In the world of special education, communication is the foundation for meaningful growth. ✨

Recently, I worked with a vibrant 5-year-old student named Adam. Although he could vocalize words, he struggled with purposeful communication. His needs for toys, food, and assistance often went unmet simply because he lacked an effective way to express them.

Through the use of Functional Communication Training (FCT), we introduced structured, meaningful alternatives to his communication attempts. By teaching Adam simple, functional phrases paired with visual supports, we opened a door, empowering him to replace frustration with connection.

Functional communication isn't just a strategy; it's a critical step toward autonomy, dignity, and learning.

Today, I’m sharing a glimpse into how FCT can transform a child's world, one request at a time.

I've recently published a new blog post reflecting on the often-invisible challenges our students navigate daily. Drawing from my personal experience with Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) issues, I explore how physical discomfort, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and other factors can significantly impact a student's ability to learn and thrive. This reflection underscores the critical importance of empathy and a holistic understanding of our students' experiences in educational settings.

You can read my full thoughts here: https://mrsspeechonline.blogspot.com/2025/04/hidden-battles-how-tmj-gave-me-insights.html

Why Is He Always Throwing Things

When I first met Ayaan (name changed), a 5-year-old autistic boy in my classroom, his days were filled with unpredictability, for both of us. He would run to the door multiple times, throw toys across the room, and burst into giggles at seemingly random moments. Verbal instructions didn’t land. He seemed inattentive, overwhelmed, and unreachable.

One morning, as I was picking up the same toy he had thrown for the fourth time, I paused and asked myself: "What if this isn’t misbehavior? What if this is a cry for structure?"

That simple question changed everything.

We started small: a visual schedule with just four steps, a consistent arrival routine, and movement breaks between tasks. Within weeks, he began checking the visual chart on his own. The throwing lessened. He stayed longer at the table. And for the first time, he waited in line during snack time.
It wasn’t magic. It was predictability, and it made his world feel safer.

Just published a new blog post on my Mrs. Speech Online website exploring a crucial aspect of stuttering therapy: moving beyond just fluency strategies to truly understanding the experience of individuals who stutter. I delve into why this understanding is so vital, especially for older students who may feel frustrated and unheard. Check it out and share your thoughts!

https://mrsspeechonline.blogspot.com/2025/04/empowering-kids-who-stutter-knowledge.html

#StutteringAwareness #SpeechTherapy #UnderstandingStuttering #StudentVoice

"He Didn’t Even Look at Me…" ✨

When I first met my 3-year-old autistic student, he didn’t make eye contact, didn’t respond to his name, and didn’t want to sit down for any activity.

He was in his beautiful world — tapping toys, watching shapes pop up and down, occasionally reading things out loud that he had never been formally taught.

There was no schedule, no routine, and no structured learning.
Just a child who taught himself the way he liked, in an environment that hadn’t yet adapted to how he learns best.

I wanted to help him grow, but I quickly realized that before I could teach, I needed to connect.

So I stopped asking him to "sit down" or “do the work.”

I sat beside him and joined his play.
I popped the toy when he popped it.
I echoed his happy sounds.
I gave him his favorite things without expecting anything in return.

Slowly but surely, he began to smile at me.
He brought toys closer to me.
He stayed a little longer in the room.
And that was the start of everything. 💛

Why the IEP Is the Heart of Special Education

Behind every child with unique learning needs is a team of dedicated educators and caregivers, working together to build not just an academic path but a life of dignity, purpose, and possibility. At the center of that journey stands a tool that transforms potential into progress: the Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

The IEP is more than a document. It is a personalized roadmap—designed to celebrate a child’s strengths, support their challenges, and ensure that education is not just equal, but equitable. For children with disabilities, the IEP is a legal promise that their learning needs will not be overlooked, rushed, or underestimated.

In this article, we will explore the importance, core elements, and procedures involved in crafting an effective IEP—and why, when done right, it becomes one of the most powerful advocacy tools in a child’s educational journey.

Did you know that research shows...

Bilinguals identify cognates with higher accuracy and faster speed than noncognate words(Squires et al, 2020)

Bilingual students show cross-linguistic transfer and feasibility. (Kambanaros et al 2017)

Using cognates leads to greater gains in vocabulary naming (Dam et al 2020)

This is why I created a Spanish-English articulations screener using Cognates. Same list of words gets you all the sounds you need in most word positions.

You can find this resource in the Digital Market

As CTO at Liricare, I'm excited to announce something big for our amazing SLP community! We’ve launched the Liricare Digital Market—an innovative, commission-free marketplace designed exclusively for you to sell your original therapy materials. No hidden fees, no cuts—just your expertise directly rewarded.

Ready to amplify your impact and keep 100% of your earnings? Head over to the Digital Market tab and join the future of selling therapy resources. Your knowledge deserves full value—let’s make it happen!
#LiricareDigitalMarket #SLP #SpeechTherapy #Innovation

From the Desk of The Data King:
Here are ten highly regarded master's programs in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) in the USA:

1. University of Iowa
2. Vanderbilt University
3. University of Arizona
4. Northwestern University
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
6. Boston University
7. University of Washington
8. Emory University
9. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
10. New York University (NYU)

These programs are known for their strong faculty, research opportunities, and clinical training.

Curious about Lighthouse Therapy?

Click the link below to hear from our CEO, Janet Courtney, as she shares what makes us unique!

https://youtu.be/EY84654gyeo

At Lighthouse Therapy, we’re a company run by therapists, for therapists—all with one mission: empowering students to succeed.

Visit our website at https://lighthouse-therapy.com/ to learn more!