Meet Leia Neft
January 30, 2025 | People in Our Neighborhood
Meet Leia Neft, a dedicated speech-language pathologist, mother of two, and active member of The Network community. Originally from Orlando, she has called Baltimore home since 2008, building connections and supporting families along the way. Passionate about helping children find their voice, she specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), giving nonverbal kids the tools to express themselves. In this interview, she shares insights into her career, parenting advice, and the impact of her transformative trip to Israel with the Momentum cohort.
Tell us about yourself and your family.
We are a family of 4. 2 boys; 10 & 8. We are not native to Baltimore; I grew up in Orlando and my husband grew up in Pittsburgh. My husband has been in Baltimore since 2006, and I moved here in 2008.
Can you share what inspired you to become a speech language pathologist and what you find most fulfilling about your work?
I have always wanted to work with children. I started out wanting to be a pediatrician, however, I realized that I would only see the patient for a few minutes every so often and I wanted to have more time with them. I did some research and found out about speech language pathology. The most fulfilling aspect about this career is giving kids a voice. I specialize in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) which is an alternative way for kids to communicate. This is for kids who cannot speak the traditional way due to a variety of reasons (Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Etc). Seeing the eyes of the individual when they can finally communicate is priceless.
Are there any specific strategies or tools you’ve found particularly effective when supporting children in their communication journey?
Strategies: Patience and celebrating the small milestones.
Tools: I have 2 activities that I love using. The first is a sticker scene activity on my iPad. It reminds me of the static sticker activities when I was a kid. You can teach and elicit so much language using them. The second is a flashlight activity. This works mostly with young children. You take a flashlight into a room and turn off the light. You then point the flashlight at a single item and talk about it with the child. Ex: Clock. Describe the colors, shapes, functions, use, materials it is made from…. any vocabulary that can be attributed to the item.
Furthermore, always read books with your children! Make up stories based on the pictures, talk about the scene etc., don’t just read the words. Ask questions…. Who is the story about, What do you think is going to happen, Where is the story taking place…. When, Why etc.
What advice would you give to parents who are concerned about their child’s speech or language development?
Trust your gut. If you think there is something “not right “see a professional. But also, don’t wait for seeing a professional, start doing some activities. I recommend looking at “Communication Temptations” by Wetherby & Prezant. Additionally, it is important to realize that developmental milestones are a bell curve. There are some who develop earlier and some later. Don’t compare to other kids.
Are there any resources or support systems that have been particularly helpful for your family that you’d like to share with other parents?
The Network has been an invaluable support/resource. There are many ways to connect with other families. It is hard not being from Baltimore as it seems those that have grown up here have their “crew/tribe” and connections and do not need to reach out and make new connections. The Network has a variety of ways to connect with new people and make new friends.
You traveled to Israel last summer on our Momentum cohort. What was the most meaningful part of your trip?
I did. It was life changing. I met a group of moms that were strangers in the beginning and ended up being lifelong sisters. The trip was truly life changing. I not only found a connection to the state of Israel but found out things about myself and (not to sound cliché) found myself and found the grounding and path that I am meant to be on. My quote for the trip would be: “My Jewish journey transformed from feeling adrift into profound belonging when I found my sisterhood – my chosen family who grounds me in faith and tradition.”
Editor’s note: Apply for our next Momentum Cohort! Travel dates: Nov. 3-10, 2025. Application deadline: March 7.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time as a connector?
There are so many! I loved meeting new people. (As an introvert meeting people can be intimidating). I think there were 2 events that I found to be so much fun: The first was a mom’s night out Israeli Cocktail event. We sampled liquors that are made in Israel and found fun ways to use them. The Second was a family event for Rosh Hashana. We had a honey tasting with 15 different flavors and voted on which ones we liked the best and made apple butter honey with some apples that were picked by the kids during a different Network event. It was so much fun, and the kids loved it!
What are some of your favorite ways to spend time with your family?
We love to go bike riding, play games, bake, craft activities, and watch sports on TV.