Our Team
Leah Nesburg MA CCC-SLP
Leah is a Speech and Language Pathologist at Building Blocks Therapy Services. Leah is a Michigan native and graduated from Calvin University with a Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology in 2016.
In her spare time, Leah loves to be active and spend time with her family. Leah enjoys running, hiking, swimming, and anything outdoors. When she’s not working, you can find Leah with her kids. They enjoy lots of adventures together!
Leah enjoys her work as a speech and Language Pathologist and is passionate about helping kids and their families realize the joy of communication. Leah has experience with PROMPT, the Cycles approach and is trained in the Play Project.
Leah will continue to study early childhood intervention and pediatric feeding, among other topics. Leah is registered with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the State of Michigan.
Sarah Kidder MS, CCC-SLP
Sarah graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2022 with a Master of Science in speech-language pathology. She has experience working with early intervention, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), augmentative alternative communication (AAC), Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) (aka. Gestalt Language Processing), reduplicated syllable therapy (ReST), resonance, articulation, receptive-expressive language disorders, adult videofluoroscopic swallow studies, and dysphagia. She is passionate about caregiver education, interdisciplinary collaboration, providing access to language supporting technologies, and supporting families as they advocate for their children. Sarah was honored to receive recognition as a Top Speech Therapist in West Michigan in 2024 by GR Kids.
Post grad-school, Sarah has completed training in Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs), and Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) for Gestalt Language Processors (GLP).
Outside of work, Sarah keeps busy as a mom of 4. She enjoys time outside with her family (in both urban and rural settings), game nights, taking her pyredoodle on walks, and leading the children’s ministry at her church. A self proclaimed foodie, Sarah loves good coffee and finds pride in sampling her daughter’s latest baked goods or enjoying a meal prepared by her husband.
As the field of speech-language pathology is constantly evolving, Sarah remains curious about supporting individuals who use multi-modal communication across the life-span, sensory supporting strategies, the effects of trauma on speech and language skills, pediatric feeding, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), and Orofacial Myofunctional therapy.
Courtney Joesel MA CCC-SLP
Courtney is the Founder and President of Building Blocks Foundation, Inc.
Courtney graduated from Michigan State University with a Masters in Communicative Sciences and Disorders in 2010. Courtney has studied or been trained in orofacial myofunctional therapy through the IAOM, tethered oral tissues, Beckman Oral Motor, SOS Approach to Feeding, Fed the Peds, SOFFI, Lindamood-Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing, Kaufman technique, PODD . She has studied many methods for articulation, apraxia, autism spectrum disorders, stuttering, feeding, cognition, written expression, expressive and receptive language, auditory processing, learning disabilities and dyslexia. Courtney is the recipient of 5 ACE awards through the American Speech Language Hearing Association and Outstanding Preceptor Award by the Midwest Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research Center through Grand Valley State University.
Her varied work experience includes working in the public schools, working/living with children at a camp for children with physical disabilities, and working in an outpatient clinic setting with pediatrics. Courtney believes in looking at the whole child and how they are able to communicate and navigate the world around them. When not working with children, Courtney is very active in the local mountain biking community and empowering others to go beyond their comfort zone.
Courtney plans to continue her education and research in orofacial myofunctional therapy and tethered oral tissues. She is registered with the American Speech and Hearing Association, Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensed by the State of Michigan.