hill, where she completed her doctoral and postdoctoral training in the fields of Speech and Hearing Sciences and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.
Dr. Kinard has provided services to families across a variety of settings, such as homes, daycares, schools, hospitals, university, and clinic settings, including the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at UNC Chapel Hill.
With over 15 years of experience in the field of speech-language therapy, Dr. Kinard is an award-winning, invited national and international speaker on topics related to communication development, assessment, and intervention, and has published over 20 scientific articles based on her research, along with invited book chapters and intervention manuals.
In addition to her research, teaching, and clinical work, Dr. Kinard volunteers as Vice President for Professional Affairs at the North Carolina Speech Language Hearing Association, where she advocates for individuals with communication needs at the state level.
About Our Services
Dr. Kinard founded the Kinard Center in 2024 to provide speech-language services and community outreach projects that enhance communication and social relationships. Services include, but are not limited to, helping “late talkers” learn to speak, providing services for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, and coaching parents on how to support their children.
Our Approach
We understand that it can be hard when a loved one is not communicating as expected, and that seeking out services can be a big step. To help support you during this time, the Kinard Center takes a family-centered, child-friendly approach:
We take the time to get to know each child and individual in our care, including their joys and interests, so that we can tailor services to their specific needs
We provide services that are based on high-quality research, so that we are using techniques that are known to work
We involve caregivers as valuable teammates, so that caregivers feel empowered and their loved ones practice communicating with important people in their lives
Please contact us if:
You are interested in an appointment for yourself or a family member
You are a provider referring a client
You are an organization or professional interested in collaborating or contracting services
You want to learn more about our community projects