Guest: Meg Proctor, MS, OTR/L - The guest shares her passion for what neurodiversity-affirming practice means and why it should matter to the pediatric speech-language pathologist. She guides us through a crucial conversation about what practice shifts we need to make when working with autistic kids, what barriers clinicians can face when implementing strengths-based neurodiversity-affirming practices, and most critically, how we can overcome these barriers to make therapy functional and joyful while embracing and respecting each child we work with.

Guest: Missy Schraeder, PhD, CCC-SLP, CALT-QI, C-SLDS - If you're an SLP who works with preschoolers and elementary-age children that have a severe and profound communication disorder and/or dyslexia, then this is for you. In this course, Dr. Missy Schraeder and Michelle spend time sharing functional strategies that can be implemented with your patients tomorrow.

Michelle and Erin discuss the purpose of play in treating pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). Erin, who holds a Basic DIR® Floortime Provider Certification and a TBRI® Trained Practitioner, highlights the importance of play. Did you know that play has a therapeutic purpose and role in treatment, especially for pediatric feeding disorder? Join in to learn more about play and its therapeutic role.

Guest: Brooke Beilman, MS, CCC-SLP - In this course, Brooke shares insight into different leadership styles, her favorite resources to learn how to grow as a leader, strategies for working through differences in leadership styles, and most importantly why leadership growth is important to the clinician in the field.

Guest: Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS - As clinicians in speech-language pathology and audiology, we are tasked with providing services to all ages, ethnicities, gender expressions/identifications, races, national origins, and disabilities. During the last decade, more awareness and emphasis has been placed on identifying and understanding health disparities. Renee is here to inspire us to better understand how we as clinicians can support and foster change, by first defining health disparities and then identifying what our active role looks like. By providing resources for further education and policy impacts, we can move towards eliminating modifiable disparities: the things we can change.

Guest: Amy Graham, MS, CCC-SLP - Do you love the phonemic alphabet? Dream about deep analysis of speech sound error patterns? Or just love unlocking the mysteries behind the differences between articulation disorders versus phonological disorders versus motor speech disorders? If you said “Yes” to all of the above, then this is the hour for you! If you said “No” to all of the above, (maybe panic slightly and break out into a cold palm sweat), but you still need to know the most current evidence-based practice for speech sound disorders (SSD), well then join us for this informative course.

Guest: Megan Branham, LMSW - In this episode, Michelle is joined by her favorite child advocate and social worker, Megan Branham LMSW, to discuss a topic near to both their hearts, that is, community support for caregivers. If our caregivers are in crisis or even in a time of need, they cannot be fully present and engaged in speech therapy for the little ones we are called to serve. So, where does that leave us? What can we do? Megan and Michelle spend this precious hour discussing strategies for holding a crucial conversation to determine what needs are at critical mass, community partners that are available to support food and shelter needs, and community partners to help with educational and medical conditions.

Guest: Angie Neal, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by the dynamic Angie Neal, MS CCC-SLP, for an hour to discuss the intersection of language and literacy. Angie, who keeps every audience on the edge of their seat with laughter and love, shares her extensive knowledge on how an SLP can become involved in a child’s journey in literacy. In addition, she explains how phonological awareness can impact literacy, who to refer to in an academic/medical setting and why their role is critical when a child presents with concerns for dyslexia.

Michelle and her favorite co-host Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC, relive the best parts of the 2021 ASHA Convention: Rising United related to all things pediatric feeding disorder. To celebrate the inaugural pediatric feeding and swallowing disorder track, Michelle and Erin attended several courses and are bringing their favorite new facts directly to you! So, whether your current clinical setting is working in the NICU, Early Intervention, or even a local public school, the ladies of First Bite have you covered. To start, they’ll share the highlights of ethically implementing the newish PFD ICD-10 codes, then discuss how the differences between our settings can be overcome through open dialogue, and round out with ethical considerations for implementing a treatment plan PFD in the LEA. Let Michelle and Erin share the inspiration they received from the great minds and hearts at ASHA 2021 with you.

Guest: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC - Today on the First Bite Podcast we are running through some very important information for our community and listeners! We will be tackling the subject of ethics for Pediatric Feeding Disorders and going over some of the new PFD codes that have been introduced. We also offer some helpful examples and implications, as well as the best resources for you to get on top of this important stuff! Even with the best intentions, you can find yourself in some tricky situations if the regulations are not adhered to, and putting in the time and energy to stay abreast of the field's standards is very necessary. We talk about the best practices to using the codes, including coding backward from what you are officially and specifically treating, to concerns around communication and confidentiality, and much more! So to hear all about where to start with staying HIPAA compliant and offering the best service to those special small clients, join us on the show today!