Sofia Llardi

Research Assistant

My name is Sofia Ilardi, and I am a second-year student at the University of Connecticut from Westchester, New York. I am double-majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, and ASL Studies and Deaf Culture, with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. I began working as a research assistant for the Language Creation Lab in August 2025, where I assist with research focused on language development, specifically with homesigners in Nicaragua. I can’t wait to learn more about this research through my experiences in the lab.

I also work as a substitute one-to-one aide at a preschool for children with developmental disabilities. These experiences have strengthened my passion for supporting language access and communication. After I graduate, I hope to attend graduate school for Speech-Language Pathology and plan to work with children and focus on a language-first approach.