There are a lot of approaches to teaching kids to read; but not all of them are effective. This is especially important for kids with disabilities who need explicit instruction. That’s why in episode 102, I had special education consultant and host of the Science of Special Education podcast, Brett Stevens, on the show to…
Tag: special education
EP 101: How school therapists can lead schools in providing district-wide executive functioning supports
Strong executive functioning skills can help kids to be resilient, adaptable, and independent. These characteristics are going to be essential for supporting mental health and success going forward. EVERYONE who interacts with school-age kids on a daily basis has the chance to support executive functioning, and not addressing this skill is a huge missed opportunity….
EP 97: Getting a “Yes” from your school administrator (with Marva Mount)
On episode 97 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, I had the opportunity to interview SLP and Related Services Director, Marva Mount. Marva is a nationally recognized speaker on issues regarding public school speech and language services. She is a published chapter author, and has been awarded the Hall of Fame Award for outstanding contributions…
EP 91: How to help students generalize skills (even if you only see them once a week)
Generalization is one of the most common complaints I hear from school therapists, regardless of the discipline. If you’re a clinician, you know how frustrating it is when a student seems to grasp a skill in your sessions, but doesn’t ever apply it outside your room. In episode 91, I wanted to talk about why…
EP 84: Why you should plan for service delivery instead of planning for therapy
One of the biggest challenges for pediatric therapists is making sure their caseload has support across the day and across settings. This becomes incredibly difficult to do with limited direct therapy time and when service providers are working in silos. That’s why one of the most important things you can do to serve your caseload…
EP 83: How to provide high-quality support for your caseload with the “asset stack” method
A lot of your clinical training taught you how to be a good clinician. But often it doesn’t teach you how to “work the system” and get your kids what they need. The truth is, you can’t make an impact without autonomy over your time, without adequate tools, without the right people, support, and financial…
EP 82: The Danger of the Comfort Zone
In episode 82 of the “Are they 18 yet?®” Podcast, I sit down with my friend and mentor Stephanie Hayes and talk about comfort zones. I share my experiences within the context of my personal business, but this applies to therapists as well. Specifically, I share how the pandemic impacted the way I provide services…
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 051: Scaffolding: What it is and how to use it to help kids be more resilient (with Brittany Bohach)
We don’t want to be “helicopter parents” who coddle our kids…but we don’t want to be so militant that we traumatize them either. When it comes getting kids to do essential, but non-preferred tasks that ultimately help them thrive in the long run…the key to finding the right balance is learning how to scaffold. The…