About BTG
Rachel Hardesty and Elizabeth Franzini started Bluegrass Therapy Group in 2013 to support children with developmental and educational needs. BTG therapists target articulation, language, pragmatics, dyslexia, and ABA therapy in a fun and meaningful environment using different therapeutic techniques and strategies.
Our therapists have attended workshops, trainings, and professional development in the areas of: articulation, apraxia, stuttering, vocabulary, TEACH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication of Handicapped Children), Lindamood (Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking), LiPS (Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech), the Integrated Listening Program, and Orton-Gillingham Reading Program.
THERAPISTS
rachel hardesty
ma, ccc-slp
Rachel is co-owner of BTG and a speech-language pathologist. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with her B.S. in 2009 and M.A. in 2011 in Communication Disorders. Rachel is Kentucky board certified, holds her CCCs (Certificate of Clinical Competence) with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and is a member of the Kentucky Speech-Language Hearing Association. She holds her teaching certificate and works in the Franklin County school system. Rachel has also worked in a hospital setting. Rachel is certified with the First Steps program.
elizabeth franzini
ms, ccc-slp
Elizabeth is co-owner of BTG and a speech-language pathologist. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with her B.S. in 2005 and M.S. in 2007 in Communication Disorders. Elizabeth is Kentucky board certified, holds her CCCs (Certificate of Clinical Competence) with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and is a member of the Kentucky Speech-Language Hearing Association. She worked in Montgomery County schools for 2 years and New York City schools for 5 years. Elizabeth worked for 5 years at Watch Me Grow, a private practice in NYC. Elizabeth is certified with the First Steps program.
JESSICA POTTER
MS, CCC-SLP
Jessica is a speech-language pathologist and graduated from the University of Kentucky with her B.S. in 2005 and M.S. in 2007 in Communication Disorders. Jessica is Kentucky board certified, holds her CCCs (Certificate of Clinical Competence) with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and is a member of the Kentucky Speech-Language Hearing Association. Jessica holds her teaching certificate for working with exceptional children. Jessica worked in Fayette County schools for 12 years before switching to private practice.
ashley johnson
ma, ccc-slp
Ashley is a speech-language pathologist and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with her B.S. in 2011 and M.A. in 2013 in Communication Disorders. Ashley is Kentucky board certified, holds her CCCs (Certificate of Clinical Competence) with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and is a member of the Kentucky Speech-Language Hearing Association. She holds her teaching certificate and has worked in the Franklin County school system for 6 years. Ashley also worked with First Steps.
Amanda dobey
ms, ccc-slp
Amanda is a speech-language pathologist and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in 2003 and M.S. in Communication Disorders in 2005. Amanda is Kentucky board certified, holds her CCCs (Certificate of Clinical Competence) with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and is a member of the Kentucky Speech and Hearing Association. Amanda joined the Bluegrass Therapy Group in April 2018. Amanda holds her teaching certificate for working with exceptional children. She has been working in the school system for 16 years. She worked in Franklin County Schools for 5 years and has worked in Anderson County for 11 years.
RUTH FITZ-GERALD
MA SPECIAL EDUCATION
Ruth Fitz-Gerald is a Certified Dyslexia Screener and Consultant. She earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Goshen College in 1983 and her M.A. in Special Education, Learning and Behavior Disorders K-12 from the University of the Cumberlands in 2017. Ruth earned her Dyslexia Screener and Consultant certification in 2014 from Susan Barton. She holds her elementary teaching certificate, special education certificate, and a special education consultant certification. She has many years of teaching experience in a variety of settings. Currently she is the Student Services Coordinator at the Frankfort Christian Academy.
Jenna sutton
ma, ccc-slp
Jenna is a speech-language pathologist and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with her M.A. in Communication Disorders. Jenna is Kentucky board certified and holds her CCCs with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Jenna also works full time for Mercer County schools.
Andrea fast
ms, ccc-slp
Andrea is a speech-language pathologist. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with her B.S. in 2005 and M.S. in 2007 in Communication Disorders. Andrea is Kentucky board certified, holds her CCCs (Certificate of Clinical Competence) with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and is a member of the Kentucky Speech-Language Hearing Association. She worked in the Clark County school system.