First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional SLP Insights

Guest: Emma Justice, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, NTMTC

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/pfd-problem-solving

Tune in as we welcome one of our favorite humans, Emily Justice, a dedicated speech language pathologist with a wealth of experience working in the NICU and public schools in Boston. Join us for an engaging discussion about her path into speech therapy, her passion for supporting minority recruitment in the field, and her advocacy for accessible feeding therapy. We delve into important topics such as the necessity of instrumental swallow studies, the power of family and caregiver involvement in therapy, and the importance of interprofessional collaboration. This episode is packed with practical insights for therapists, caregivers, and anyone invested in improving pediatric feeding practices.

About the Guest: Emma Justice, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, NTMTC, works full-time for Boston Public Schools and is the owner of Justice for Infant Feeding Therapy and Lactation. She specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing, with a focus on medical complexities and culturally diverse populations. Emma is certified in lactation counseling as well as neonatal touch and massage. She received her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University and completed her clinical fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Emma has experience across several settings, including pediatric acute care, encompassing a Level III NICU, PICU, Oncology, Cleft and Craniofacial team, Aerodigestive team, and the well-baby Mother-Infant Unit. Additionally, Emma has experience in pediatric outpatient rehab, home health, and public school settings. She is a guest lecturer and the primary pediatric consultant for the Swallowing Wellness Center, where she teaches a course on pediatric swallow studies. Emma co-created BABY S.T.E.P. with Dr. Ianessa Humbert, an infant and pediatric adaptation of Humbert’s S.T.E.P. (Swallowing Training Educational Portal), designed to provide accessible, affordable, and evidence-based swallowing education. She currently serves on ASHA’s topic committee for Pediatric Feeding Disorders and has presented nationally on topics related to pediatric dysphagia and cultural disparities.

Guest: Ivonne Maldonado De la Rosa, PhD., MLS, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/health-and-pfd

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) directly impact access to evaluation and intervention for infants, toddlers, and children with pediatric feeding disorder. But, how comfortable are you in identifying them? Do you have strategies for overcoming the barriers to care that SDOH create? What are the roles/impact of cultural beliefs and language(s) and their impact on SDOH and PFD?

To answer these profound questions, as well as countless others, "First Bite" is honored to host the brilliant Ivonne Maldonado De la Rosa, Ph.D., MLS, CCC-SLP, for an hour to enlighten us on potential solutions and strategies for overcoming known and unknown barriers related to SDOH and PFD.

About the Guest:

Dr. Ivonne Maldonado-De la Rosa is a bilingual speech-language pathologist, researcher, and assistant professor at A.T. Still University in Arizona. She holds a Master of Legal Studies from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, which complements her research and advocacy for equity in healthcare access. Her clinical and academic work focuses on pediatric feeding disorders, swallowing, bilingualism, and the impact of social determinants of health on patient outcomes.

Guests: Jennifer Eggert and Dawn Merth-Johnson

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/lessons-from-wisconson

Do you dream about working with pediatric feeding disorders in the public schools, but aren't sure where to begin? Or, have you recently been asked to do so and are truly hesitant to start? Well, if you answered "Yes" to either one of those scenarios, then don't fret, because "First Bite" has you covered, thanks to the "forward-thinking" of leaders in Wisconsin. So, be inspired by your SLP colleagues Jennifer Eggert and Dawn Merth-Johnson, as they share the dynamic interprofessional practice team they built at the Wisconsin state level, the systematic steps they took during the 2024-2025 school year to implement the initial evaluation and treatment of pediatric feeding disorder protocols, and how they plan to engage in implementation science to tweak and grow for the 2025 -2026 school year. By the end of this hour, you will have functional steps to start in your district/state, too!

Guests:

Jennifer Eggert, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT, has dedicated her entire career to providing evaluation and treatment for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children with a range of congenital and acquired diagnoses. Jennifer's focus has consistently been in the area of oral-motor and feeding disorders. She has served for 20 years as an instructor in the University of Wisconsin system and at Marquette University, teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate-level courses, in addition to providing both on- and off-campus student supervision. Jennifer is the outgoing president of the Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Association (WSHA).

Dawn Merth-Johnson, MA, CCC-SLP, is an Education Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, specializing in speech-language services and assistive technology. She brings 29 years of clinical and supervisory experience across various settings, including schools, long-term rehabilitation facilities, state agencies, and university programs. Dawn presents at both state and national conferences on topics related to leadership, advocacy, and clinical practice. She serves as Wisconsin’s ASHA Co-State Education Advocacy Leader (Co-SEAL) and is the ASHA SEAL Champion for the Midwest region.

Content warning for this episode: We discuss topics such as gun violence in schools and the recent event at Annunciation Church and Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School.

0.1 ASHA-CEUs will be available for this episode on September 16 at speechtherapypd.com

In this episode Erin and Rachel Archambault (@PTSDSLP) have a candid discussion regarding the tragedy in Minnesota and the impact of gun violence in regard to trauma, specifically in schools. Rachel authentically discusses the importance of the language we use and how we can support people who have experienced similar traumas to not continue to re-traumatize. This discussion addresses ways to continue to support those communities that have been affected, even years after tragedy and policies that are important to keep those involved safe. They address how to best support children and families who are asking questions and feel less safe at school as well. As stated before, this conversation can be hard to have and listen to so please listen if and when you feel you are ready and regulated. We acknowledge that the world and these topics can feel incredibly heavy and there is no right way to gain information, grieve, or process. This conversation is nuanced and will continue to be important to have and we hope you can take something from this.

This special episode is part one of host Erin Forward's course titled "Attachment and Infant Feeding: an SLPs Role in Mental Health" through the end of September this course is available for free for listeners of First Bite when you use the code "FBSpecial" at checkout!

Earn .2 ASHA CEUs for free with code - FBSpecial: speechtherapypd.com/attachment

Often, SLPs do not fully understand their role in a patient’s mental health regarding feeding. We are well aware that counseling is in our scope of practice, but even in the direct therapy we provide, we play a significant role in the mental health of a patient and their caregivers. Both communication and feeding are integral parts of the development of attachment within a caregiver-child dyad, and we have a direct role in those activities.

Thus, it is our job to gain greater insight into attachment and infant feeding, specifically to understand how we can support mental health outcomes for both caregiver and child. This course will dive into the deep connections of attachment, feeding, and mental health and how we can cater our therapeutic style and sense of self to support a more healthy bond.

This week on First Bite, Michelle and Erin revisit one of their most-requested topics: real-world feeding case studies.

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/not-just-picky

In this episode, they walk through three complex cases involving children with layered challenges, including trauma histories, ARFID, and rare medical diagnoses. Each story highlights the messy, nonlinear nature of feeding therapy and the importance of flexible, family-centered care.

You’ll hear how clinical reasoning, caregiver collaboration, and a bit of trial and error helped guide each child’s progress. But the focus isn’t just on the kids. Michelle and Erin also explore how the entire family system shapes therapy outcomes and mealtime trust.

If you love practical insights and honest conversations about what really happens in feeding therapy, this episode is for you.

Watch First Bite on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ucH8ert84dc

Full conversation between Michelle Dawson MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S and Erin Forward MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC,

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/cours...

Do you feel like AAC is outside your comfort zone as an SLP or OT? You’re not alone, and we’re here to help.

Join Erin and Michelle for a practical and encouraging conversation about why it’s essential for every clinician to develop a foundational understanding of AAC, especially when serving children and families in community settings.

With AAC evaluations often delayed for months at larger organizations, clinicians need tools and confidence to support communication in the meantime. Erin and Michelle will walk you through the key components of an AAC evaluation, the importance of building strong relationships with your clients, and how to get started, even if you're not an AAC specialist.

They’ll also share valuable resources to guide your next steps and help you support families when AAC services feel out of reach. You may not have all the answers, but we’ll help you know where to start and how to keep learning.

Watch First Bite on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ykkZ__rpQNY?si=7Nt0uOk736FEz7dw

Guest: Karen McWaters MOT, OTR/L

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/the-importance-of-motor-and-language-learning-for-effective-

Originally Aired: September 2023

As SLPs, we can often look at speech and language development in isolation, as our formal assessments encourage us to do; however, it is imperative that we learn from our occupational and physical therapy colleagues regarding motor learning principles and how they parallel those of language development. When we get out of our box, we can further understand the children we work with and their capacities. Erin and Karen will discuss their journey of collaborating within this context and how they learned from each other to help the children they worked with reach further potential.

About the guest: Karen is an Occupational Therapist living and working in Greenville, South Carolina. She received her BS in Public Health from Clemson University and her Masters of Occupational Therapy degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Her professional interests include sensory processing and praxis, neurodevelopment, DIR/Floortime, functional vision, and (most recently) trauma informed care. Karen loves that this job enables partnerships with families to meet each child’s unique needs and harnesses the power of relationships to impact each kid’s life using their motivations and interests.

Guest: Farwa Husain, MS CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/glp-for-the-pediatric-slp

Originally Aired: March 2024

In this episode, Michelle is joined by Farwa Husain, MS CCC-SLP, bilingual speech-language pathologist and private practice owner of One-on-One Speech Therapy in New Jersey. Farwa, recognized as an ASHA Innovator in 2023, spends this hour sharing her passion for growing culturally and linguistically appropriate therapy for gestalt language processors (GLP) and their caregivers! So, if you want to learn more about GLP, how it compares to analytic language processors (ALP), and how to support GLP in their natural environments, then tune in and let Farwa share her brilliance and compassion!

About the guest: Farwa Husain is an experienced bilingual speech-language pathologist and private practice owner of One-on-One Speech Therapy in New Jersey. Farwa has presented at ASHA, New Jersey Speech and Hearing Association, and Morris County Speech and Hearing Association on gestalt language processing. Farwa was recognized at the 2023 ASHA convention as an “Innovator” in speech-language pathology. She is nominated for the Clinician of the Year-SLP award at the upcoming National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing 2024 National Convention. Families have also recognized her in the NJ Family magazine “Top Docs” edition. Farwa is currently serving as President of Morris County Speech and Hearing Association, a non-profit organization that provides exceptional continuing education to SLPs and audiologists in New Jersey. She is devoted to culturally and linguistically appropriate therapy that celebrates a family’s unique lifestyle and mentors SLPs in supporting gestalt language processors around the world.

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEUs for this episode: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/valuing-pediatric-vfss

In this episode, Michelle interviews Anais Villaluna, SLPD, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC, a trilingual speech-language pathologist, to discuss best practices and critical considerations for pediatric Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS). Anais, who has just completed her SLPD and is already embarking on her PhD journey, shares insights from recent research, including the importance of radiographic settings, hidden technological considerations that can impact the outcome, the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, and how to support the little ones and their caregivers through the VFSS process. If you’re not familiar with conducting VFSS, or even if you’re a seasoned veteran, this episode will have nuggets of EBP for everyone!