Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, Coordinator for Clinical Education and Assistant Clinical Professor with the Master of Speech-Language Pathology at Francis Marion University in Florence, SC, is the acclaimed host of “First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional” a weekly Speech Therapy Podcast that addresses “all thangs” Pediatric Speech Therapy which is presented by Speechtherapypd.com. Recently, Michelle authored, "Chasing the Swallow: Truth, Science, and Hope for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders". She is an accomplished lecturer; traveling across the nation delivering courses on best practices for evaluation and treatment of the medically complex infant, toddler, and child with respect to their pediatric oropharyngeal dysphagia, pediatric feeding disorder, as well as language acquisition within the framework of Early Intervention. She has served as the Treasurer for the Council of State Association Presidents, is a Past President of the South Carolina Speech, Language, and Hearing Association, a 2017 graduate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Leadership Development Program, a 2020 recipient of the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Awareness Champion from Feeding Matters, a 2021 recipient of the Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement from the South Carolina Speech, Language, and Hearing Association, and six time recipient of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s ACE Award for continuing education.
Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC has hosted 242 Episodes.
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273: Behind the Scenes of an ASHA Convention
April 26th, 2024 | 1 hr 1 min
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Kelly Farquharson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BSC-CL, F-ASHA, & Jennifer M. Simpson, AuD, CCC-A - The ASHA Convention may only happen once a year, but the planning and dedication that leads up to those few days starts two years before the go-live date.
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271: True Tales from an SLP Entrepreneur
April 24th, 2024 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Sarah Breshears, MA, CCC-SLP & Savanah Reaser - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Sarah Breshears, MA, CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist, founder of Short and Sweet Speech, CEO of Social Moguls, author of “Short and Sweet Stories,” and her niece Savanah Reaser, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, and illustrator of “Short and Sweet Stories.” With spring break upon us and summer knocking at the door, a fair few of us are contemplating the inevitable question, “Should we return to this job?” “Am I truly using all of my talents here?” or “Am I destined for more?”.
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270: Neurodivergent Voices to Inform Your Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice
March 27th, 2024 | 1 hr 35 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Emily Starling, MA, CCC-SLP — In this episode, Michelle and Erin are joined by Emily Starling, the host of the Neurotwist podcast. She shares her experience as an SLP who was later identified as autistic.
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269: A New Take on the Three “C’s” for SLPs: Strategies for Improved Therapeutic Presence
February 27th, 2024 | 1 hr 25 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Stephanie Michelle Sweigart, MS CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by none other than the “Golden State SLP,” aka Stephanie Michelle Sweigart, MS CCC-SLP, to cover all things of Therapeutic Presence. If you’ve met Stephanie, then you know that a conversation with her feels like a warm hug.
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268: An SLP as a “Sensory Detective”
February 20th, 2024 | 1 hr 9 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Jennifer Ruckner, MS CCC-SLP, & Beth Cooper, MOT, OTR/L - Michelle, Jennifer, and Beth encourage you to don your detective cap, procure your magnifying glass, and let the sensory detective training begin. Jennifer and Beth offer foundational guidance on why an SLP needs to understand the unique sensory needs of the little ones we are called to serve. They offer strategies on how to create a dynamic transdisciplinary team, then go in-depth on the roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapist.
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267: Unlocking Eyegaze: Learning the Mysteries Behind the Machine
February 13th, 2024 | 1 hr 14 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Jenn Rubenstein, MS CCC-SLP - Have you ever stood in AWE watching an eye-gaze user navigate their communication device to express joy but were left scratching your head and wondering, “But how does it work?” In this episode, the ladies of “First Bite” are joined by Jenn Rubenstein, MS CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist and Clinical Account Executive for Eyegaze, to unlock the mysteries behind the machine.
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266: Feeding Strategies and Thickening Options for Infants with Dysphagia
February 6th, 2024 | 1 hr 15 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Lindsay Stevens, MA CCC-SLP - Join Michelle and guest Lindsay Stevens, MA CCC-SLP, who brings her years of experience as a clinician and caregiver to help grow your evidenced-based practice regarding infant dysphagia.
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265: Mentorship in PFD: What We Have to Learn as Mentors and Mentees
February 2nd, 2024 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Taylor Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Erin is joined by friend and colleague Taylor Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, to discuss mentor and mentee relationships when it comes to pediatric feeding disorders.
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264: A Model of Interprofessional Practice to Support Neurodiverse Individuals
February 1st, 2024 | 1 hr 9 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: April Helper, LPC - Michelle is joined for this truly powerful episode by April Helper, LPC, Founder and Executive Director of Adagio House. The Adagio House “exists to provide high-quality, trauma-informed, attachment-based services to all types of caregivers and their loved ones, regardless of their ability to pay.”
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263: ASHA 2023 Igniting Innovation: Neurodiversity Affirming and #CallitPFD Takeaways
January 25th, 2024 | 1 hr 6 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Michelle and her favorite co-host Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC, relive the best parts of the 2023 ASHA Convention: Igniting Innovation as it relates to all things neurodiversity-affirming care and pediatric feeding disorder.
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262: The SLP’s Role in Autism Evaluations
November 28th, 2023 | 1 hr 8 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Lillian Thompson Brown, MS CCC-SLP - Lillian's current research undertakings have been driven by passion from her personal experiences as a younger sibling to an autistic brother. If you, too, have been despairing over the extensive wait times that little ones and their caregivers have to endure in the process of obtaining an ASD diagnosis, then despair no more.
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261: Strategies from SLPs Breaking Down Barriers to PFD Care
November 22nd, 2023 | 1 hr 9 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Juliet Ochura, MS CCC-SLP, CLC, Kerry Pearl, MS CCC-SLP, CLC, & Jennifer Perez, MS CCC-SLP, CLC - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Juliet, Kerry, and Jennifer, a fabulous trio of colleagues from Boston Medical Center, to discuss all things “Breaking Down Barriers to PFD Care."
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260: Implementation Science and AAC: What, How, and Why
November 15th, 2023 | 1 hr 11 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Rebekah Wada, ABD, CCC-SLP and Megan Israelsen-Augenstein, PhD, CCC-SLP - In the last few years, the field of speech-language pathology has increased its attention on the understanding and use of implementation science. But what is implementation science?
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259: The Importance of Representation, Advocacy, and Mentorship within Our Fields
November 7th, 2023 | 1 hr 21 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Jerrold Jackson, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Jerrold Jackson, who embodies the meaning of servant-led leadership. His compassion for colleagues and students is abundant.
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249: Neurodiversity Affirming Feeding Therapy: Strategies for Various Clinical Settings
October 27th, 2023 | 1 hr 13 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
In this episode, Michelle and Erin are back together to discuss one of Erin’s favorite topics, “Neurodiversity Affirming Feeding Therapy.” The term “Neurodiversity Affirming” has grown in frequency of usage; as such, it should.
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258: Pediatric Hearing Loss and You
October 17th, 2023 | 1 hr 10 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Valerie James Abbott - If you work as a pediatric speech-language pathologist with the birth through 8-year-old population on speech sound disorders and/or language acquisition, this is the hour for you. Valerie is here to educate us all on potential risk factors for late childhood onset hearing loss, including the dangers of the cytomegalovirus.