📌 Episode Summary:
In this special SLP Summit edition of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman sits down with Lauren Kline and Shelby Ford, two standout presenters whose courses sparked powerful conversations during the SLP Summit. Building on their sessions From Sounds to Sentences and S Sound Solutions, Lauren and Shelby share how they translate evidence-based strategies into real-life therapy—whether you’re in the schools or private practice.
Lauren discusses blending speech sound intervention with structured literacy to support students with dyslexia and apraxia, while Shelby breaks down her practical, student-centered approach to tackling tricky /s/ sounds and clusters. This episode is packed with actionable ideas, relatable clinical examples, and encouragement to make therapy more connected, effective, and enjoyable.

👤 Guest Bios:
Lauren Kline, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in integrating speech sound intervention with structured literacy. Her work focuses on supporting students with dyslexia, apraxia, and complex speech-language needs through evidence-based, connected practice.

Shelby Ford, M.S., CCC-SLP is a private practice SLP known for her clear, practical approach to treating speech sound disorders—especially /s/ and /s/ clusters. She helps clinicians simplify complex concepts and tailor intervention to each child’s unique movement patterns and strengths.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Bridging speech sound intervention and literacy instruction

• When and how to integrate structured literacy into speech therapy goals

• Practical strategies for targeting /s/ and /s/ clusters

• Managing caseloads that include speech sound disorders and dyslexia

• Tailoring intervention based on student strengths, needs, and response

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Explain how speech and literacy skills intersect in intervention
✅ Identify ways to integrate structured literacy into speech therapy sessions
✅ Apply practical strategies for treating /s/ sounds and clusters
✅ Reflect on how to individualize therapy for diverse learners

💬 Quotes to Remember:

“We can't work on reading in isolation from speech. When we connect the dots, kids make meaningful gains.” — Lauren Kline

“There’s no one-size-fits-all for the /s/. It’s about tuning in to how each child moves and responds.” — Shelby Ford

🔗 Resources & Links:

• SLP Summit: www.bethebrightest.com/slp-summit
• Courses:
• From Sounds to Sentences — Lauren Kline
• S Sound Solutions — Shelby Ford
• Follow Lauren: @laurenkline.slp
• Follow Shelby: @shelbytheslp
• Assessments: Gray Oral Reading Test, Gray Silent Reading Test, CTOPP, PAT-2, Tests of Dyslexia, Gallistel-Ellis

• Prefixes Resources: Words Their Way (includes spelling inventories at the back of the book)
• Multilingualism Book: Multilingualism, Literacy, and Dyslexia 
• Clusters vs Blends? https://www.bjoremspeech.com/blogs/bjorem-speech-blog/clusters-vs-blends?_pos=1&_sid=d6f798c74&_ss=r

📌 Episode Summary:
In this After SLP Summit episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones reconnects with Angela Evenich, M.S., CCC-SLP to continue an important conversation sparked during Angela’s SLP Summit presentation, Anti-Ableist Care: A Disabled Clinician’s Perspective.

Angela, a speech-language pathologist with cerebral palsy, shares how her lived experience as a disabled person has shaped her clinical practice and deepened her understanding of what ethical, affirming care truly looks like. Together, Shontaye and Angela unpack how ableism shows up in therapy spaces, why language around disability matters, and how compliance-driven models can unintentionally cause harm.

Rather than offering a checklist of “right” and “wrong” practices, this episode invites listeners into a deeper mindset shift—one that centers disabled voices, challenges deficit-based goals, and encourages clinicians to reflect on whose comfort, expectations, and outcomes are prioritized in therapy.

👤 Guest Bio:
Angela Evenich, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and disability advocate who brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations about equity and inclusion in speech therapy. As a clinician with cerebral palsy, Angela is passionate about anti-ableist practice, affirming care, and creating therapy spaces that value autonomy, dignity, and authentic communication.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• What anti-ableist care looks like in real clinical settings

• Why “disabled” is not a bad word and why language choices matter

• How compliance-based therapy models can conflict with affirming care

• Reframing goals away from normalization and toward functionality and autonomy

• The role of lived experience in ethical clinical decision-making

• Disability identity, terminology, and stigma in therapy spaces

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Define anti-ableist care within speech-language pathology
✅ Explain why disability-affirming language is essential to ethical practice
✅ Identify ways compliance-driven goals may unintentionally cause harm
✅ Reflect on how to prioritize autonomy, dignity, and meaningful outcomes in therapy

💬 Notable Takeaway:
Anti-ableist practice isn’t about memorizing a list of techniques. It’s about re-examining our assumptions, listening to disabled voices, and creating therapy spaces that value autonomy, dignity, and lived experience over compliance and normalization.

🔗 Listen & Learn:
SLP Summit is available now through February 6, 2026.
Register and learn more at www.bethebrightest.com

Want to hear more conversations like this? Subscribe to Bright Conversations for episodes that connect—and ideas you can use tomorrow.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman sits down with “power SLP couple” Jessie Ginsberg (@sensoryslp) and Chris Wenger (@speechdude) for a candid, insightful, and often hilarious look at what neurodiversity-affirming practice really means—at home, in early intervention, and in school-based IEP meetings.
Jessie shares the moment her worldview shifted when an autistic SLP challenged her use of person-first language, explaining how identity-first perspectives reshaped her understanding of autism as identity, not something to separate or “fix.”
From the school lens, Chris exposes the hidden cost of compliance-based goals—planned ignoring, forced eye contact, eliminating echolalia—and offers practical reframes that support regulation, safety, and authentic connection. Together, they talk about neurodiversity in their own home with five boys, the shifts they’re seeing in the next generation of SLPs, and how clinicians can create goals that don’t require students to mask or become someone they’re not.

👤 Guest Bios:
Jessie Ginsberg, M.S., CCC-SLP is known as The Sensory SLP, a leader in sensory-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice. She co-hosts The Neuroaffirm Show, runs Neuroaffirm Academy, and creates learning experiences that help SLPs rethink behavior, regulation, and identity.

Chris Wenger, M.S., CCC-SLP, aka Speech Dude, is a school-based SLP, consultant, and national presenter known for bringing humor, honesty, and classroom-tested neuroaffirming approaches to teams across the country. He helps SLPs reframe behavior, write more supportive IEP goals, and build strong connections with students and staff.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why neuroaffirming practice is personal for Jessie & Chris as parents and clinicians

• Identity-first language: what autistic people say and why it matters

• The hidden cost of compliance-based goals: eye contact, still bodies, eliminating scripts

• IEP language that keeps meetings student-centered and strength-based

• Echolalia, scripting, and why these are connection bids, not behaviors to extinguish

• The “wedding seating chart” analogy for outdated social skills goals

• Hopeful shifts in grad programs and early-career SLPs

• What neuroaffirming actually means (spoiler: it’s not “no expectations”)

• Where to learn more: The Neuroaffirm Show, Neuroaffirm Academy, and social channels

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe how neurodiversity-affirming practices can be integrated across home, clinic, and school settings
✅ Explain the differences between person-first and identity-first language and why many autistic individuals prefer identity-first terminology
✅ Identify compliance-based goals and contrast them with neuroaffirming goals that reduce masking, anxiety, and burnout

💬 Key Takeaways / Quotes:

“If we’re really putting people first, we have to actually listen to the people we’re talking about.”
“Sometimes those compliance-based social goals are the very thing creating anxiety.”
“We don’t need you to think about high school today. We need 15 minutes of connection today.”
“Neurodiversity-affirming doesn’t mean no expectations; it means the supports match the neurology.”

🔗 Resources & Where to Find the Guests:

• Jessie Ginsberg – @sensoryslp

• Chris Wenger – @speechdude

• Neuroaffirm: The Neuroaffirm Show + Neuroaffirm Academy

• SLP Summit – Free online conference held each January and July: bethebrightest.com

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover-Jones sits down with bilingual SLP and culturally responsive practice advocate Sarah Little to explore how identity, culture, and personal narratives shape the ways we communicate and connect. Together, they examine the influence of intersectionality, cultural context, and developmental stages on how children make meaning of their experiences—and how SLPs can support that process through intentional, inclusive practice.
This conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own identities and stories, embrace cultural humility, and create learning spaces where every child feels valued, represented, and heard.

👤 Guest Bio:
Sarah Little, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist based in the Chicago area. With a background in linguistics and Spanish, she brings deep expertise in language diversity, bilingual assessment, and culturally responsive practice. Sarah works in the public school system and conducts bilingual evaluations across Chicagoland. Her work centers on identity, advocacy, and supporting families and educators in building affirming communication environments for all children.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Identity & intersectionality: how our lived experiences shape communication

• The Wheel of Power & Privilege: using frameworks to understand layered identity

• Culture as a core component of communication—not an add-on

• Narrative development through Erikson’s stages & how language disorders impact storytelling

• The importance of representation in books, media, and therapy materials

• Cultural sensitivity vs. cultural humility: moving from awareness to reflective action

• Diversity audits: how to evaluate materials, environments, and mindsets for inclusion

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe how identity and culture influence communication and narrative development
✅ Recognize how personal and cultural narratives shape children’s self-perception and learning
✅ Identify strategies to incorporate cultural humility and inclusive representation into therapy and educational settings

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“Culture is not something we add on—it’s the lens through which we all experience the world.” — Sarah Little
“When children see themselves in the stories we share, they begin to believe that their voice matters.” — Shontaye Glover-Jones

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Sylvia Duckworth’s Wheel of Power and Privilege

• Bright Ideas Media Blog — resources on culturally responsive & identity-affirming practice

• More CEU opportunities at ⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover-Jones sits down with Sophia Ermmarino, SLP graduate student and founder of The Speech Shelf, for an honest, eye-opening discussion about the financial realities of becoming—and being—a speech-language pathologist. From graduate school costs and unpaid internships to the pressure of buying materials and navigating early-career salaries, Sophia shares her lived experience and the inequities that pushed her to create a more affordable, accessible resource platform for SLPs.

This conversation shines a light on the need for financial transparency in our field, the hidden expectations placed on student clinicians, and the systems that create unnecessary barriers for those entering the profession. Sophia also shares her vision for a more equitable, community-supported future where high-quality therapy materials are accessible to everyone, regardless of budget.

👤 Guest Bio:
Sophia Ermmarino is a speech-language pathology graduate student and the founder of The Speech Shelf, a low-cost, unlimited-access therapy materials platform designed to support students, CFs, and school-based SLPs. Inspired by her own experiences navigating the financial challenges of graduate school and early career demands, Sophia is committed to increasing transparency, reducing inequity, and empowering the next generation of SLPs with accessible tools and resources.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Sophia’s path into the profession and her early experiences as an SLP student

• The real financial burden of becoming an SLP: tuition, unpaid placements, materials, and more

• The origin story of The Speech Shelf and the need it fills in the field

• How affordability and access impact student clinicians and early-career SLPs

• The “hidden curriculum” in SLP programs and why open conversations about money matter

• Practical ideas for building a more equitable and transparent future for SLPs

• Supporting the next generation through community-driven, budget-friendly solutions

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe the financial challenges faced by SLP students and early-career clinicians
✅ Recognize how lack of transparency affects access, equity, and burnout
✅ Identify strategies to support affordability and accessibility within therapy practice

💬 Memorable Quote:

“Nobody prepares you for how expensive it is just to become an SLP.” — Sophia Ermmarino

🔗 Resources & Links:

• The Speech Shelf: https://www.thespeechshelf.com/

• ASHA Student Resources: https://www.asha.org/students/

• Scholarships: ASHA Minority Student Scholarship, NSSLHA Scholarships, state-level loan forgiveness

• Teacher/Special Ed Mini-Grants: DonorsChoose, Scholastic Action Grants, local foundations

• Affordable Material Repositories: The Informed SLP, curated TPT free resources

• Budgeting Tools: EveryDollar, YNAB, Mint

📌 Episode Summary:
In this special episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones sits down with the founders of SLP Summit — Lisa Kathman and Sarah Bevier of SLP Toolkit and Marisha Mets of SLP Now. Together, they share how a simple idea to connect SLPs and provide accessible professional development grew into a beloved, career-sustaining event that’s been going strong for nine years. Listeners will hear the behind-the-scenes story of how the Summit began, how it’s evolved, and what continues to motivate these leaders to create meaningful, affordable, and community-centered learning experiences for SLPs worldwide.

👤 Guest Bios:
Lisa Kathman, M.S., CCC-SLP
Lisa is a school-based speech-language pathologist and co-founder of SLP Toolkit, a digital platform that helps SLPs streamline data collection, progress monitoring, and goal tracking. She’s passionate about making clinical work more efficient and empowering clinicians with practical tools that make their work more sustainable.

Sarah Bevier, M.S., CCC-SLP
Sarah is a speech-language pathologist and co-founder of SLP Toolkit. She’s known for her humor, honesty, and deep understanding of what it means to juggle real-world SLP responsibilities. Sarah believes in supporting clinicians through transparency, collaboration, and fun.

Marisha Mets, M.S., CCC-SLP
Marisha is the founder of SLP Now, a membership platform designed to help SLPs plan, organize, and deliver evidence-based therapy with confidence. She blends her experience as a school-based SLP with a systems mindset, helping professionals work smarter, not harder.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• How SLP Summit began — the conversation that sparked an event now in its ninth year

• Why accessibility and affordability matter in professional development

• How collaboration between SLP Toolkit and SLP Now built a movement

• The evolution of the Summit from small beginnings to a global PD event

• Keeping the focus on community, connection, and confidence over competition

• Favorite moments, lessons learned, and behind-the-scenes memories

• What’s next for SLP Summit and how the team continues to innovate

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe the origin and evolution of SLP Summit and its impact on the SLP community
✅ Identify the key values that guide the event’s continued success — accessibility, collaboration, and relevance
✅ Reflect on how community-driven professional development sustains growth and engagement throughout an SLP’s career

🔗 Resources & Links:

• SLP Summit – Register for the next event and learn from expert presenters

• SLP Toolkit – Streamline data collection and goal tracking

• SLP Now – Plan and organize therapy with evidence-based tools

• Bright Ideas Media – Your home for practical, accessible professional development

📌 Episode Summary:
In this special episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones sits down with Dr. Kelly Farquharson, professor at Florida State University and director of the Children’s Literacy and Speech Sound (CLaSS) Lab, for an in-depth discussion about speech sound disorders—and why the /r/ sound continues to challenge SLPs everywhere.

Kelly unpacks the science behind articulatory placement, motor planning, and phonetic variation while offering practical, evidence-based strategies to support real-world therapy. Listeners will gain clarity on the difference between developmental errors and disordered patterns, why early intervention matters, and how implementation science bridges research and classroom practice.

👤 Guest Bio:
Dr. Kelly Farquharson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an associate professor in the School of Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University and director of the Children’s Literacy and Speech Sound (CLaSS) Lab. Her research focuses on improving outcomes for children with speech sound disorders and language impairments through school-based implementation science. A frequent conference presenter and educator, Kelly is also known for her popular Phonetics Friday series on social media, where she blends humor and evidence to make speech science accessible and fun for clinicians.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why /r/ is such a challenging sound to teach and master

• The science behind articulatory placement and motor planning

• Distinguishing between developmental patterns and true speech sound disorders

• Understanding dialectal variation versus disorder

• Contextualized and functional approaches to targeting speech sounds

• Why “waiting until age 8” is too late for intervention

• Using implementation science to strengthen classroom carryover and collaboration

• How SLPs can practice confidently at the top of their license

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe the factors that make /r/ and other speech sounds difficult to remediate
✅ Identify evidence-based strategies for contextualized, functional speech sound intervention
✅ Explain how implementation science principles can improve collaboration and carryover in schools

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Children’s Literacy and Speech Sound (CLaSS) Lab

• Speech Sound Disorders Series

• Facilitative Context Deck – Rock the R

• Coarticulation Deck – Rock the R

• Learn more about motor chaining and other strategies mentioned in this episode

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary: Dr. Dionna Latimer Hearn joins us for a powerful conversation about African American English (AAE), its role in educational equity, and what it truly means to respect the dialect. We explore how systemic bias shows up in schools, how educators and SLPs can shift from deficit-based frameworks to affirming practices, and how to better support Black students who are also neurodivergent or have communication differences.

👤 Guest Bio: Dr. Dionna Latimer Hearn is a scholar, consultant, and founder of React Initiative, Inc. With over 20 years of experience supporting culturally and linguistically diverse learners in the U.S., Japan, and France, she is a leading voice in centering AAE in educational equity work. Through her platform Respect the Dialect, Dr. Hearn empowers educators and speech-language pathologists to shift mindsets, dismantle bias, and adopt culturally and linguistically affirming practices.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• What African American English (AAE) actually is—a rule-governed, consistent, and legitimate dialect

• How systemic bias and deficit thinking impact AAE-speaking students

• The difference between linguistic difference and disorder

• Why traditional assessments often fail AAE speakers—and what to use instead

• How to advocate for linguistic justice in schools and therapy spaces

• The intersection of race, language, and disability in educational systems

• How to support and affirm students through culturally sustaining instruction and assessment

• Dr. Hearn’s “Respect the Dialect” movement and how you can get involved

  
  

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Define African American English (AAE) and describe its linguistic features as a rule-governed dialect
✅ Recognize the impact of deficit thinking on AAE-speaking students
✅ Identify culturally sustaining assessment practices that reduce bias
✅ Apply principles of linguistic justice to your therapeutic and educational decisions
✅ Understand how race, language, and disability interact through an intersectional lens.

🔗 Learn more at: https://respectthedialect.org
📩 Follow Dr. Hearn: @respectthedialect

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode, Shontaye and Sarah sit down with Alice Williams — a nationally recognized Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA), entrepreneur, and founder of The SLPA Network. With over seven years in the field, Alice shares how she turned professional gaps into a thriving community for support personnel including SLPAs, COTAs, PTAs, and RBTs.

She challenges the “just an assistant” myth, opens up about her own leadership journey, and explains how visibility, mentorship, and collaboration can empower support professionals to lead and thrive — regardless of their title.

👤 Guest Bio: Alice Williams is an SLPA, mentor, and founder of The SLPA Network, a professional community supporting speech-language pathology assistants and related support personnel. Her work centers on dismantling stereotypes, building equity in professional development, and empowering others to lead with confidence. Through coaching, community-building, and advocacy, Alice helps others step into their leadership potential and make an impact in their field.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why being “just an assistant” is a harmful myth — and how to rewrite the narrative

• The story behind The SLPA Network and how it empowers support professionals

• How to lead from any role, without needing a title or formal position

• Speaking up, showing your work, and advocating for yourself and your profession

• The value of mentorship and how to both give and receive support

• Common challenges support personnel face in schools, clinics, and beyond

• Strategies to ensure equity in access to professional development and growth opportunities

📚 Learning Objectives:By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ List strategies for increasing visibility and leadership opportunities as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)
✅ Describe the mission and purpose of The SLPA Network and how it supports professional growth
✅ Apply advocacy and mentorship principles to enhance equity and collaboration in multi-disciplinary teams

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:In this episode of Bright Conversations, hosts Shontaye Glover Jones and Sarah Bevier sit down with attorney Krystal Ash of K Altman Law to continue a powerful conversation that began at the July 2025 SLP Summit. Krystal’s course on advocacy and special education law drew overwhelming feedback from participants who wanted even more time to dive into the complexities of how legal frameworks impact the daily work of SLPs. Together, they unpack the realities of serving students within the special education system, answer common questions from clinicians, and share practical strategies for navigating challenging situations—while keeping the student at the center.

👤 Guest Bio:Krystal Ash is an attorney with K Altman Law, where she focuses on special education, K-12 and higher education student defense, and civil rights. She regularly provides training and webinars for educators and clinicians, equipping them with the knowledge to understand and apply legal frameworks in ways that protect student rights and foster collaboration. Through her work, Krystal empowers SLPs, families, and school teams to navigate complex situations with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• The legal backbone of special education services and how laws like IDEA shape practice
• Why advocacy is a core responsibility of SLPs—not just a “nice to have”
• Approaching IEP meetings with clarity, confidence, and student-centered focus
• Honoring parent rights while balancing school responsibilities
• What to do when disagreements over eligibility, services, or placement arise
• Proactive steps to take before disputes escalate to mediation or due process
• Practical strategies for collaboration and trust-building with parents and teams

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe how IDEA and related laws impact special education services and supports
✅ Explain the role of advocacy as part of the SLP scope of practice
✅ Identify strategies for navigating disagreements with parents and school teams
✅ Apply proactive approaches to prevent disputes from escalating
✅ Enter IEP meetings with tools for clear communication and effective advocacy

🔗 Resources & Links:

• K Altman Law Website – webinar registration via the homepage banner
• K Altman Law Blog – articles covering SPED, student defense, and civil rights
• Previous Webinars & YouTube Channel
• Follow K Altman Law: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.