When the pandemic hit, many clinicians had to unexpectedly transition to online therapy, which raised a lot of concerns about treatment quality. Can you really provide high-quality services in an online format? Does it require the same skill sets as in-person therapy? Are there times when teletherapy provides functionality that doesn’t exist in-person? As the…
Category: Specialized services for disabilities
EP 68: Why I don’t use language therapy goal banks
I get a lot of questions about how to write language therapy goals… I ALSO get a lot of questions about whether I offer goal banks in any of my courses. I do offer a version of a “goal bank” in Language Therapy Advance Foundations, my course that teaches SLPs a framework for building metalinguistic…
EP 67: Defining Vocabulary: It’s more complicated than you think
When people ask me where they should start in language therapy, I usually say they should start by building vocabulary. That usually results in a couple raised eyebrows and questions…mostly because they aren’t really sure how I’m defining “vocabulary”. That’s why in episode 67, I wanted to talk about what I actually mean when I…
EP 66: Language therapy: Managing info overload and misinformation
Back when I first started practicing, I found language therapy to be super overwhelming. There were so many peer-reviewed articles, books, and seminars, and it was hard to sift through it all and determine how to apply it to therapy. These days, we not only have to sort through lots of quality information…we have to…
EP 57: Demystifying the “specific learning disability” (with Jil Stauter)
Navigating the special education eligibility process is confusing for all parties involved (parents, professionals, etc.). That’s why I wanted to get some insight from someone who understands the process inside and out. In episode 57 of Are they 18 yet?® I interviewed my colleague Jil Stauter, a school psychologist who has worked with students from…
EP 054: Collaboration, literacy, and surviving due process (with Joann Briggs)
In this episode of Are they 18 yet?™, I talk with my friend and former colleague, Joann Briggs. Joann was a special education teacher in the public school systems for over 30 years, and I had the opportunity to work with her for a good portion of my time as a school speech pathologist. While…
EP 048: The ins and outs of language screening (for school-age kids)
Am I choosing the right language screening tool?How do I know when a child should be screened and evaluated? I get these questions a lot. That’s why in this episode, I wanted to bust some common myths about language screenings and evaluations. I’m going to share:✅The difference between a screening and evaluation (plus common mistakes people make)….
EP 023: De-escalation strategies for home, school, and community (with DJ Stutz)
Meltdowns and tantrums are a normal part of parenting, but it’s not always easy to get through the day if you aren’t sure how to handle them. That’s why in episode 023, I share the second half of my conversation with DJ Stutz, where we talk about bad parenting advice, building self-esteem, and how to…
EP 022: How to set boundaries and share positive feedback with your child (with DJ Stutz)
Most parents know they should be giving their child praise and encouraging them to explore their interests… But most people don’t realize that making small changes to what you say can make a big difference in your day-to-day life and interactions with your family. That’s why in episode 022, I sit down with early childhood…
EP 021: 3 ways to show appreciation for your child’s school
One of the best ways to take care of your kids is to take care of the people taking care of our kids. That includes any professionals working with your child, like teachers, school therapists, administrators, and coaches to name a few. If you know anyone in any of those positions, you know it can be a…