For Jinan Erchid, language is both personal and universal. It helps people connect, belong, and express who they are. As a licensed speech-language pathologist working in both Texas and Florida, she supports both children and adults who need help finding or reclaiming their voice—whether that’s through speech, sign, or alternative systems.
Her work spans clinical care, program development, and family support. Clients turn to her for help with everything from improving speech clarity and recovering vocal function to using AAC tools when spoken communication isn’t an option.
With expertise in stuttering and accent modification, Erchid meets families who often struggle to find culturally responsive care, and she brings services to communities where support is limited or entirely unavailable. She believes that everyone deserves to be heard, no matter where they come from, how they communicate, or what obstacles they face.
Seeing The Power of Language as a Child
Erchid’s connection to language began long before she entered the field professionally. Growing up in an Arab household, she grew up speaking three languages and quickly became aware of how easily people can be overlooked or misunderstood when their way of communicating differs from the norm.
That awareness followed her into college, where she studied how language works and how it breaks down under stress, illness, or neurological differences. Her interest wasn’t academic alone. She felt called to support children with communication disorders and help them develop ways to express themselves.
In 2015, during a trip to the Arab Gulf, she saw what it looked like when families had no access to speech therapy. Many children with communication delays received no support at all, and some parents were unaware that such services even existed.
That trip did more than broaden her perspective. It also helped her find direction. One of her long-term goals is to return to similar under-resourced communities and offer speech-language services at no cost, especially in regions where care has never been accessible.
Every Minute Has Meaning
For Jinan Erchid, being a speech-language pathologist means staying present and consistent, tailoring each therapy session to her clients’ unique needs. Her mornings start early, usually around 7:30 a.m.
“I use the quiet early morning time to review patient charts, prepare therapy materials, and check messages from caregivers, physicians, or interdisciplinary team members,” she said.
By 8:30 a.m., her first session is already underway. No two sessions are ever the same. Some days, she works with children learning to articulate their words. Other times, she’s helping adults regain swallowing function or vocal strength after surviving a stroke. Each session lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, with her full attention devoted to the person across from her.
“I avoid multitasking during sessions, so I can be fully engaged with my patients,” she shared.
To keep her day running smoothly, she maps out her schedule in advance, making sure every block of time is set aside for something specific. Similar sessions are grouped together—like articulation clients in the morning or voice therapy in the afternoon—so she can stay focused without constantly shifting gears.
She also carves out time for evaluations and paperwork, rather than squeezing them in between appointments. This helps her stay fully present with each client, without feeling pulled in different directions or rushed.
When the final session wraps up, her focus turns to her family. As a mother of three boys, she’s careful to protect that time.
“I block off that time just like I would a patient session—no emails, no paperwork,” she explained.
That clean break allows her to maintain a healthy work-life balance. She can recharge and return the next day, ready to give her full attention to both her patients and family.
Relearning How to Reach People
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought in-person sessions to a halt, Erchid had to move her entire caseload online with almost no time to prepare. Some of her clients depended on hands-on modeling, visual cues, or AAC devices that didn’t translate easily to a screen. Others struggled with short attention spans, and sessions were sometimes interrupted by technical glitches.
Despite the challenges, she kept going. She adjusted her materials for virtual use, joined webinars to learn teletherapy techniques, and stayed in close contact with fellow speech-language pathologists who were facing the same uphill battle.
With time, she and her clients settled into a new routine. The sessions weren’t always perfect, but they still led to progress.
From Direct Care to Bigger Impact
The pandemic taught Erchid how quickly things can change and how much effective care depends on flexibility, planning, and trust. It also showed her that impact doesn’t always have to happen face-to-face.
Recently, she made a shift of her own, stepping back from some of her direct care hours to focus on a new role. Instead of spending each day in sessions, she now devotes her time to developing therapy programs, refining clinical protocols, and guiding long-term care planning.
The decision wasn’t easy. For years, her favorite part of the job had been those one-on-one moments where she got to see her patients making progress up close. Helping someone find their voice, celebrate a breakthrough, or connect with their family in a new way was what had drawn her to the field in the first place.
Although letting go of that daily connection with patients was difficult, it opened the door to something bigger. In this new role, she helps even more people by improving the way care is delivered across entire clinics.
Erchid’s understanding of what effective care should look like comes from experience. Early in her career, she worked in a skilled nursing facility where productivity often came before people. Sessions were rushed, paperwork took over, and patient needs sometimes fell behind billing targets.
“I often felt like I was just checking boxes,” she said.
That experience showed her what care can’t afford to become and deepened her commitment to putting people first.
Learning What Grad School Didn’t Teach
One of the biggest growth points in Erchid’s career came when she began supporting clients who used AAC (augmentative and alternative communication systems). These devices help people express themselves when they cannot rely on spoken words.
Although she had learned about AAC in graduate school, she didn’t feel confident handling the technology or designing programs around it.
Instead of avoiding those cases, she leaned in, taking online courses through ASHA and AAC-focused platforms like PRC-Saltillo and Tobii Dynavox. She practiced with families, sought out guidance from more experienced clinicians, and spent time not just learning the tools, but learning how to teach others to use them.
Beyond technical fluency, she also learned how to coach caregivers, secure funding for equipment, and adapt systems as her clients’ needs changed. Session by session, she developed a full and practical understanding of how to serve complex communicators—by listening carefully, asking better questions, and learning alongside the people she served.
Building Confidence Through Connection
Jinan Erchid wouldn’t be who she is today without the mentors who helped her along the way. One of the most influential figures early in her career was a clinical supervisor who taught her how to lead with both skill and empathy.
“She never micromanaged but always challenged me to think critically, ask better questions, and trust my clinical instincts,” Erchid said. “Her confidence in me helped me find my voice not only as a therapist but also as a leader in collaborative settings.”
As a leader, Erchid gives others the space to grow, knowing that self-assurance comes with time and experience, not certainty. Collaboration remains just as important, and working with other clinicians and educators has challenged her to stay curious and flexible.
“Working alongside passionate, innovative speech-language pathologists and interdisciplinary professionals has pushed me to keep learning, stay humble, and remain open to new approaches,” she said.
After each session or project, she takes a moment to think through what went well, what could have gone differently, and what she might do next time to improve.
“This habit of iterative improvement helps me stay flexible and open to growth,” she said.
Returning to Her ‘Why’
After years in practice, Erchid understands that speech-language pathology offers both deep rewards and real challenges. She gets through the harder days by remembering who she serves and why the work matters.
“Grounding yourself in the purpose behind what you do—whether it’s helping someone find their voice, swallow safely, or reconnect with loved ones—will sustain you through challenges and guide your professional decisions,” she said.
That sense of purpose remains a constant no matter the role she’s in. Whether she’s working with a patient one-on-one or supporting dozens of others behind the scenes, her goal is to make communication possible for those who have struggled to be understood.
To her, a meaningful career is one that’s built with intention, humility, and heart, and always with people at the center.