In this episode, Michelle and Erin are back at it to spend an hour dedicated to pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) goal writing. After spending 280+ episodes growing our evidenced-based practice, we have evolved how we write our PFD goals big-time! So, wrap up your year discovering functional resources for combating ableism and antiquated deficits-based writing, and join the ladies of “First Bite” to discover ways to write strengths-based and trauma-informed goals that respect the autonomy of the children on your caseload while also supporting their caregivers in the process of making merry memories during mealtime!

Guest: Shawna Ross, MS, CCC-SLP

In this episode, Michelle is joined by Shawna Ross, MS, CCC-SLP, founder of Sierra Therapy Group, a pediatric private practice in Reno, NV, and passionate SLP volunteer, who is currently serving on ASHA’s Committee of Ambassadors, as the SLP Member for Nevada. As colleagues from around the globe are gearing up for “Elevate!” ASHA Convention 2024 in Seattle, WA, Michelle and Shawna thought it was the perfect time to share a little insight into the amazing gains this year for ASHA’s Public Policy Agenda and how ASHA’s Committee of Ambassadors played a vital role. So, if you have ever wanted to become more involved in advocating for federal policy change on anything/everything from reimbursement rates, the interstate compact, or increased access to care for those we have been called to serve, this is the hour for you!

Guest: Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA

In this episode, Michelle and Erin are joined by THE Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA, founder of the “Get Permission Institute” for part two of a four-part miniseries on Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD)! In this hour, Marsha discusses the evidenced-based neurodivergent affirming PFD shifts behind the “try it” approach for intervention. If you have ever felt uncomfortable writing a goal and asking a child to “take a bite” or “lick it three times,” know that you are not alone. Work through relevant case studies with Marsha, Erin, and Michelle as they troubleshoot viable alternatives that embrace a child’s autonomy. Learn how to write goals correlating to daily mealtime routines, implement authentic mealtime joy for child and caregiver, and document clinically relevant progress.

Guest: Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC

In this episode, Michelle is joined by the one and only Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC, Clinical Coordinator with Thrive Tube-Weaning Program, cohost of the podcast “Tube to Table,” published author and researcher, and internationally sought after speaker! For this hour-long conversation, Heidi shares her evidence-based approach to supporting little ones and their caregivers in their natural environment as they learn to eat by mouth! So, suppose you are ready to learn about intrinsic motivation and responsive feeding and pick up successful strategies to engage in interprofessional practice as a home-based, private practice, or school-based clinician. In that case, this is the episode for you.

Guest: Lisa Bowers, PhD, CCC-SLP

In this episode, Michelle is joined by the charismatic Lisa Bowers, PhD CCC-SLP, Chair of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorder's (CAPCSD) IPE/IPP committee, and Director of the Service Learning Initiative at the University of Arkansas. Lisa, a passionate advocate for the speech-language pathologist working to improve children’s language and literacy abilities, spends this power hour sharing some of her favorite resources and imparting pearls of wisdom! So, whether you are a tried and true SLP and want to improve your interprofessional education and practice within the public schools for your students struggling with reading or are still in your clinical fellow and not sure where to begin when it comes to speech-sound disorders and literacy, this episode has you covered.

Guest: Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Marsha, founder of the “Get Permission Institute,” for part one of a four-part miniseries on Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD)! To kick off the miniseries, Marsha discusses the evidence-based PFD shifts that have occurred over the last few years… shifts that come from listening to and elevating neurodivergent voices. Gone are the days of forcing a child to eat during therapy or relying upon external reinforcement to “take a bite.” The shift is towards respecting individual autonomy, encouraging diversity in thought about what constitutes a safe and healthy mealtime routine and a well-balanced meal...and the list goes on! Marsha quoted Maya Angelo, “Once you know better, you do better,” she hopes this episode will inspire today’s treating PFD clinicians to embrace the shift.

Guest: Claire Martin, M.Ed., CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Claire, a recent James Madison University Speech-Hearing-Association of Virginia Leadership and Advocacy Academy graduate, to discuss all things AAC. Claire creates a safe space to walk us through the process of establishing accessible AAC for outpatient clinics, explains the requirements for submitting a permanent device request to insurance, and tackles some of the most common barriers an SLP will encounter when initiating an AAC trial, all while offering functional advice on how to overcome these.

Guest: Brooke Nutting - Join Erin and Brooke, a mother of an autistic child, in this deep and heartfelt discussion regarding advocating for children and their right to neurodiversity-affirming care. Erin and Brooke discuss the challenges of finding the right team and knowing what is right for your child in a world full of voices thinking they know best. As clinicians, we discuss the importance of working with caregivers and listening to autistic voices, but how often do we truly take the time to listen to the lived experiences of caregivers? This discussion will hopefully open your eyes to taking a step back and truly understanding a family’s core values, how to best support the families of our neurodivergent clients, and knowing that we don’t always have the answer.

Guests: Memorie Gosa, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S & Jeanne Marshall, Ph.D, B Sp. Path- In this episode, Michelle is joined by two powerhouses in the world of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD): Dr. Memorie Gosa and Dr. Jeanne Marshall. This conversation, which was many moons in the making, addresses a crucial topic in the world of PFD; we are talking all things PROM. (Rhinestones and tulle are not required) 😊 PROM, or patient-reported outcome measures, are truly a clinician’s greatest ally, as they help demonstrate the value of intervention in improving the child and their caregiver’s quality of life surrounding mealtime. So, if you have been looking for a way to chart growth and improvement with your patients with a pediatric feeding disorder but are unsure which evidence-based tool to use, folks, these two ladies have you covered!

Guest: Nathaniel B. Ellis, M.S., CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Nate, a school-based phonetics and phonology specialist! In addition to being an active member of the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV), serving on its Conference Planning Committee and CE Administration Team, he regularly lectures on clinical phonetics, clinical phonology, and developmental speech-sound disorders… bringing unbridled passion and new insight into the topic to both current and future colleagues. Today, “Nate” takes listeners on a journey that unites the formally separated theoretical and clinical practice realms of phonetics and phonology. If you are a fellow speech-sound nerd, join this fabulous conversation to learn how to improve your accuracy in analyzing typical and atypical speech-sound errors… and how this carries over to improved intervention and outcomes for the children we serve!

Guest: Madilyn "Madi" Metcalf, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Madi, the delightful host of “Making Sense of Selective Eating,” a podcast miniseries with Speech Therapy PD. Over this hour, Madi speaks from her heart, sharing insight on the journey that she took to be able to competently serve the pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) patients in her hometown. So, if you, too, have looked around your community and recognized that PFD services are in need but are unsure where to begin, this is the conversation for you! Madi shares how she overcame imposter syndrome by bravely taking numerous courses, volunteering with her state association, and entering the field of early intervention and private practice to cast a wide net, all to meet caregivers and patients right where they are (both figuratively and literally!). Let her illuminate the path forward through functional recommendations for growing your PFD evidence-based practice!