Welcome!
I am a speech pathologist specializing in the rehabilitation of children and adults after any neurological illness or injury. My practice includes the treatment of those who have suffered a traumatic or acquired brain injury (e.g., brain cancers, Parkinson’s) and stroke. In addition, I have a passion for post-concussion recovery.
In 2013, I was lucky to have the opportunity to develop and implement a sports concussion program for my local high school district. I worked with the school district personnel, hospital administrators, district nurses, athletic directors and athletic trainers in a grass roots effort to establish the concussion pre and post testing protocol as well as return to play criteria.
The focus of my therapy is to help people regain a level of independence in their daily lives despite having communication and/or cognitive weaknesses. My treatment is conducted in the comfort of my patients’ homes, work sites, or even in classroom settings. My methods are very functional and geared toward tasks identified by my patients. I instruct and facilitate the carryover of new techniques and strategies so that daily duties and communication are manageable and less frustrating.
I have been practicing for 35 years and have worked in skilled nursing, acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and home/community reintegration settings. Of all my experiences, I love home and community settings where I believe my patients are more successful in generalizing their newly learned skills because therapy is done where they need it the most! I enjoy the challenge of helping someone with aphasia order food for the first time after their stroke or helping my patient organize and plan their day so that they don’t need to rely on others to remind them. I am also experienced with helping my school-aged patients through their IEP process and enjoy collaborating with school teams to assure maximum success.
Because I travel to my patients, I am quite the road warrior! I travel from Daly City to Mountain View/Los Altos Hills and everywhere in between! I also conduct virtual therapy sessions via Zoom for more distant patients.
In addition to my clinical skills, I am also a certified clinical case manager with over 20 years of working among medical professionals and insurance companies with the goal of assuring that my patients receive the services they need.
In my free time, I love to travel with my family, take walks with my German Shephard Mix dog, or just sit in my backyard with a good book and a bucket of popcorn!
I am highly skilled with community reintegration, whether that entails returning to work, school, or helping someone with aphasia be comfortable asking for assistance in the grocery store. I treat individuals in a variety of settings and am knowledgeable about the IEP process for returning to school.
In addition to my clinical skills, I am also a certified clinical case manager and have more than 20 years of patient advocacy between various medical professionals and insurance companies
Sessions include assessment and treatment for diagnoses such as: Aphasia, Apraxia, Cognitive Disorders, Dysarthria, and Swallowing disorders
Sessions include assessment and treatment for cognitive-linguistic areas such as improving attention, memory, and problem-solving skills
Sessions include assessment and treatment for swallowing disorders following stroke or other brain injuries with the focus on establishing safe food and liquid diets levels
Sessions include assessment and treatment to address difficulties such as: mental “fogginess” and fatigue, reduced concentration/attention span, difficulty learning new material, difficulty reading, and word finding
Sessions include assessment and treatment for diagnoses such as Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia. Therapy focuses on individual and family education and training for communication, cognitive, and/or swallowing skills
One group focuses on 30-year-old and under individuals who have sustained traumatic or acquired brain injuries and strokes. One group focuses on over 30-year-old individuals who have sustained traumatic or acquired brain injuries and strokes. Both groups are free of charge, meet 1x/month, and focus on socialization and resource sharing.
Number: (650) 520 9012 Email: vfukuhar@comcast.net
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