Our Creative Team

Monica Lange - CEO & Founder Monica received her degree in Communicative Disorders in 1985 and began working with developmentally delayed children in Utah. Monica started creating her own "custom" activities to meet the many needs of the children on her caseload. The idea for "The Speech Solution" was born with the realization that she had very few minutes with each child to effect a meaningful change. She knew she needed to find a way to maximize every minute with them if she was going to get the results she was looking for.
In 1996 when Monica took on the responsibility as a Director of Communication-centered instructional program in California, she recognized the universal challenges that every speech-language pathologist experience such as limited prep time, large caseloads, grouping children with different goals and objectives and keeping children motivated, focused and interested in therapy. It was time to find a solution to all of these challenges so that therapists, teachers and parents could work together more successfully in helping children overcome their communicative disorders. This resulted in the development of the "High Frequency Speech Activity Cards" with the accompanying high quality visual aids and the "One-Minute Articulation" mobile app. The combinations of these two programs have become "The Speech Solution".
Over the past 26 years, "The Speech Solution" has continuously been attuned, improved upon and tested. Recently, a new component has been added to the program. With the addition of the “Language-Centered Training Cards”, now “The Speech Solution” can confidently say they have developed a complete therapy plan to coordinate with each of their activities which have drastically reduced prep-time and substantially increased effectiveness. "The Speech Solution" is known for its innovative approach of teaching language and articulation skills which bring about dramatic changes in a very short period of time.
Monica resides in California with her husband. She has a great love for children. She is the mother of six children and the grand-mother of fifteen. She enjoys boating and camping with her family and any other outdoor activitiy.

Don Lange - Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Don received a BS in Mechanical engineering in 1986 and a MS in Mechanical engineering in 1993. He worked for more than 30 years at the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) where he flight-tested the most advanced aircraft in the world. As a technical manager he helped develop and implement several programs to improve team skills, knowledge, and employee empowerment. Don was a flight test technical expert where one of his greatest accomplishments was working as the program manager for AFTC's flight test data acquisition and analysis software called Interactive Analysis and Display System (IADS). Don was entrusted with sole technical and programmatic responsibility for the multimillion-dollar IADS development from initial concept to full design. He provided the analysis capability, task prioritization, and user interface. IADS is now used internationally as the flight test standard.
Don's skills and expertise managing personnel and programs make him a valuable member of the "The Speech Solution" team.
Don loves the outdoors where his favorite pastimes are boating, hiking, mountain and road biking. Don has participated in several endurance bike races. He resides in California with his wife, Monica.

Dawn Blackburn, Illustrator Dawn has been drawing, coloring, and doodling since she was a child. Vibrant colors have always caught her attention and now as an illustrator, she plays with colors as a career. Dawn has created numerous backdrops and decorations for school activities and fundraisers. Drawing is an extension, as well as a tool, for her various hobbies such as quilting, beading, and paper crafts. Dawn's love of children inspires her to create illustrations that draw out a child's imagination and curiosity for the world around them.

Travis Hathcock - Illustrator Art has always been a hobby of Travis’ from doodling in the margins of every notebook he ever used in school to painting miniatures for table top games. His love of art is possibly only rivaled by his love of computers so illustrating an APP was a perfect fit. Travis has been a stay at home Dad since 2010 and lives with his wife and two children in Orange County California.

Wilma Sweeney- Early Childhood Specialist

Wilma is an essential resource to "The Speech Solution". Her vast knowledge and experience are assets as she helps implement new ideas and on-going improvement to our speech and language materials. Wilma’s experience comes from the following: California credentialed Early Childhood Specialist, B.A degree in Communicative Disorders, TEACCH Trainer, Trainer for the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, Trained in Floor Time by Dr. Greenspan, Consultant for H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection Family Resource Center, Early Start Services Coordinator -Kern Regional Center (20 yrs.), Special Services Coordinator, Parent Education Specialist-North San Diego, Parent/Professional Partnership Consultant-San Diego State. Wilma believes in setting children and their families up for success by creating individualized learning plans and opportunities for children that will help them develop the skills they need to communicate, socialize and prepare for the daily rigors of life. Robert John Meechan summarizes Wilma’s philosophy best “Every child has a different learning style and pace. Each child is unique, not only capable of learning but also capable of succeeding” Wilma resides in California with her loving family. She enjoys a good murder mystery, growing herbs, quilting, sewing and bread making.