This week on First Bite, Michelle and Erin revisit one of their most-requested topics: real-world feeding case studies.

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/not-just-picky

In this episode, they walk through three complex cases involving children with layered challenges, including trauma histories, ARFID, and rare medical diagnoses. Each story highlights the messy, nonlinear nature of feeding therapy and the importance of flexible, family-centered care.

You’ll hear how clinical reasoning, caregiver collaboration, and a bit of trial and error helped guide each child’s progress. But the focus isn’t just on the kids. Michelle and Erin also explore how the entire family system shapes therapy outcomes and mealtime trust.

If you love practical insights and honest conversations about what really happens in feeding therapy, this episode is for you.

Watch First Bite on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ucH8ert84dc

Mentioned in this episode:

Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama

Subscribe to Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama, a new podcast from Speech Therapy PD

Full conversation between Michelle Dawson MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S and Erin Forward MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC,

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/cours...

Do you feel like AAC is outside your comfort zone as an SLP or OT? You’re not alone, and we’re here to help.

Join Erin and Michelle for a practical and encouraging conversation about why it’s essential for every clinician to develop a foundational understanding of AAC, especially when serving children and families in community settings.

With AAC evaluations often delayed for months at larger organizations, clinicians need tools and confidence to support communication in the meantime. Erin and Michelle will walk you through the key components of an AAC evaluation, the importance of building strong relationships with your clients, and how to get started, even if you're not an AAC specialist.

They’ll also share valuable resources to guide your next steps and help you support families when AAC services feel out of reach. You may not have all the answers, but we’ll help you know where to start and how to keep learning.

Watch First Bite on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ykkZ__rpQNY?si=7Nt0uOk736FEz7dw

Mentioned in this episode:

Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama

Subscribe to Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama, a new podcast from Speech Therapy PD

Guest: Karen McWaters MOT, OTR/L

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/the-importance-of-motor-and-language-learning-for-effective-

Originally Aired: September 2023

As SLPs, we can often look at speech and language development in isolation, as our formal assessments encourage us to do; however, it is imperative that we learn from our occupational and physical therapy colleagues regarding motor learning principles and how they parallel those of language development. When we get out of our box, we can further understand the children we work with and their capacities. Erin and Karen will discuss their journey of collaborating within this context and how they learned from each other to help the children they worked with reach further potential.

About the guest: Karen is an Occupational Therapist living and working in Greenville, South Carolina. She received her BS in Public Health from Clemson University and her Masters of Occupational Therapy degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Her professional interests include sensory processing and praxis, neurodevelopment, DIR/Floortime, functional vision, and (most recently) trauma informed care. Karen loves that this job enables partnerships with families to meet each child’s unique needs and harnesses the power of relationships to impact each kid’s life using their motivations and interests.

Mentioned in this episode:

Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama

Subscribe to Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama, a new podcast from Speech Therapy PD

Guest: Farwa Husain, MS CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/glp-for-the-pediatric-slp

Originally Aired: March 2024

In this episode, Michelle is joined by Farwa Husain, MS CCC-SLP, bilingual speech-language pathologist and private practice owner of One-on-One Speech Therapy in New Jersey. Farwa, recognized as an ASHA Innovator in 2023, spends this hour sharing her passion for growing culturally and linguistically appropriate therapy for gestalt language processors (GLP) and their caregivers! So, if you want to learn more about GLP, how it compares to analytic language processors (ALP), and how to support GLP in their natural environments, then tune in and let Farwa share her brilliance and compassion!

About the guest: Farwa Husain is an experienced bilingual speech-language pathologist and private practice owner of One-on-One Speech Therapy in New Jersey. Farwa has presented at ASHA, New Jersey Speech and Hearing Association, and Morris County Speech and Hearing Association on gestalt language processing. Farwa was recognized at the 2023 ASHA convention as an “Innovator” in speech-language pathology. She is nominated for the Clinician of the Year-SLP award at the upcoming National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing 2024 National Convention. Families have also recognized her in the NJ Family magazine “Top Docs” edition. Farwa is currently serving as President of Morris County Speech and Hearing Association, a non-profit organization that provides exceptional continuing education to SLPs and audiologists in New Jersey. She is devoted to culturally and linguistically appropriate therapy that celebrates a family’s unique lifestyle and mentors SLPs in supporting gestalt language processors around the world.

Mentioned in this episode:

Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama

Subscribe to Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama, a new podcast from Speech Therapy PD

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEUs for this episode: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/valuing-pediatric-vfss

In this episode, Michelle interviews Anais Villaluna, SLPD, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC, a trilingual speech-language pathologist, to discuss best practices and critical considerations for pediatric Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS). Anais, who has just completed her SLPD and is already embarking on her PhD journey, shares insights from recent research, including the importance of radiographic settings, hidden technological considerations that can impact the outcome, the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, and how to support the little ones and their caregivers through the VFSS process. If you’re not familiar with conducting VFSS, or even if you’re a seasoned veteran, this episode will have nuggets of EBP for everyone!

Mentioned in this episode:

Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama

Subscribe to Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama, a new podcast from Speech Therapy PD

Guest: Colleen Ashford MS, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/advocacy-and-ieps

In this episode, Erin and Colleen discuss the depth of advocacy surrounding IEPs, EI, and the impact of recent policy changes. This vulnerable discussion touches on what it means to advocate for our families in the school setting and beyond. Colleen discusses the effects of variety in policy and laws state by state, and the importance of seeking resources and support to help you support your families. They also discuss how SLPs can tailor their services in private practice and resources to support you in this process. If you are ready to explore and expand your value and advocacy as an SLP, this episode is for you.

Here is the link of an organization Colleen would recommend donating to:

https://www.ilrc.org/donate-now

They are the same one that created these Family Preparedness Plan Packets that can be given to families:

https://www.ilrc.org/resources/step-step-family-preparedness-plan

Colleen's Courses (Colleen is an affiliate)

The Collaborative IEP with Ashley Barlow (two complimentary courses):

https://thecollaborativeiep.spiffy.co/a/0KLCN2r0pE/4345

https://thecollaborativeiep.spiffy.co/a/lkgsG1az5P/4345

YourSLPDaj's SIDE BIZ SLP Course (Colleen is an affiliate) -

https://ashford--cotreatcorner.thrivecart.com/sidebizslp/

If people want to hear The Unfiltered IEPs Podcast they can subscribe here to find out when new episodes are released!

https://theadvocateslp.myflodesk.com/dqt0sp358u

Watch First Bite on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7MAivUFBhc4?si=F6rhc3118SrSsOwN

Mentioned in this episode:

Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama

Subscribe to Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama, a new podcast from Speech Therapy PD

Expert Panel: Amy Hobek, PhD, CCC-SLP, Fé González Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP, Vishnu KK Nair, Archie Soelaeman, Betty Yu and Reem Khamis

Take ACTION HERE: Changes to 2020 certification standards feedback. Survey. (n.d.). https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020_Cert_Changes

This episode will be available for 0.1 ASHA CEU on July 4, enroll here: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/ashas-proposed-changes

Correction Note from Dr. Betty: “During the recording I referred to the executive order targeting associations with assets of $500 million or more. I thought ASHA met that criteria but actually ASHA’s net assets are around $174 million.”

In this episode, Michelle and Erin host an all start line up of colleagues from across the globe to discuss ASHA’s Proposed Changes to the “2020 Certification Standards” and the long-term ramifications that these changes could have for our profession. This conversation is timely in that there are only a matter of days, roughly 3 weeks or less, for audiologists and speech-language pathologists (including students) to write in and advocate to ASHA on whether the proposed changes to the 2020 Certification Standards should be accepted… changes that remove key words and language that were hard fought to obtain. Be informed that this conversation does address political rationale behind the changes and offer a plethora of resources for individuals to grow their knowledge regarding the long-term ramifications of these proposed changes… but it ends with resources on how to make your voice heard! So, come join the ladies of “First Bite” and ADVOCATE!

About the Panel:

Amy Hobek, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. Her teaching and scholarship focus on equity and inclusion, with an emphasis on valuing and legitimizing cultural and linguistic variations in these areas within individuals, families, and communities. She is also a licensed speech language pathologist providing clinic supervision of graduate students in a culturally and linguistically diverse preschool setting on UC’s campus. She is a co-chair of the Cultural Humility Task Force of the National Black Association of Speech Language and Hearing. She is a topic co-chair of Equity, Inclusion, and Cultural-Linguistic Diversity for the ASHA 2025 Convention.

Professor Reem Khamis (also known as Reem Khamis-Dakwar) is Professor Emerita at Adelphi University and Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn. Her expertise centers on language development, processing, and clinical services within the sociolinguistic context of diglossia and diverse populations. Dr. Khamis is co-founder of the Journal of the Critical Study of Communication and Disability (JCSCD) and a co-founding member of the Speech, Language, and Hearing Scientists Equity Action Collective. She currently serves as Language Section Editor for the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR). She received the Excellence in Diversity Award in 2020 from the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD).

Fé González Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northern Arizona University. Prior to joining the NAU faculty, she worked for 25 years as an English/Spanish bilingual speech-language pathologist in various settings, most notably in public schools serving Indigenous American, migrant, and immigrant populations. In addition to teaching and supervising clinical rotations, she facilitates workshops nationally and internationally on topics related to responsive practice...

Guest: Kelsey Thompson, PhD, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/early-feeding

Hosted by: Michelle Dawson MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S

Welcome to an insightful conversation between Michelle Dawson and Dr. Kelsey Thompson, a renowned pediatric feeding therapist and researcher. In this episode, they delve into critical issues in pediatric feeding therapy, discuss essential strategies for supporting infants with Down syndrome and preterm infants, and explore the importance of early intervention and advocacy in speech-language pathology.

📌 Episode Highlights:

- The impact of recent CMS updates on provisional licensure for speech-language pathologists.

- Exploring the unique needs and milestones in pediatric feeding therapy for infants with Down syndrome.

- The vital role of early intervention and parent-infant relationships in feeding development.

- Current gaps in research and the need for continued advocacy and support within pediatric feeding disorders.

⏰ Timeline:

00:00 – Introduction and recent CMS updates impacting speech-language pathologists

03:00 – Importance of advocacy in speech pathology

04:00 – Introduction to Dr. Kelsey Thompson

08:00 – Dr. Thompson’s path into pediatric speech therapy

11:00 – UNC’s Feeding Flock program overview

15:00 – Special interest in working with Down syndrome populations

19:00 – Developmental milestones and transitions in early feeding therapy

25:00 – Defining "complementary foods" and its role in pediatric feeding

30:00 – Findings from recent scoping review on Down syndrome and feeding

35:00 – Key transitions and interventions in early childhood feeding

40:00 – Clinical considerations and family support strategies

45:00 – Addressing realistic goals and collaboration among caregivers

50:00 – Importance of flexibility and adjusting therapy goals

55:00 – Critical resources for supporting infants with Down syndrome

01:00:00 – Addressing gaps in pediatrician training on feeding disorders

01:05:00 – Essential organizations and resources for caregivers and clinicians

01:10:00 – Wrapping up: Resources, future research directions, and contact information

🔗 Useful Resources Mentioned:

Feeding Matters: www.feedingmatters.org

National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders: swallowingdisorderfoundation.com

National Down Syndrome Society: www.ndss.org

📧 Contact Dr. Kelsey Thompson:

Email: kelsey_thompson@med.unc.edu

About the Guest: Kelsey Thompson, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, research scientist, and mom of two little ones. Her research and clinical work center around supporting families through the introduction to solid foods, with the goal of preventing long-term pediatric feeding disorders and helping caregivers feel confident about feeding. Her research focuses on infants with Down syndrome and preterm infants and their families.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDdUnq3dwos

Mentioned in this episode:

Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama

Subscribe to Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama, a new podcast from Speech Therapy PD