SLP Learning Hour

Expert Panel: Amy Hobek, PhD, CCC-SLP, Fé González Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP, Vishnu KK Nair, Archie Soelaeman, Betty Yu and Reem Khamis

Take ACTION HERE: Changes to 2020 certification standards feedback. Survey. (n.d.). https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020_Cert_Changes

This episode will be available for 0.1 ASHA CEU on July 4, enroll here: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/ashas-proposed-changes

Correction Note from Dr. Betty: “During the recording I referred to the executive order targeting associations with assets of $500 million or more. I thought ASHA met that criteria but actually ASHA’s net assets are around $174 million.”

In this episode, Michelle and Erin host an all start line up of colleagues from across the globe to discuss ASHA’s Proposed Changes to the “2020 Certification Standards” and the long-term ramifications that these changes could have for our profession. This conversation is timely in that there are only a matter of days, roughly 3 weeks or less, for audiologists and speech-language pathologists (including students) to write in and advocate to ASHA on whether the proposed changes to the 2020 Certification Standards should be accepted… changes that remove key words and language that were hard fought to obtain. Be informed that this conversation does address political rationale behind the changes and offer a plethora of resources for individuals to grow their knowledge regarding the long-term ramifications of these proposed changes… but it ends with resources on how to make your voice heard! So, come join the ladies of “First Bite” and ADVOCATE!

About the Panel:

Amy Hobek, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. Her teaching and scholarship focus on equity and inclusion, with an emphasis on valuing and legitimizing cultural and linguistic variations in these areas within individuals, families, and communities. She is also a licensed speech language pathologist providing clinic supervision of graduate students in a culturally and linguistically diverse preschool setting on UC’s campus. She is a co-chair of the Cultural Humility Task Force of the National Black Association of Speech Language and Hearing. She is a topic co-chair of Equity, Inclusion, and Cultural-Linguistic Diversity for the ASHA 2025 Convention.

Professor Reem Khamis (also known as Reem Khamis-Dakwar) is Professor Emerita at Adelphi University and Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn. Her expertise centers on language development, processing, and clinical services within the sociolinguistic context of diglossia and diverse populations. Dr. Khamis is co-founder of the Journal of the Critical Study of Communication and Disability (JCSCD) and a co-founding member of the Speech, Language, and Hearing Scientists Equity Action Collective. She currently serves as Language Section Editor for the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR). She received the Excellence in Diversity Award in 2020 from the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD).

Fé González Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northern Arizona University. Prior to joining the NAU faculty, she worked for 25 years as an English/Spanish bilingual speech-language pathologist in various settings, most notably in public schools serving Indigenous American, migrant, and immigrant populations. In addition to teaching and supervising clinical rotations, she facilitates workshops nationally and internationally on topics related to responsive practice with culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and their families, including multilingualism and collaboration with interpreters.

Vishnu KK Nair is a lecturer in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences at University of Reading, UK. He currently co-leads the health theme of the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism, University of Reading. His current research utilizes critical, decolonial and more than human approaches to understanding communication and disability. He is committed towards building a body of interdisciplinary and anti-colonial scholarship that de-pathologizes communication disability and focuses on understanding and affirming communication variability. His teaching and research have won multiple teaching excellence, research supervision and best student dissertation awards.

Archie Soelaeman (she/her) is the Manager of School Speech Language Services and a speech-language pathologist at Helping Hand School in Countryside, Illinois, a therapeutic day school. She provides services to students with a primary diagnosis of autism and collaborates with a multidisciplinary team on a daily basis. She has over 16 years of experience in this setting. Her clinical interests include autism spectrum, augmentative and alternative communication, and apraxia. Archie is also a co-president of the Asian Pacific Islander Speech-Language-Hearing Caucus, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose primary mission is to make connections among API groups, share common concerns in education, and advocate for quality speech and hearing service delivery for individuals across diverse API communities. Archie is a native speaker of Bahasa Indonesia who also has conversational proficiency in Spanish.

Betty Yu is a Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and a Co-Managing Editor of the Journal of Critical Study of Communication and Disability. Her research and clinical interests are in how communication access among racially-minoritized, disabled children in multilingual communities are shaped by institutional practices/policies, family socialization, and dominant ideologies about race/language/disability. She also focuses on issues of equity in the field of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS), particularly as related to the systemic influences of raciolinguistic discrimination, ableism and pathologization.

Show Notes:

Asian Pacific Islander speech-language-hearing caucus. Asian Pacific Islander Speech-Language-Hearing Caucus. (2022, December 14). https://apislhc.org/

Beaver, D. (2024). The politics of language. Princeton University Press.

El Akkad, O. (2025). One day, everyone will have always been against this. Alfred A. Knopf.

Karen Yourish, A. D. (2025, March 8). These words are disappearing in the new Trump administration. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html

Ostrager, A.-E., Jordan, J., & High, T. R. (2025, February 10). President Trump acts to roll back dei initiatives. The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2025/02/10/president-trump-acts-to-roll-back-dei-initiatives/

-Originally Aired September 2019-

Earn a total of 0.5 ASHA CEUs for the 5-part episodes with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=The-Perfect-Oral-Motor-Storm-What-Happened-Why-and-Supportiv

In this five-hour course, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—storms in the history of speech-language pathology.

Perhaps you’re unsure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say and how to back it up. Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what happened, who did what, and where we go from here.

Most importantly, you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

-Originally Aired September 2019-

Earn a total of 0.5 ASHA CEUs for the 5-part episodes with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=The-Perfect-Oral-Motor-Storm-What-Happened-Why-and-Supportiv

In this five-hour course, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—storms in the history of speech-language pathology.

Perhaps you’re unsure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say and how to back it up. Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what happened, who did what, and where we go from here.

Most importantly, you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

-Originally Aired September 2019-

Earn a total of 0.5 ASHA CEUs for the 5-part episodes with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=The-Perfect-Oral-Motor-Storm-What-Happened-Why-and-Supportiv

In this five-hour course, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—storms in the history of speech-language pathology.

Perhaps you’re unsure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say and how to back it up. Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what happened, who did what, and where we go from here.

Most importantly, you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

-Originally Aired September 19, 2019-

Earn a total of 0.5 ASHA CEUs for the 5-part episodes with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=The-Perfect-Oral-Motor-Storm-What-Happened-Why-and-Supportiv

In this five-hour course, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—storms in the history of speech-language pathology.

Perhaps you’re unsure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say and how to back it up. Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what happened, who did what, and where we go from here.

Most importantly, you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

-Originally Aired September 2019-

Earn a total of 0.5 ASHA CEUs for the 5-part episodes with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=The-Perfect-Oral-Motor-Storm-What-Happened-Why-and-Supportiv

In this five-hour course, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—storms in the history of speech-language pathology.

Perhaps you’re unsure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say and how to back it up. Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what happened, who did what, and where we go from here.

Most importantly, you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

Guests: Leanne Togher, PhD, FSPA, FASSBI, Rachael Rietdijk, PhD, SLP, & Kate Smith, MSPA, CPSP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=The-Social-Brain-Toolkit-Practical-Resources-for-Caregiver

Join Renee Garrett as she kicks off Season 2 of Brainstorms Functional Neurorehab with esteemed guests Dr. Leanne Togher, Dr. Rachael Rietdijk, and Kate Smith. In this episode, the team explores the Social Brain Toolkit, a suite of resources designed to improve communication for individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI). The discussion covers the inception, development, and components of programs like TBI Express, TBI ConneCT, and Interactability. They delve into the crucial role of communication partner training, methodological research, and evidence-based practices in supporting TBI patients and their caregivers. Additionally, the episode touches upon the groundbreaking work at the University of Sydney and introduces speechBITE, a curated repository of treatment research in speech pathology. Tune in to learn about their innovative approach to making effective communication strategies accessible and practical for clinicians, students, and families worldwide.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Disclosures

01:40 Meet the Experts

04:50 The Social Brain Toolkit: Origins and Development

09:03 TBI Express, and TBI ConneCT: Evolution of Training Programs

11:36 Telehealth and Digital Health Innovations

13:18 Expanding Communication Partner Training

15:22 Interactability and Social Ability: New Tools for Broader Impact

17:39 Practical Applications and Future Directions

32:48 Understanding Communication After Brain Injury

33:26 Training for Caregivers and Students

35:14 Introducing TBI Express and interact-ABI-lity

36:03 Free Resources and Accessibility

36:46 speechBITE: A Resource for Speech Pathologists

37:32 The Evolution and Impact of speechBITE

44:19 Kate Smith's PhD Research on Clinical Information Needs

53:01 Addressing Methodological Quality in Research

56:07 The Social Brain Toolkit and Caregiver Support

59:08 Final Thoughts and Resources

About the Guests:

Professor Leanne Togher is a full Professor at the University of Sydney, Australia, and NHMRC Professorial Research Fellow (Investigator Grant Leadership Level 3). Professor Togher holds a PhD in speech pathology and is internationally recognised with more than 250 journal articles. Professor Togher has led the development of communication treatments for people with brain injury and their families, carers, and community agencies, including TBI Express, TBI ConneCT, and the Social Brain Toolkit. She is the director of the evidence-based practice website speechBITE. Professor Togher is the incoming Chair for the International Brain Injury Association and Chair of Brain Injury Australia.

Dr Rachael Rietdijk is a certified practising speech pathologist and Lecturer at the University of Sydney, with research interests in acquired brain injury, communication partner training, and digital health. Her PhD research produced a new evidence-based intervention for people with traumatic brain injury called TBIconneCT. Dr Rietdijk was the project lead for the Social Brain Toolkit project, including interact-ABI-lity, the first free evidence-based online program about communicating successfully with people with a brain injury. This program has reached over 1500 people from over 25 countries. Dr Rietdijk continues collaborating as part of research teams on the Communication Connect NHMRC Ideas Grant and the Communication for Safe Care NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building grant.

Kate Smith is a speech-language pathologist who has worked in evidence-based practice for two decades. She is a member of the speechBITE advisory committee at the University of Sydney and worked on developing speechBITE with Professor Leanne Togher for over a decade. Kate is currently undertaking her PhD, applying a user-centered approach to co-designing a new digital resource that provides research evidence for SLPs.

Mentioned in this episode:

Register for the Aphasia Discourse Conference on June 7

Episode 7 of the miniseries: "Culturally SPEECHING: Clinical Competence Through Cultural Humility" hosted by Dr. Treasyri Williams Wood SLPD, CCC-SLP, CDP

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode: Complete the accompanying course with Speech Therapy PD

In this special series finale episode recorded during the ASHA Convention in Seattle, Jerrold Jackson, co-chair of the ASHA Convention, leads an insightful discussion on the theme of Cultural Humility through Elevating Excellence. This session explores how embracing cultural humility can drive positive change within the speech-language pathology profession, ultimately enhancing support for diverse populations. Jerrold addresses key themes of equity, visibility, and collaboration, focusing on improving representation in leadership roles and fostering equitable collaboration in clinical practice. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how cultural humility can serve as a foundational approach to creating a more inclusive, effective, and compassionate environment for professionals and the individuals they serve.

About the Guest: Jerrold Jackson, MA, CCC-SLP, is CEO of the Roundtree Group, PLLC, and an advocate for culturally responsive practices with a range of professional experiences, including consulting, previously holding roles as a(n) assistive technologist, special education director, and graduate program coordinator. He received a bachelor’s from Southern University (SU) and A&M College (an HBCU) and a master’s from Western Michigan University (WMU), both degrees in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences (SLHS). Mr. Jackson has presented nationally, by invitation, on topics related to supervision, mentorship, interprofessional education/collaboration, school-based support, and culturally responsive practices. He also continues to support the professional development of future speech-language-hearing scientists as adjunct faculty at 3 institutions across the country. Jerrold is an active professional volunteer with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) in various capacities, the National Black Association for Speech-Language Hearing (NBASLH) as a board member, and the Praxis National Advisory Committee for SLP, all of which led to advancements in SLHS. He has been selected to be the SLP Co-Chair for the 2024 ASHA Convention, which hosts over 10,000 SLH professionals annually. He was the 2022 recipient of the ASHA Dorothy Dreyer Award for Volunteerism which is given annually to one individual who has made significant contributions to SLHS. In 2021, Jerrold was honored by the Southern University Alumni Federation by becoming a member of the 40 Under Forty “Cohort Trois” (Cohort 3), which recognizes graduates who have made significant contributions to their professional disciplines, local communities and/or the preservation of Southern University. Jerrold is involved within his community, particularly of note with student engagement activities of the SU Alumni Central Texas Chapter.

Episode 6 of the miniseries: "Culturally SPEECHING: Clinical Competence Through Cultural Humility" hosted by Dr. Treasyri Williams Wood SLPD, CCC-SLP, CDP

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode: Complete the accompanying course with Speech Therapy PD

In this episode, Treasyri Williams Wood and Vicki Deal Williams, CEO of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), delve into the role of advocacy in promoting cultural humility within speech-language pathology. They discuss the importance of advocating for diverse populations, reducing healthcare disparities, and the responsibility of professionals to integrate cultural humility into their advocacy efforts. Specifics include policy-making, public health initiatives, and strategies for equitable treatment.

About the Guest: Vicki Deal Williams, MS, CCC-SLP, CAE is the Chief Executive Officer at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), where she has been on staff for more than 30 years. A Certified Association Executive and Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Vicki is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and ASHA Fellow. Vicki’s expertise and thought leadership include strategically advancing and leveraging diversity, leadership development, and resource stewardship to meet long-term objectives. She has a proven track record of success guiding staff and members through change. She continually strives to foster an inclusive culture while conveying a clear organizational vision and effecting optimal results through collaboration and partnerships with individuals at all levels of the organization, including volunteer leaders, members, students, clients/patients/students, vendors, staff, and other stakeholders.

Episode 5 of the miniseries: "Culturally SPEECHING: Clinical Competence Through Cultural Humility" hosted by Dr. Treasyri Williams Wood SLPD, CCC-SLP, CDP

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode: Complete the accompanying course with Speech Therapy PD

In this episode, Drs. Treasyri Williams Wood and Megan-Brette Hamilton explore the critical role of mentorship in fostering cultural humility within the field of speech-language pathology. They engage in a robust discussion regarding how mentorship can support equitable and inclusive communication practices and provide strategies for integrating cultural humility into mentorship to better serve diverse populations as speech-language pathologists, professors, and researchers.

Guest: Megan-Brette Hamilton, PhD, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Drs. Treasyri Williams Wood and Megan-Brette Hamilton explore the critical role of mentorship in fostering cultural humility within the field of speech-language pathology. They discuss robustly how mentorship can support equitable and inclusive communication practices and provide strategies for integrating cultural humility into mentorship to better serve diverse populations as speech-language pathologists, professors, and researchers.