Jinan Erchid remembers the 4-year-old boy who came to her completely nonverbal. His parents had been told to "wait and see," but something in their gut said otherwise. Through months of therapy, family involvement and augmentative and alternative communication support, the boy began to express his wants, needs and eventually his emotions.
“The day he said 'I love you' to his mother for the first time was a moment none of us will ever forget," Erchid says. "It's those experiences that remind me that progress is not always fast, but it is always worth fighting for."
This is the very thing that makes the licensed speech-language pathologist do what she does with children who have communication problems. Each word, each sound, each gesture represents something deeper than clinical progress; the fundamental right to be heard.
Jinan Erchid addresses a wide client base that includes toddlers with early language delays, school-going children with autism spectrum disorder, fluency disorders and articulation challenges. She speaks both American Sign Language and Arabic language, which enables her to approach families that may not have easily accessed services.
Being a trilingual child and having Arab roots provided her with an understanding of how language shapes identity and community. Her path to speech-language pathology wasn't a straight line, it started with fascination. How do people connect through language? What happens when that connection breaks down? She saw firsthand how communication challenges could affect confidence, relationships and learning.
“Speech-language pathology allows me to make a tangible difference in someone's daily life,” she says. “Once I began my graduate studies and worked with my first pediatric clients, I knew I had found my calling."
The calling became urgent during the summer of 2015. Erchid witnessed the lack of speech-language services available to children in the Arab Gulf countries. The experience lit something in her. She realized that access to communication support wasn't just limited overseas. Here, in neighborhoods around the United States, families were encountering care barriers that had nothing to do with the potential of their children and everything to do with resources, language and cultural responsiveness.
Now a mother of three boys herself, Erchid understands the hopes and worries parents carry. She knows what it's like to want the best for your child and to feel powerless when obstacles appear.
Her strategy is based on family partnership and cultural responsiveness. She thinks therapy is most effective when families are actively involved and where the interventions do not ignore the background of the child, his language and community. She integrates play-based techniques, functional communication goals and technology when appropriate, making therapy both evidence-based and personally meaningful.
The work isn't always easy. One of the greatest obstacles has been working with limited resources be it in schools, clinics or in rural communities. She's learned to be creative and collaborative, building partnerships with educators and community leaders to expand what's possible.
The integration of technology and telepractice into therapy particularly excites Erchid. Digital tools, AAC devices and AI-supported language programs are helping bridge gaps for families who previously lacked access to consistent care.
“These innovations are expanding our ability to individualize treatment and reach children in both rural and underserved urban communities," she says.
Digital literacy has become increasingly vital for both parents and children. Erchid helps families learn to use teletherapy platforms, AAC devices and educational apps effectively and safely. The possibilities energize her. But so do the persistent gaps. One major challenge remains the shortage of bilingual and culturally responsive clinicians. Too often, assessments and interventions are not designed with linguistic diversity in mind, which can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed care.
“Addressing these gaps requires more recruitment and training of diverse professionals, along with advocacy for equitable funding and community education," she says.
Erchid has worked closely with local organizations to improve access to bilingual services and equitable funding. She's participated in state-level discussions about early intervention and telehealth expansion. Most importantly, she uses her platform to elevate the voices of families, ensuring their stories and needs inform how services are designed and delivered. She's served communities in Florida and Texas, navigating the distinct needs and resources of each region.
For Jinan Erchid, community outreach isn't an extra.
She's organized free speech and hearing screenings, led parent education workshops and partnered with schools and nonprofits to increase awareness about early intervention. Community service is woven into everything she does. One of the most meaningful moments in her career was launching a community-based early intervention program that provided free screenings and parent workshops. Seeing families who once felt isolated find resources and a sense of community was profoundly moving.
“It reaffirmed my belief that access and education can change lives," she says.
Every family deserves access to resources and support, regardless of their circumstances. That belief drives her work beyond the clinic walls. Her future intention is to keep on touring other countries providing free speech-language services in the communities where this service is restrictive or absent.
Jinan Erchid also volunteers with local literacy initiatives, activities that nourish both her family and her spirit. Reading and cooking bring her joy outside of clinical work but it's her three children who keep her grounded, reminding her daily of the beauty of curiosity and laughter.
Professional growth remains a priority. She regularly attends American Speech-Language-Hearing Association conferences, participates in continuing education courses and collaborates with colleagues across disciplines. She also mentors graduate students, which keeps her engaged with the latest research and fresh perspectives.
“Staying current isn't just about knowledge," she says. "It's about ensuring my clients benefit from the most effective and ethical practices available."
What keeps Jinan Erchid inspired is witnessing the small moments of progress that often lead to life-changing breakthroughs. When a child says a new word for the first time, or when a parent shares that their child finally expressed a feeling on their own, those moments remind her why she chose this field.
“Each success, no matter how small, represents hope, growth and the power of connection," she says.
The impact shows up in improved confidence, stronger relationships and the ability to express needs and dreams. For parents, the transformation often brings relief and joy as they finally hear their child's voice emerge. She works particularly in the areas of stuttering and accent modification, bringing specialized skills to these often misunderstood challenges.
The ability to bridge the gap and watch the face of a child light up when they see that she can talk is one of the greatest joys of her profession. Looking back on her professional journey, she has one regret.
“If I could go back, I would have embraced leadership and advocacy earlier," she says. "I used to think my impact was limited to the therapy room, but I've learned that our voices as clinicians are powerful tools for systemic change. Speaking up for policy reform and equitable access is just as important as delivering excellent care."
That realization has shaped how she mentors others entering the field. Her advice to someone interested in pursuing a career focused on language, communication and empowering diverse populations is straightforward.
“Stay curious, compassionate and humble," she says. "This career is as much about listening as it is about speaking. Seek out diverse experiences early. Volunteer, shadow clinicians and learn from the families you serve. Your ability to connect with people across cultures will shape your success more than any textbook ever could."
She envisions the field of speech-language pathology becoming more inclusive, data-driven and community-centered over the next five to 10 years. There's growing recognition that communication is deeply tied to identity and culture, and that therapy must reflect those values.
“I believe we'll see more partnerships between schools, clinics and community organizations, as well as expanded teletherapy and mobile outreach programs to reach families where they are," she says.
These shifts matter because they address the fundamental belief that has guided her work from the beginning. Communication is a fundamental right, not a privilege. She strives to extend that right to every child she works with. One quote she returns to often captures this philosophy. "To speak is to be human." It reminds her that communication is at the heart of humanity, the ability to connect, advocate and belong.
Jinan Erchid strives to bring empathy, cultural awareness and excellence to everything she does. Driven by purpose, grounded in compassion and committed to being a clinician who not only treats but empowers. Each family she serves deserves the chance to hear their child's voice emerge and each community she reaches through outreach and advocacy becomes stronger when communication barriers fall.
