Bilingual Care, Universal Impact: How Jaridy Fabré ’17MA is Transforming Pediatric Therapy
Jaridy Fabré ’17MA is the founder and CEO of Somos Bilingües, a pediatric multidisciplinary clinic and sensory gym in Dobbs Ferry that is recognized for its bilingual therapy and evaluation practices. Founded on the belief that all children deserve culturally responsive services, Somos Bilingües now brings together a diverse, multidisciplinary team committed to elevating the way special education and pediatric health care meet the needs of bilingual and bicultural families.
Fabré built Somos Bilingües to address gaps in assessment tools and clinical approaches for culturally diverse children and the over-identification of marginalized groups in special education. Today, her team includes more than 60 specialists, including speech, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, special educators and social workers.
Somos Bilingües provides holistic, culturally and linguistically responsive assessment and treatment for children of all abilities. Although the clinic began as a bilingual specialty, Fabré realized that holistic care benefits all children, not just bilingual learners, and each deserves care that honors their unique culture, strengths and needs. Local and international families have sought support from Somos Bilingues to find answers and understand their child- beyond standardized testing.
Giving back to the community is central to Fabré’s mission. She recently donated Dobbs Ferry’s first playground communication board in Gould Park to promote inclusion and foster independence for children. For Fabré, the gesture was “a full circle moment,” reflecting on the support she received as a graduate student at Iona while earning her master’s degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders.
Learn More About Jaridy
What do you love most about what you're currently doing?
What I love most is creating safe, welcoming spaces where children, families and clinicians feel seen and understood. Our field hasn’t always reflected the diversity of the communities we serve. This can limit access for bilingual learners and discourage diverse therapists from entering the profession. Drawing on the education and mentorship I gained at Iona, I focus on strengthening culturally and linguistically responsive practice and supporting clinicians of all backgrounds. This improves access to services in a child’s home language, ensures more accurate diagnoses and reduces over-identification in special education. It’s deeply rewarding to help clinicians grow while watching children thrive.
How did Iona prepare you for where you are today, personally and/or professionally?
Iona gave me a strong academic foundation and the grit to build what didn’t exist yet. My path wasn’t perfect, but navigating challenges taught me to advocate for myself, seek mentors and create opportunities beyond the classroom—skills I now use every day to grow an inclusive practice. The emphasis on service and community shaped my commitment to culturally and linguistically responsive care. Coursework sharpened my clinical thinking and writing, while small classes and campus leadership roles strengthened my communication, team building and problem-solving—critical for leading clinicians and partnering with families and schools.
What advice do you have for a current Iona student who wants to follow a similar path?
If you want to follow this path, practice turning gaps into opportunities. Identify the unmet needs that energize your advocacy—that’s where you’ll find your purpose.
Learn more: Somos Bilingues Website
Instagram: Somos Bilingues Instagram
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.