First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional SLP Insights

In this episode Michelle is joined by the Etiquette guru co-director Treva Graves, MS CCC-SLP, of Trevagraves.com. Treva, a former Miss Iowa America winner and ASHA Leadership Development Alumni, is a highly sought after guest speaker and personal trainer in the areas of Image, Executive Coaching, and Accent Reduction. In this episode, she addresses some of the largest personal fears and failures that hold women leaders back, whether it be from moving forward in the corporate world to holding them back from starting their own business. If you need a kick, or a push to take the next personal step towards leadership, then this course is for you!

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by her partner in all things nerdy mischief Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP. Today is the day where they go in and act as Speech-Language Pathology Sleuths! Are you prepared to don your deerstalker cap? (Don’t lie, you goggled that…it’s the Sherlock Holmes hat!) We tackle pediatric CVAs, EOE, Hirschsprung’s Disease, Celiac Disease, and also a quick foray into where to start when the etiology is as of yet unknown. We hope you enjoy the complexity of the cases and the joy of these patients healing processes as much as we do!

In this episode Michelle is joined by none other than THE Dr. Kay Toomey, President of Toomey & Associates, Inc., Clinical Consultant to the Feeding Clinic at STAR Institute, and developer of the SOS Approach to Feeding. In case you haven’t heard of it, the SOS Approach to Feeding, is a bottom-up, tip-toe in the water of feeding, functional centered program for assessing and treating children with feeding problems, based out of CO. Worried about jumping two feet first into the water of feeding or dysphagia therapy, or tossing your patient into the deep in? Then sit back and relax and let Dr. Toomey resolve your fears and offer hope for functional treatment!

In this episode Michelle is joined by the self described “outdoorsman” Dr. John Bagnulo, current Director of Nutrition for Nutritional Medicinals, and resident of the beautiful state of Vermont. In this episode, Michelle and Dr. John discuss the importance of feeding our patient’s guts…critically the growth and development of the families of bacteria in their guts… and how an organic formula option can help our g-tube pediatric patients thrive!

In this episode Michelle is joined by the effervescent co-director Patti Minicucci, MS CCC-SLP, of Tots to Teens Therapy Services, of Northern Virginia. Patti, a former guest speaker at the University of Mary Washington, who has also held trainings for pediatricians and other professionals, has been an Early Interventionist SLP for over 20 years! She brings with her to this episode, personal experience and passion, as she describes the Non-Profit Organization “Feeding Matters” and how this Parent Founded, yes you read that right Parent Founded, group is breaking ground across our country to make EI Pediatric Dysphagia/Feeding Therapy fearless and obtainable for all!

In this episode Michelle is joined by the powerhouse that is Lissa Power-deFur, PhD, CCC-SLP. Not only is she a professor, that Michelle can personally attest to the fact that she takes the education of her students passionately and seriously, she is also the current Vice Preside of Standards and Ethics in Speech-Language Pathology (2014-2016). Still curious about the topic of this episode? Well wonder no more…we are covering ethical dilemmas that are sometimes unique to the world of home-health early interventionist! Trust me, we run across some hum-dingers from time to time, and Dr. Power-deFur is just the lady to enlighten and encourage our perseverance.

In this episode Michelle is joined by the petite yet formidable Cheris Frailey, MA CCC-SLP, Interstate Compact and Legal Affairs Coordinator for the Dept. of Regulatory Agencies for the State of Colorado. Join Michelle as she seeks honest and practical advice from Cheris, a former Director of State Education and Legislative Advocacy with ASHA, in the areas of conflict resolution. In short…are you in a professional pickle at work and unsure how to come to conclusion that is amicable yet fair, well, then join for functional strategies!

In this episode Michelle is joined by the dynamic co-director Jennifer Ruckner, MS CCC-SLP, of Tots to Teens Therapy Services, of Northern Virginia. Jennifer, a seasoned Early Interventionist who is also a Community Ambassador for Feeding Matters, a non-profit, parent founded organization, actually specializes in Telepractice for the Early Intervention and School Age pediatric population. Yes, you read that correctly, we can do telepractice in the world of EI! Join Michelle in this episode as a whole new world of EI ST is illuminated by the lovely Jennifer!

In this episode Michelle is joined by the esteemed Dr. Carol Page, Director of the SC Assistive Technology Program. In this episode, Dr. Page assuages listener’s fears of Augmentative and Alternative Communication! Did you know that AAC is more than pictures and a lamination machine and is in fact driven by core vocabulary with a splash of “fringe” vocabulary? Or did you know that when an SLP utilizes AAC with a patient, we are teaching them how to say what they want to say, not what we want them to say?!? If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t! One of Dr. Page’s gifts is her ability to communicate these attributes of AAC with grace and compassion, such that everyone not only understands how to use AAC, but starts to embrace it on a day-to-day basis with their patients.

In this course, Michelle was joined by Miss Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP, formally of Rochester, NY, but now of Cola-Town, SC to assist in addressing the “Emotional Baggage” that often accompanies our little ones at mealtimes! Does your family have a stressful Thanksgiving Meal? Do your patients tend to have “outbursts” during their mealtimes? Well sit back and enjoy as Michelle and Erin tackle the myth behind “oh it’s just their behaviors” and provide functional strategies for treatment when establishing a Home-Exercise Program. Bon Appetite Y’all!