Key People
Committed to the Cause
Since our formal founding in 2019, Communication is Key AAC has developed and grown in a positive direction. We’re very proud of our volunteer team, and their abilities to contribute their own unique experience and skills to our success. Find out more about some of our team members below.
Rachel Rick
Secretary
Rachel resides in Metro Detroit, with her family and full time working mom to Haven and Remy. Rachel is also CiK secretary as well as serving on our advisory board. She shares a passion for inclusion and awareness for special needs children and their families. Rachel is an advocate for Haven who is a successful low tech AAC user, and recently has acquired an Ipad with Proloquo2go from another Michigan nonprofit. Despite the multiple hats she wears, her organizational skills, resourcefulness, dedication, and selflessness are a vital component to our organizations success! When she’s not working, or doing therapy runs, she enjoys cooking, photography, and genealogy research.
Joseph Dapkus Jr
Development Assistant
Joe Dapkus Jr, husband to founder Julia, and father to Isabelle . Joe is a successful business owner and entrepreneur of a commercial building restoration company in the Detroit area, JMD Buiilding Restoration. Joe is a dedicated father, who is driven to help children like Isabelle have the most happy and successful life possible. In a previous life, Joe would have been an elementary school teacher, as his love for children still shines through whenever he is around them. He is definitely the FUN parent and Isabelle's thrill seeking partner. Joe's business experience as well as knowledge has allowed CiK to grow at a rapid rate, as he contributes to our marketing, fundraising, and business development. Although downtime is scarce, Joe enjoys doing anything that makes Isabelle smile especially dancing and swimming! He is an avid golfer and bowler and enjoys a good murder mystery show.
Justin Rick
Board Member
Justin is originally from Saginaw, but now resides in metro Detroit. Married to his wife Rachel, they share a passion for service and awareness to special needs children and their families. Father to Haven an ACC user, and Remy 6. He is a full time stay at home dad and part time Jack of all trades. When free time arises he enjoys gardening, fishing and mushroom foraging.
Amanda Valenzuela
Board Member
Amanda is the mom of three young children, Simon, Mena, and Gemma. She’s been married to fellow CiK member Neil for the past 12 years. Her oldest Simon has truly changed her life through his journey with epilepsy and autism. At age 3, he began to lose his ability to speak due to a rare epilepsy disorder known as Landau Kleffner Syndrome. He is now completely nonverbal and is a full time AAC user. His journey with AAC has given her a new perspective on communication and made her eager to share that perspective with others. She works part time as a pediatric registered nurse at a community hospital in Oakland county. In her spare time she enjoys watching bad tv on Netflix, working on updating their new/old home, and recently has joined the Peloton craze.
Neil Valenzuela
Team Member
Neil is husband to a pediatric nurse, Amanda, and the doting father of three littles, including Simon, who is an AAC user. Neil brings positive, peaceful energy to Communication is Key AAC, as well as his mutual passion for advocacy and inclusivity. Neil's professional background includes health care insurance, and in a previous life, a well-known DJ. He is a sports fanatic, loves to run, and travel.
Rachael Hendzell M.A. CCC-SLP
Board Member/ SLP
Rachael Hendzell M.A. CCC-SLP is an American Speech and Hearing Association certified Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist. She currently works in a public school in Southeast Michigan and owns her own private practice, Super Sweet Speech LLC. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Central Michigan University and her Master of Arts from The University of Toledo. Her clinical experience has focused on pediatric speech and language therapy. Her main focus is early intervention, language, literacy, and implementing core in the community. Rachael has quickly realized the importance of early intervention in her field and just how important authentic and genuine interactions with children are!
Katie Hiltz
Speech/Language Intern
Katie Hiltz is an aspiring SLP completing her graduate studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders at EMU. Katie works part-time as a Community Living Services provider for disabled adults and is a long-time volunteer at the Miracle League of Plymouth. In her free time, she enjoys reading, photography, coaching MLP baseball, and spending time with her cat, Ziggy Stardust. Her duties with CIK include webmaster, assistant to the director, and general support on projects, outreach, and fundraising. Katie is excited to use her passion for advocacy and her communication sciences knowledge to increase awareness and access to AAC.
Get to know more about our incredible team today.