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SLP Full Disclosure

SLP Full Disclosure

By: AMN Healthcare
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Welcome to the SLP Full Disclosure Podcast, the show for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) seeking to enrich their skills and build connections within the supportive speech therapy community. With our inclusive platform that fosters exploration and growth, we delve into a variety of topics, from practical therapy techniques and technologies to early-intervention, travel therapy, teletherapy, clinical fellowship, and more. Join us as we navigate the diverse field of speech-language pathology, embracing full disclosure each episode.2026 AMN Healthcare Alternative & Complementary Medicine Career Success Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Solving the Speech Sound Mystery with Catherine Grizzard

    Solving the Speech Sound Mystery with Catherine Grizzard
    29 Sep 2026
    Have you ever wondered why age norms alone cannot tell you if a child needs speech therapy? Are you ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about treatment sequencing?In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle sits down with her friend and school-based SLP Catherine Grizzard to explore the world of articulation and speech sound disorders. With almost 20 years of school-based experience, Catherine brings clarity and confidence to a topic that trips up even seasoned clinicians. Together, they navigate the gray areas of speech sound norms, challenge outdated therapy sequencing, and equip you with the tools to make eligibility and dismissal decisions with conviction.Key Topics DiscussedSpeech Sound Norms: Comparing Sanders (1972) and McLeod and Crowe (2020), and why no single chart should drive your eligibility decisions.The Complexity Approach: Understanding the "waterfall" method of targeting later-developing sounds to unlock earlier sounds for free.Auditory Discrimination: Using minimal pairs to build a child's awareness of their own sound errors.Tongue Tie Controversies: What the latest research says about the connection (or lack thereof) between tongue ties and speech sound production.The Post-Pandemic Rise in Severe Speech Sound Disorders: Exploring how reduced access to visible mouth movement may be shaping outcomes for our youngest learners.Structural vs. Treatable Disorders: Recognizing when a physical difference, not a disorder, is driving a child's speech pattern.Eligibility and Dismissal: Building the confidence to make evidence-based decisions, even when it means saying "we've done all we can."Chapters00:00 – Introduction and catching up with Catherine04:11 – Catherine's journey into school-based speech pathology06:20 – Why articulation feels like solving a mystery08:03 – Comparing speech sound norm charts11:23 – The complexity approach and the "waterfall" analogy16:19 – Building awareness through minimal pairs18:27 – The truth about tongue ties20:17 – The rise of severe speech sound disorders post-pandemic24:26 – Structural limitations versus treatable disorders27:23 – Differences versus disorders in eligibility decisions30:27 – Managing plateaued progress and knowing when to dismiss35:55 – Advice for new SLPs facing complex casesResources MentionedSanders (1972), "When Are Speech Sounds Learned?"McLeod and Crowe (2020), speech sound acquisition normsHolly Storkel (2019), "Using Developmental Norms for Speech Sounds as a Means of Determining Treatment Eligibility in Schools"Kelly Farquharson, complexity approach resourcesTheresa Farnham, complexity approach professional developmentDeborah Beckman's Oral Motor TherapyGuest SpotlightMeet Catherine Grizzard, M.S., CCC-SLP, NBCT, a school-based speech-language pathologist entering her 20th year in the field and owner of Bright Birmingham Speech Therapy. Catherine holds a bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a master's degree from the University of Montevallo, and she earned her National Board Certification in exceptional needs in 2017. Her passion for solving the "mystery" of severe speech sound disorders, paired with her dedication to mentoring the next generation of SLPs, makes her insight a true gift for anyone in the field.Connect with Catherine at brightbirminghamspeechtherapy.com or by email at catherinegrizzard@gmail.com.Ready to sharpen your approach to articulation therapy? Subscribe to SLP Full Disclosure and share this episode with a fellow clinician navigating their own speech sound mysteries! WIN A TRIP TO ASHA 2026 ON US! Enter to win!The Top-5 Highest Paying States for School & Travel SLPs! Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    37 mins
  • From New Grad to 11 Contracts In—Claudia Jones on Building a Life Through Travel Therapy

    From New Grad to 11 Contracts In—Claudia Jones on Building a Life Through Travel Therapy
    15 Sep 2026
    What if the career path you were told to avoid turned out to be the best decision you ever made?In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle sits down with Claudia Jones, a travel occupational therapist with AMN Healthcare and 11 contracts under her belt. Claudia shares how she went from a new grad who was warned away from travel therapy to a passionate advocate helping the next generation of clinicians take that first leap. From building unexpected friendships to growing as a clinician in a small Oregon hospital—the only OT on staff across three settings—her story is equal parts inspiring and practical.Key Topics Discussed:Overcoming the stigma around new grad travel contracts and what has changedAMN's new grad mentorship program and clinical support teamThe recruiter relationship and why it can make or break your experienceClaudia's Oregon contract: handling three settings solo and thrivingStrategies for staying connected with family and friends while on assignmentMeeting lifelong friends on the road, including one via InstagramWorking with Jill Pantle on AMN's University and Alumni Outreach ProgramWhy travel therapy is a low-risk way to explore settings, locations, and your own strengthsChapters:00:00—Introduction and meet Claudia Jones01:30—Why new grads hesitate and how mentorship has changed the conversation03:40—The recruiter relationship: finding your person at AMN06:00—Claudia's journey: from Pennsylvania to 11 contracts nationwide10:45—The Oregon contract: three settings, one OT, one unforgettable experience13:20—Staying connected: family visits, trips home, and a best friend from Instagram20:20—Working with Jill Panto and the AMN University and Alumni Program25:35—Dispelling the myths around travel therapy for new grads31:30—Final advice: "What's the worst that can happen? Anybody can do anything for three months."Meet Claudia JonesMeet Claudia Jones, a travel occupational therapist, who has completed 11 contracts across South Carolina, Oregon, Indiana, and Florida. Claudia started her travel career straight out of school—despite being told not to—and has since become a mentor and advocate for new grads considering the same path. Passionate about building connection, embracing flexibility, and growing clinically through every assignment, Claudia works with AMN's University and Alumni Program to bring honest, firsthand guidance to students before they ever sign their first contract.Ready to take that first step toward your travel therapy career? Subscribe to SLP Full Disclosure and share this episode with a new grad who needs to hear it.Follow Claudia on TikTok WIN A TRIP TO ASHA 2026 ON US! Enter to win!The Top-5 Highest Paying States for School & Travel SLPs! Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    36 mins
  • Erin Weiner on Autizan: How AI Extends Speech Therapy

    Erin Weiner on Autizan: How AI Extends Speech Therapy
    1 Sep 2026
    After nearly two decades of working in pragmatics and social communication, Erin Weiner noticed something shifting. Her clients were no longer engaged by traditional curricula. They were online, motivated by media and games—and she was only seeing them for one hour a week. So she did something unconventional: she built a solution. Autizan is an AI-powered platform that meets neurodivergent individuals where they are. Through an AI Chat Buddy avatar, interest-based conversations, and a guided Minecraft-based social world, users practice communication skills in a low-pressure, non-judgmental environment while SLPs and families track progress through a back-end dashboard. The platform is designed not to replace therapy, but to extend it. This episode is packed with real success stories, practical guidance for SLPs and families, and a frank conversation about what it means to bring AI into ethical, effective clinical practice. Follow SLP Full Disclosure on Instagram at @AMN_Ally for show updates and SLP opportunities. Key Takeaways Interest-Based Learning Works: When the platform meets users where they are, whether that's Sonic the Hedgehog, Minecraft, or ice cream, engagement follows naturally, and goals are woven into the conversation without the user even realizing it.AI Bridges the Gap Between Sessions: Autizan gives clients a place to turn when situations arise between therapy appointments, helping prevent regression and reducing the need for crisis intervention.The AI Chat Buddy Avatar Supports All Ages: Users eight and up who can read at approximately a third-grade level can interact with the avatar. Speaking is not required, making it accessible to a wide range of communicators.Minecraft as a Social Skills Lab: The platform's guided Minecraft world lets users practice real-world skills like teamwork, negotiation, and handling unexpected change in a safe, structured environment where four of the five characters are neurodivergent.Self-Regulation Benefits Were Unexpected: Multiple teachers and parents reported that Autizan helped with emotional regulation, not just communication goals—a discovery Erin hadn't originally anticipated.The Dashboard Gives SLPs Actionable Data: The back-end portal lets professionals and parents review session transcripts, monitor goal progress, and track usage—all exportable for IEP meetings and documentation.AI Complements SLPs—It Doesn't Replace Them: Erin is clear that Autizan is a tool, not a therapist. The human connection remains irreplaceable; AI simply extends the reach and frequency of meaningful practice. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Host Michelle Gage welcomes Erin Weiner and shares her full bio01:55 – Erin's clinical journey: noticing the shift in client engagement and identifying key pain points03:34 – The "why" behind Autizan: limited session time, real-time needs, and the role of AI05:12 – How Autizan was built: starting with pain points, hiring developers, and leaning on mentors06:19 – What Autizan is: an AI-powered, interest-based social communication platform07:06 – How SLPs use Autizan: school groups, IEP goals, no prep required08:20 – The AI Chat Buddy avatar: what a session looks like and how goals are embedded09:18 – Home use and carryover: parents putting goals into the platform and seeing results10:19 – The Minecraft component: rebuilding a village, learning teamwork, and the neurodivergent-majority world11:33 – How Autizan works within Minecraft (without selling the game)11:57 – Platform access: web-based, available on phones, iPads, and computers12:41 – Age ranges and accessibility: who benefits most from the avatar vs. the Minecraft component13:15 – School-based feedback: teacher responses, token limits, and session make-ups14:08 – The back-end dashboard: transcripts, goal tracking, and documentation for IEPs15:06 – Success story: the child in meltdown who connected with the "Autizan woman"15:52 – Self-regulation outcomes: an unexpected but significant benefit reported by teachers16:29 – Success story: the young adult with a job who used Autizan during an unexpected workplace closure17:03 – How AI is changing speech pathology, and why it won't replace SLPs18:46 – The value of extra practice: how repetition with the avatar built conversational flexibility20:50 – Advice for SLPs hesitant about AI: get on board or get left behind22:57 – Advice for families: supplement therapy, create custom social stories, personalize the experience23:28 – Closing remarks and where to find Autizan and Erin online Meet and Connect with Erin Weiner and Autizan Erin Weiner, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist, innovator, and the founder of Autizan. Erin earned her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Florida International University and her Bachelor of Arts from The George Washington University. She's certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), trained in ...
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    25 mins
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