Giving Every Child a Voice: The Journey of Doreen Binnie, Speech Language Pathologist at PSI
After nearly five decades in the field of speech-language pathology, Doreen Binnie still approaches each new school year with the same excitement and sense of purpose that guided her career from the beginning. For her, speech therapy isn’t just a profession — it’s a calling rooted in compassion, creativity, and a relentless drive to help every child find their voice.
Doreen’s path to PSI was shaped by an extraordinary career that has spanned school districts, higher education, and innovative programming. For 34 years, she worked directly in schools, serving children from preschool to high school. Later, she spent 12 years as a professor at Cleveland State University, training hundreds of future speech pathologists. During that time, she collaborated with PSI leaders who visited her classrooms to prepare students for real-world practice. “I was impressed with how personable and compassionate PSI employees were,” Doreen recalls. “They answered every question with patience and showed genuine care. That left an impact on me.”
When Cleveland State began restructuring, Doreen decided it was time to return to what she loved most: hands-on therapy. “I missed working one-on-one with children,” she says. “There’s nothing like seeing the moment a student realizes they can do something they couldn’t before. That lightbulb moment makes everything worth it.”
Her first year with PSI was at St. Anthony of Padua, where she immediately saw the difference she could make. A parent once told her, “My daughter loves speech therapy. It’s her favorite subject.” For Doreen, those words were unforgettable. “To know a child would choose speech over their regular classroom — that melted my heart,” she says.
Throughout her career, Doreen has developed programs that blended therapy with confidence-building, from “Science is Magic,” which turned scientific experiments into language-rich activities, to STARS (Self-Esteem Targeted Around Real Situations), which empowered students to lead performances and games for their peers. These programs didn’t just improve communication skills; they gave children a sense of pride and belonging.
Even now, as she enters her 48th year in the field, Doreen has no plans to slow down. She’s set herself a goal of 50 years, though she admits she’ll likely keep going well beyond. “This career is too rewarding to stop,” she says. “Every child is a puzzle, and I love figuring out how to give them a voice — whether that’s through words, pictures, or AAC devices.”
At PSI, Doreen has found not only a professional home but also a supportive community. She credits the organization’s culture of teamwork, flexibility, and care for helping her continue her mission.
