Jona Esquivel
Singapore, AHPC
Jona is a dedicated Speech-Language Therapist with over 20 years of experience specializing in paediatric speech and language development. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from the University of the Philippines in 2003 and has since cultivated an impressive career in the field, working across the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Jona was the Chief Speech Therapist in institutions such as ALRES – Phils and Shine Intervention Centre in the Philippines and in Indonesia assuming clinical and leadership roles. In 2009, she moved to Singapore, where she continues to practice as a consultant speech therapist in various private therapy centres.
Trainings and Certifications:
- Hanen – It Take Two to Talk
- Hanen – More Than Words
- Auditory-Verbal Therapy
- Oral-Placement Therapy
- Therapeutic Play
- Dr Caroline Bowen - Addressing Children's Speech Sound Disorders
- Certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration® (CLASI)
- PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets)
- S.O.S. Approach to Feeding
- Social Thinking® by Michelle Garcia-Winner
- Sensory Processing Disorders for Speech-Language Pathologists by Karin Brinkmann
- The Auditory -Language Processing Connection
- Working with Special Needs Children
- Treatment Strategies for Suspected Childhood Apraxia of Speech
- Building Executive Function Skills Through Play-based Learning
- The Pediatric Nutrition Course by Melanie Potock
- The Picky Eater Course by Melanie Potock
- Pediatric Feeding Disorders and Anxiety
- Pediatric Nutrition for Parents and Professionals: What You Need to Know for Kids 6 months to 6 Years
- Certified Supervisor for Speech Therapists (Allied Health Professions Council, Singapore)
In addition to her clinical practice, Jona has been a lecturer, supervisor, and mentor for junior therapists, delivering workshops in Singapore, the Philippines, and Japan. Her advocacy focuses on fostering strong collaboration between families, educators, and professionals, believing that children thrive when their unique interests are recognized and supported. She regularly conducts training programs to empower parents, teachers, and caregivers to create inclusive environments for neurodivergent children, paving the way for a more accepting society.
Jona is multilingual, fluent in English and Filipino, and proficient in Bahasa Indonesia. She has also completed the Basic Singapore Sign Language program offered by the Singapore Association for the Deaf.