The Speech Umbrella

Great ideas for speech therapy materials abound, time to make them does not. That’s why The Speech Umbrella has a Free Resource Library for SLPs on the front lines. In the ever growing library you’ll find material for articulation, autism, clinic management, early listening and phonological awareness, fluency, and oral and written language. 

 This episode takes you on a tour of some of my favorite resources in the library. Tune in and find the resource you’ve been looking for to make your clinical life easier!

--- Useful Links ---
 Simple Tools for Optimal Outcomes
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
To Infinity and Beyond
Essential Language for Autism
Challenges in Early Intervention
First Words Project 16 by 16
Real Changes in Spoken Language with Sketch and Speak
Simple Tools: Phonemic Awareness for Parents
Youtube The Speech Umbrella
Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

I used to have this burning question when I starting working with young autistic clients—

How do I get an interaction going when this little human clearly wants nothing to do with me? Sound familiar? Let’s face it, young children on the spectrum are a tough crowd, and that old uninvited friend, the imposter syndrome, returns. 

 The saying “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink," applies here—you can set up a great therapy session but you can’t make them interact or attend. So what can you do? 

 The great news is, we can get interactions going and we can engage them. This episode discusses how to use the simplest tools for optimal engagement using bubbles, balloons, balls, and bodies.

--- Useful Links ---
Hanen More Than Words Overview 

Opportunity Cost 

First Speak Their Language 

Simple Tools Balloons

Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

This episode describes using movie making to teach inferencing and perspective taking. Just learning the language to express different perspectives is challenging, let alone understanding theory of mind. One way to tackle this gordian knot is through movie making and narration. Clients get a kick out of making movies, and SLP’s get a kick out of the extensive learning taking place. The episode covers: 

 •    Choosing the book to turn into a movie

•    Setting- promoting a thorough understanding

•    Narration and Rehearsal

•    An unexpected finding

•    Who is this for?

•    Tips for a smooth process and progress monitoring

•    Results

 The good news is, it’s not that difficult or time consuming once you have a process down. Tune in for all the tips and tricks to make this work in your practice, then watch the magic of learning commence. 

 Take a look at this complete movie activity package for the delightful book, Gregory, the Terrible Eater, by Mitchell Sharmat, available at The Speech Umbrella. 

--- Useful Links ---
Climbing the Social Detective Ladder
Choose Your Books Wisely
No Roses for Harry!
Thinking About YOU Thinking About ME
Gregory, the Terrible Eater
Gregory, the Terrible Eater Story Activity
Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

R can be a challenging sound to treat. We SLPs know R is a tricky sound, we know it involves complex oral motor skill, and we don’t want to forget phonological awareness. But how do all of these skills fit together? What are the first and next steps? 

 This episode continues a conversation on a balanced approach to R therapy, and is part two of a two part discussion.  

 Check out the vocalic R freebie at thespeechumbrella.com/free!

--- Useful Links ---
Impossible R Made Possible
Digging Into Stability and Mobility with Char Boshart
Foundations of R
More Than Tips and Tricks
Peaceful Speech
Equipped For Reading Success
PAST
Phonological Awareness Tracking Tool
Phonemic Awareness for Parents video
Under the Umbrella of Phonological Awareness
Developmental Sequence of Phonemic Awareness
Tracking Phonological Awareness
Free Resource Library
Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

R can be a challenging sound to treat. We SLPs know R is a tricky sound, we know it involves complex oral motor skill, and we don’t want to forget phonological awareness. But how do all of these skills fit together? What are the first and next steps? 

 This episode begins a conversation on a balanced approach to R therapy, and is part one of a two part discussion.  

 Check out the vocalic R freebie at thespeechumbrella.com/free! 

----- Useful Links ------
Impossible R Made Possible 
Digging Into Stability and Mobility with Char Boshart 
Foundations of R
More Than Tips and Tricks 

Episode 79 is an interview with Char Boshart. Char is the president of Speech Dynamics, an author of several books, and a presenter. Char has a deep understanding of the fundamentals of oral motor movement. If you know oral motor techniques work but are at a loss to explain why, Char has the answers. In this interview we discuss:

• stability and mobility
• the human tongue
• oral resting posture
• carryover of articulation
• a new way to categorize phonemes 

Useful Links
Speech Dynamics
Motor Phonetics
Human Motor Control
Motor Control and Learning
SpeechtherapyPD.com
The PROMPT Institute
Impossible R Made Possible

Starting hard conversations with parents and clients is so much easier when you know how to say difficult things honestly and gracefully. Here’s where the right turn of phrase, examples, and analogies smooth the way.  

 What this episode has to offer: finding the right words to introduce difficult topics

 Join me under the umbrella for tips on talking about

• Frequent absences and no-shows
• Insurance issues
• Dismissal
• Parents in the therapy room
• Suspected co-morbid conditions (like autism)
• Realistic time frames for progress
• Clear feedback to clients 

Some clinical skills are difficult to teach at the university, and one of those is how to establish client-parent-clinician rapport, otherwise known as your “bedside manner.” 

 This episode explores six ways therapists can show they really care. They are:

 •    Read the room

•    Mindful conversation

•    Do your work

•    Perspective taking

•    Own your mistakes

•    Stay mindful until the end

 As SLPs, communication is supposed to be our strong point, but these skills take time and experience to develop. Because these insights came from being on the patient side of things, they address real and valid blind spots we may fail to see in ourselves. 

Task Oriented Movement Activities support executive function. Activities that meet the criteria for TOM activities have:

•    Multiple steps

•    A problem to be solved

•    A plan

•    Opportunities to reflect and record

•    Variations

 Seeing how to implement these activities is helpful, so this episode can be viewed on Youtube, in addition to listening on your regular podcast platform. 

Check out the freebies in the Free Resource Library—one for planning task orientated movement activities and one for reflecting and recording. They are located in the Form and Lists section. 

Don’t we hear some of the funniest, wisest, all around best things from children? Here’s a collection of some my funniest moments with clients in 2022. Enjoy Kids Say the BEST Things, 2022.