MEET THE TEAM
Ruth Maldonado, M.S., CCC-SLP
CEO/Speech-Language Pathologist
Ruth is the CEO and speech-language pathologist (SLP) behind Be Brave Speech Therapy, Inc. She is licensed in California (CA) and certified through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Andrews University, Michigan (2008). After graduating with her Bachelors, she took a year off and deferred her admission to graduate school. During that year, she taught 1st grade in a remote island of the Federated States of Micronesia, Pohnpei. That year solidified her joy and passion in working with children. After returning to the United States, she moved to California and started graduate school at Loma Linda University. She received her M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2011. In 2022, she became a Hanen certified SLP allowing her to specialize in parent coaching and early intervention. The Hanen approach has changed early language intervention by putting parents first in order to help their children be the best communicators. She is trained in It Takes Two to Talk - a program that offers parents easy to understand concrete strategies that they can put into practice right away!
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Ruth has worked with children and their families in a variety of settings, including public/private schools, homes, and preschools. Throughout her career, she has worked closely and co-treated with educators, pediatric physical, occupational, behavioral therapists, and school psychologists. Their expertise has been invaluable and molded her into the therapist she is now. Ruth has experience in working with children who have Autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, developmental delays, behavioral disorders, cognitive impairment, fluency disorders, and articulation/phonological disorders.
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When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband Chris, friends, family, and her cute dog, Summer! Although originally from Ohio, she loves living in Southern California. Some of her hobbies include traveling, hiking, kayaking, reading, running, and going to church/bible study.
Eiliana Hernandez, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Eiliana is a bilingual speech language pathologist who graduated with her Masters at California State University, Chico in 2019. While in graduate school, Eiliana acquired experience working in schools, outpatient hospital settings, and in home providing early intervention. In the last 6 years, she has worked at a private practice treating children with disorders in the areas of language, speech sounds, apraxia, AAC, and fluency. In doing so, she has found growing interests in the areas of AAC and autism. In 2024, she acquired knowledge and certification in treating gestalt language processors. She is listed in the Meaningful Speech NLA (natural language acquisition) Trained Clinician Registry.
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In her free time, Eiliana enjoys embarking on creative endeavors, including photography, calligraphy, and party planning. She also enjoys being present in her children’s lives and being a DIY mom to their heart’s desires.
