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Where communication comes together.

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Who We Are

At Communication Junction, we are a team of speech pathologists and early educators that teaches families how to communicate and connect with their children through sign language, so they can develop a lifelong love of learning.

We offer classes face-to-face in Peoria and Bloomington, IL, as well as virtually wherever you are. Our classroom locations:

Peoria Classroom:

7320 N University St.
Peoria, IL 61614

Bloomington /Normal:

705 E Lincoln Street Ste. 209 Normal, IL 61761

Our Team

Abbey Cook

Owner/Director
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Brittany Heidemann

Instructor
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Rebecca Kinnary

Instructor
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Amanda Nudd

Office Manager
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Katlin Reardon

Instructor
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Meghan Robertson

Instructor & Social Media Manager
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Caroline Toner

Instructor
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Molly Turner

Instructor
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Jen Williams

Instructor
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Mary Williams

Instructor
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Abbey Cook

Owner/Director
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Abbey Cook, owner and director of Communication Junction, is a Speech Language Pathologist, receiving her Master’s in Speech and Language Pathology, at Gallaudet University in 2004. She is licensed through the American Speech and Hearing Association, and a certified Early Intervention Service Provider in the State of Illinois. Prior to establishing Communication Junction in 2009, Abbey worked as a SLP in an elementary school with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Virginia Beach, VA. Abbey has also worked at Illinois State University, supervising graduate students and teaching various courses. Abbey has two children who began using American Sign Language at a young age. At five months old her youngest son began signing milk and by age 1 both boys had signing vocabularies of 20+ words. She has seen first-hand the power of teaching ASL vocabulary to children can have on early communication skills (leading to less frustration and tantrums), vocabulary development and school readiness skills. She established Communication Junction to share her knowledge of language development and passion for early communication with the Central IL (and beyond starting in 2020) community.

Brittany Heidemann

Instructor
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Brittany Heidemann is a Speech Language Pathologist with a Masters Degree from Texas Christian University (Go Horned Frogs!). She is licensed through the American Speech and Hearing Association and a certified Early Intervention Service Provider in the State of Illinois. Brittany and her husband, Scott, reside in Peoria with their two sons, Colby and Miles. She has been a CJ mama since 2016 and became an instructor in 2018. Brittany is thrilled to share her knowledge of speech and language development with you and watch your family fall in love with the community you’ll find in our classes.

Rebecca Kinnary

Instructor
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Rebecca graduated from University of Illinois in 2012 with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught Kindergarten, summer school and coached High School dance in Chillicothe, IL for seven years. She decided to stay at home when her son, Theo, was born in 2019. She currently lives in Dunlap with her husband Kyle and two little boys Theo and Liam. Rebecca started Communication Junction classes with Theo when he was six months old and saw how much of a positive impact these classes had for Theo and her family. Rebecca is excited to help other families on their communication journey with their little ones!

Amanda Nudd

Office Manager
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Amanda Nudd joined Communication Junction as Office Manger in November 2018. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Elementary Education in 2012. After teaching second grade for a year, Amanda decided to stay at home full-time with her son, while also continuing to substitute teach part-time. Amanda currently lives in Chillicothe with her husband, Jeff, and their four children, Owen, Cecilia, Hazel, and Elliot. Being a CJ mom since 2014, Amanda can truly attest to the positive power that both signing and Communication Junction has on raising children through story times, classes, and at home. She absolutely loves being a part of an organization that means so much to her and her family and contributing to the incredible impact that CJ has on the community!

Katlin Reardon

Instructor
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Katlin graduated from Southern Illinois University in 2011 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught Kindergarten for 4 years before deciding to stay home after her second child was born. Katlin and her husband Phil live in Dunlap with their three children Nora, Owen and Levi. She started out as a CJ mom when Nora was 6 months old in 2014. She has since taken numerous classes and attended many story times and fun CJ events. Katlin is excited to become an instructor with Communication Junction because she has seen just how much sign language has helped her own children learn to communicate and grow! She can’t wait to help other families grow too!

Meghan Robertson

Instructor & Social Media Manager
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Meghan has an undergrad degree in Deaf Education from Illinois State University. After graduating from ISU, she relocated with her husband to SE Michigan. While there, she began teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in a classroom setting at both the elementary and high school level for 7 years. She saw, first hand, how important early language development, through sign language could have such a strong impact on a child’s lifelong literacy. Meghan then chose to focus on language development, receiving her Master’s Degree from Madonna University in 2015 in Reading and Literacy. Since her husband’s job relocated the family back to the Bloomington-Normal area in 2018, Meghan has been staying at home with their 3 young children. Meghan is thrilled to be a part the Communication Junction team and to continue to help families grow and communicate in a fun and meaningful way!

Caroline Toner

Instructor
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Caroline is a speech-language pathologist, having graduated with her master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University in 2020. She is licensed through the American Speech and Hearing Association and is pursuing her Early Intervention certification in the State of Illinois. Caroline is a Peoria native and returned to begin her career as a school-based SLP, working with a variety of students. She is passionate about giving her students a voice, which typically looks like singing, playing, and signing during therapy while growing their communication skills. Caroline is excited to share her knowledge of communication and language development and be a part of your family’s CJ journey!

Molly Turner

Instructor
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Molly Turner graduated from Illinois State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Deaf Education. She then attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO where she received her Mater’s of Science in Deaf Education. After finishing her Master’s Degree she returned to Bloomington-Normal where she taught as Teacher of the Deaf at Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School. While teaching at Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School, Molly earned her Doctoral Degree in Special Education. Upcon completion of her doctoral degree, she transitioned to a full-time position in the Special Education Deparmtnet at ISU. She teaches a variety of courses for the department, but primarily in Deaf Education. Molly resides in Normal with her husband Kurt. Molly loves being part of the Communication Junction team! Molly loves interacting with families and learning and seeing the positive impact CJ has on their family in terms of communication and overall development!

Jen Williams

Instructor
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Jen graduated from Bradley University with a degree in elementary education and taught kindergarten and first grade before working toward her Masters in literacy from Benedictine University. She currently teaches preschool and is married with four children. Jen started coming to story time when her oldest was just one and has since taken countless classes and attended many more story times! She is excited to be part of the CJ team as she has seen first hand the powerful impact early communication can have on babies.

Mary Williams

Instructor
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Mary Williams is a Peoria native and graduated from Bradley University in 2017 with a degree in Elementary Education and an ESL endorsement for Pre-k-12th grade. She taught first grade for 3 years and kindergarten for 1 year. She decided to stay at home with her son in 2021 and after attending just a few Stroll + Sign Storytimes, quickly realized how amazing the Communication Junction community truly is! What started out as a fun way to help her connect and communicate with her little one, is now an opportunity to help you and your little ones as well! Mary is excited to be a part of the CJ team!