Our Team
Crystal Sanford, M.Ed., M.A. CCC-SLP
owner/CEO/SLP
Crystal celebrates 20+ years experience in the field of speech-language pathology, supporting students from 0-22 years in public schools, private clinics, etc. throughout California.
In 2014, Crystal gained personal knowledge regarding the supports required for children with unique needs when her daughter was identified as on the autism spectrum at age three. While seeing the void of services available for parents, Crystal soon after opened a boutique consulting practice with an emphasis on empowering the autism parent through the special education process (Sanford Autism Advocacy Group).
In 2022, Crystal returned to her first love and opened her second business, the Sanford Speech & Learning Center. Her intention is to offer a safe space where all children can learn and thrive in their communication skills.
In her free time, Crystal enjoys reading, word games/puzzles, walking for exercise, and non-technology time with her husband and two tween daughters.
In 2014, Crystal gained personal knowledge regarding the supports required for children with unique needs when her daughter was identified as on the autism spectrum at age three. While seeing the void of services available for parents, Crystal soon after opened a boutique consulting practice with an emphasis on empowering the autism parent through the special education process (Sanford Autism Advocacy Group).
In 2022, Crystal returned to her first love and opened her second business, the Sanford Speech & Learning Center. Her intention is to offer a safe space where all children can learn and thrive in their communication skills.
In her free time, Crystal enjoys reading, word games/puzzles, walking for exercise, and non-technology time with her husband and two tween daughters.
Wendy L. Wilton, M.A. CCC-SLP
Early intervention specialist
Wendy received her Bachelor’s of Arts and Master’s of Arts in Communicative Disorders at San Diego State University and she is passionate about supporting families and providing education to improve communication. Her 16+ years experience includes early intervention, school-age, and adults, working in various settings including the client’s home, clinics, and schools.
Wendy is an Early Intervention Specialist, empowering children ages 1-3 years and their families/caregivers through home-based intervention and treatment. She has also successfully facilitated early identification and early intervention for children on the autism spectrum through San Diego Regional Center evaluations.
In her free time, Wendy enjoys hiking, weight-lifting, camping and celebrating life with her husband and two teen children.
Wendy is an Early Intervention Specialist, empowering children ages 1-3 years and their families/caregivers through home-based intervention and treatment. She has also successfully facilitated early identification and early intervention for children on the autism spectrum through San Diego Regional Center evaluations.
In her free time, Wendy enjoys hiking, weight-lifting, camping and celebrating life with her husband and two teen children.
Melanie K. Milicevic, B.A., Enrichment Educator
Melanie is a graduate of UCLA and a former 5th grade teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She worked mostly with second language learners and collaborated with special needs families to meet the unique needs of her students. She now advocates for her own special needs children and continues to work with schools to help educate them about ways to include children of all abilities in the classroom. Melanie is a passionate writer and has been published in Autism Parenting Magazine, Exceptional Needs Today and Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego.
After a long pause away from the workplace, Melanie is now returning to teaching. She is most enthusiastic about teaching literacy, social skills and working with upper elementary students and teens. She looks forward to working more closely with the homeschool community and to facilitating an engaging book club for neurodiverse learners.
Melanie hopes to publish a children’s book someday and is always chasing her dream between driving her kids from activity to activity. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.
Melanie is a graduate of UCLA and a former 5th grade teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She worked mostly with second language learners and collaborated with special needs families to meet the unique needs of her students. She now advocates for her own special needs children and continues to work with schools to help educate them about ways to include children of all abilities in the classroom. Melanie is a passionate writer and has been published in Autism Parenting Magazine, Exceptional Needs Today and Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego.
After a long pause away from the workplace, Melanie is now returning to teaching. She is most enthusiastic about teaching literacy, social skills and working with upper elementary students and teens. She looks forward to working more closely with the homeschool community and to facilitating an engaging book club for neurodiverse learners.
Melanie hopes to publish a children’s book someday and is always chasing her dream between driving her kids from activity to activity. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.
Yashna Bowen, M.S., Literacy Specialist
Yashna has been working as a literacy interventionist for the past 2.5 years and as an educator for the past 7 years. She started out as a neuroscience and developmental psychology researcher studying early childhood mental health and language development. A strong advocate for socio-emotional well-being, she decided to put her research to use where it was most needed - 1 on 1 with students.
Yashna has worked with children in many capacities - as an in-clinic literacy specialist, preschool teacher, after-school STEM instructor, as well as a behavioral aid. She founded her Literacy and Education Consulting Business, Rooted Curiosity, in order to bring structured literacy and math instruction to both neurodivergent and neurotypical students; especially those with mental health concerns, ADHD, Anxiety/Depresison etc.
Aside from being trained in the Wilson Reading System and Lindamood Bell’s LiPS Program, Yashna received her Orton-Gillingham instruction training through the Dyslexia Training Institute and specializes in working with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia.
When not working, Yashna like being outdoors with her husband and two dogs, or hunting for the cutest coffee shops in town.
Yashna has been working as a literacy interventionist for the past 2.5 years and as an educator for the past 7 years. She started out as a neuroscience and developmental psychology researcher studying early childhood mental health and language development. A strong advocate for socio-emotional well-being, she decided to put her research to use where it was most needed - 1 on 1 with students.
Yashna has worked with children in many capacities - as an in-clinic literacy specialist, preschool teacher, after-school STEM instructor, as well as a behavioral aid. She founded her Literacy and Education Consulting Business, Rooted Curiosity, in order to bring structured literacy and math instruction to both neurodivergent and neurotypical students; especially those with mental health concerns, ADHD, Anxiety/Depresison etc.
Aside from being trained in the Wilson Reading System and Lindamood Bell’s LiPS Program, Yashna received her Orton-Gillingham instruction training through the Dyslexia Training Institute and specializes in working with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia.
When not working, Yashna like being outdoors with her husband and two dogs, or hunting for the cutest coffee shops in town.
Tonya Lehman, M.A., Enrichment Educator
Even when participating in non-educational activities, people ask Tonya, “Are you a teacher?” That’s because Tonya has her Masters in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) and has spent many years bringing educational experience across age, disciplines, and environments (high school life science. elementary/middle guest teacher, Parent Ed, VAPA Dance, Swing Dance from middle school to senior citizens, girls’ Sunday School, adult school T-Shirt Quilt in a Day, etc.).
Tonya is also a small business owner (Joy Lab Video), adept in marketing and managing interns from pre-production to post-production for video shoots.
In her free time Tonya enjoys traveling with her family of four (by the time her daughters were in college, they had been to 23 states and 16 countries together), making cooking videos, and swing dancing.
Even when participating in non-educational activities, people ask Tonya, “Are you a teacher?” That’s because Tonya has her Masters in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) and has spent many years bringing educational experience across age, disciplines, and environments (high school life science. elementary/middle guest teacher, Parent Ed, VAPA Dance, Swing Dance from middle school to senior citizens, girls’ Sunday School, adult school T-Shirt Quilt in a Day, etc.).
Tonya is also a small business owner (Joy Lab Video), adept in marketing and managing interns from pre-production to post-production for video shoots.
In her free time Tonya enjoys traveling with her family of four (by the time her daughters were in college, they had been to 23 states and 16 countries together), making cooking videos, and swing dancing.