About East Bay Child Development Center

East Bay Child Development Center supports your family by building on your child’s unique abilities. Our neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach empowers individuals through acceptance and understanding.

The East Bay Child Development Center Team

Claire Ibrahim, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist & Founder of East Bay Child Development Center

I founded East Bay CDC as a small speech therapy practice in San Leandro when the COVID pandemic began. Today, we’ve grown into the East Bay’s premiere child development center, providing comprehensive therapeutic and family support services to our community.

My fifteen years of experience as a pediatric speech language pathologist Oakland Unified School District and Kaiser Permanente have given me a well-rounded perspective on supporting children’s communication through functional, educational, and health-based approaches. The staff at East Bay CDC shares my commitment to serving families from all backgrounds, with expertise in bilingual and multicultural therapy and family advocacy.

Having served as a faculty member in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Department at California State University, East Bay, I recognize the importance of providing training opportunities for future professionals. Our center welcomes student interns and volunteers who are training to become speech-language pathologists, early interventionists, and early childhood educators.

At East Bay CDC, our multidisciplinary team works closely with each family to create thoughtful treatment plans that include direct intervention, home programs, and parent coaching tailored to your child’s needs.

We look forward to meeting you and your family!

Katie Schoneman, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist & Director of Speech Therapy Services

As the Director of Speech Services at East Bay CDC, I lead a team of speech therapy professionals committed to fostering communication and connection in a supportive and inclusive environment. I support the team to utilize play-based activities and routines to create a natural and motivating context for communication development.

My approach to therapy is rooted in evidence-based practice, compassion, and a deep respect for each child’s unique journey. I believe that when children feel connected, regulated, and engaged, they are empowered to reach their full communication potential. I am dedicated to helping children find their voice, build meaningful relationships, and confidently navigate the world around them.

My 15 years of experience as a Speech Language Pathologist has taught me to cultivate strong relationships and to foster collaborative environments where families, educators, and therapists work together to support each child’s communication goals.

I provide clinical supervision and mentorship to our team of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs), Clinical Fellows (CFYs), and graduate student interns, fostering the next generation of speech-language pathologists.

I recognize the critical link between emotional well-being and communication, and incorporate strategies to support self-regulation and emotional expression. We partner with families to empower them as advocates for their children and to support carryover of communication strategies into the home environment.

I look forward to supporting you and your child through their communication journey.