How can we stop perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline from a neurodiversity perspective?

I am excited to collaborate with more SLPs on this topic! Details coming soon. In the meantime, check out this article on how we can collectively stop the school to prison pipeline:

https://www.aclu-wa.org/blog/stinks-don-t-perpetuate-school-prison-pipeline

One thing I am trying to work on during this Student Teaching semester, is my documentation skills.

With such a large caseload, it can get overwhelming trying to complete all the SOAP notes. So, to help make my documentation quicker and more effective, I must ensure I am taking sufficient data with notes on how my student is responding to different cues and prompts as well as any important behaviors or concerns that may be present (e.g. if my DHH student does not have a charged RM system; a student not having their proper devices or supports like glasses; etc.).

Each week, I take on more groups, so I am excited to see how my documentation improves by the time this Fall semester ends!

I'm a graduate student and had a situation where I picked up the wrong child (thinking they were a girl), and their paperwork says they are a boy. What would be the culturally appropriate way to address this situation?

Have you heard of the term, INTERSECTIONALITY? We hear about intersectionality a lot when we talk about culture and society. But what exactly is intersectionality? Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and expert in critical race theory, says intersectionality is "how systems of oppression overlap to create distinct experiences for people with multiple identity categories.” According to Crenshaw, we can think of our unique cultures as “roads,” and intersectionality is where these roads intersect.

Hey everyone!

If you did not know, I started my Student Teaching semester at 2 elementary schools, which will be my last clinical placement in graduate school.

Yesterday, I go to observe my first IEP and was fascinated because we had two ASL interpreters on Zoom. At this school, there is a big population of DHH students and one of the teachers present was DHH also. It inspired me to possibly go back to school and double major in ASL and Spanish to help with my dreams of being a multilingual SLP. Additionally, tomorrow I will be running 3 speech and language sessions that I planned and created materials for. Being a grad student on a budget means that I have to DIY a lot of speech materials unless I plan activities with games and other materials my supervisor has shared with me. I like adding a piece of myself to my speech therapy so I mix my crafted materials with my supervisor's. I've been really enjoying working with and learning from my supervisor.

I am excited for what is to come!

I had the privilege of meeting with Vilahashini Manivannan, MASLP, DHA, RCI today on the Pediatric Speech Sister Network! We spoke about how AAC works across borders and how to be culturally responsive when working with children with diverse South Asian dialects.

You can tune into the replay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoB7k53xLkM

3 Ways to Combat Imposter Syndrome in Grad School:

1. When you find yourself confused or having a hard time understanding concepts (especially when you're with others that get it), tell yourself: “This is an opportunity for me to learn.”

Having this mindset will allow you to feel comfortable asking for help from your peers/professors/supervisors instead of talking down to yourself.

2. Instead of thinking “it’s better not to answer because you’re probably wrong,” choose to be courageous and confident in yourself. Answer to the best of your ability and if you are wrong, reference the first strategy.

3. When you feel yourself getting anxious during testing environments, take a second (or a few) to take a deep breath, remind yourself that you did everything you could to prepare, and look at the question again with a fresh mind.

Comment how you plan on combatting imposter syndrome this semester!

Exciting times ahead! Starting my second year of Speech-Language Pathology graduate school!

I can't believe how quickly time flies. I gained valuable clinical experience, working with diverse populations and honing my skills in communication disorders throughout my first year.

As I embark on my second year, I'm excited to delve into advanced coursework and explore specialized areas within SLP. From augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to fluency disorders and voice therapy, there's so much to discover and learn.

#SpeechLanguagePathology
#SecondYearJourney
#BlackWomeninHealthcare

I'm going LIVE tonight with Jackie Hernandez, MS CCC-SLP. We will be talking about bilingualism across the lifespan and health literacy considerations. Let us know what questions you have! Tune in at 5pm CT/6pm ET on the Pediatric Speech Sister Network!

youtube.com/@pediatricspeechsisternetwork

Hey future SLPs! If you are in your first semester of grad school, here are 5 tips to keep in mind:

1. Get a journal/planner: Organization and time management are crucial for your first semester because you’ll probably be LOADED with classes and possibly, clinical placements. This is especially important if you are working while going to grad school.

2. Review! Take time after your classes to look over your notes/lectures and rewrite them in a way that you understand. If you’re not a writing/reading learner, adjust or add to your notes to fit your needs. (E.g. recordings, YouTube videos, better diagrams, 3D models, etc.)

3. Ask questions: Don’t avoid asking for clarification during your lectures or clinical placements and think “I’ll figure it out later.” While you may figure it out, you are paying to learn so it’s better to ask your professors and supervisors what they are teaching.

4. Sign up for your school's NSSHLA chapter! There are so many events with speakers with different speech and language specialities sharing insights for networking opportunities, clinical placement ideas, and becoming a successful SLP.

5. Be kind to yourself! Grad school can be overwhelming, but remember you’re there to learn and grow as a (future) SLP.