Lori M Allen, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
Speech-Language Pathologist

Lori started her career under the mentorship of Dr. Amy Wetherby at Florida State University working on the First Words Project. She worked on research grants targeting early identification of speech and language disorders, with a heavy emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment of autism. In 2006, she moved back to her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida and opened a private practice, Allen Therapy Services, PLLC, serving infants and toddlers in the natural environment through the Early Steps Program.

To expand her knowledge, Lori took a full-time clinical position with Wolfson Children's Hospital in 2014, and in 2016 became Clinical Lead for Speech-Language Pathology for all Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Through this roll she developed programs, wrote competencies, validated clinical competence, and maintained a high clinical standard for the speech-language pathology program across six clinics. During COVID, she used the time to become a board certified specialist in child language.

Through Lori's experience at Wolfson's she met and began co-treatments with Camaran McWilliams, OTL/R and instantly a steadfast relationship of fun, intensity, knowledge, craziness, and respect bloomed. Eight years later it continues to grow, especially the craziness. In 2022, they decided to build a nonprofit organization to focus on supporting the family's needs throughout the process of evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. Their unique idea was to purchase a commercial house to help treatment feel more comfortable, be more natural, and more likely to carryover into the child's home environment. Tribe was born.

Lori was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida and graduated from Terry Parker high school. Her parents and two brothers still live in Jacksonville today with 5 nephews and 2 nieces. She attended Florida State University from 1992-1998 and loved every minute of being a Seminole (GO NOLES!!). She played flute in the Marching Chiefs and was present in the end zone when Charlie Ward led the team to the National Championship in 1993.

The city of Jacksonville has always been her first love and she is thrilled to be at a place in her career to start a nonprofit and help the community. The Tribe house on Gilmore street is around the corner from the duck pond where she fed the ducks after her piano lessons every week growing up. We always come back to our roots.

Lori has two grown children. A daughter who is studying ballet and health care sciences at University of South Florida, and a son who is studying electrical and mechanical engineering at University of Central Florida. She has a dog name Paisley (who cannot figure out the game of catch), and two litter-mate cats Callie and Remi. She is trying very hard to keep a variety of house plants alive. Lori enjoys all that is outdoors including hiking, walking, running, and city exploring. She loves cooking, hanging out with family and friends, reading, working out, and creating.

Clinical Specialties:

autism spectrum disorder

speech sound disorder/phonological disorder

severely unintelligible children

early intervention

developmental delay

early identification of speech and language disorders

child language

augmentative and alternative communication devices

emergent literacy

interdisciplinary care