Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
Co-Host of First Bite: A Speech Therapy Podcast
Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, serves as a speech-language pathologist with Wolfe Speech Therapy, LLC, in Staunton, VA, and adjunct professor with North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, NC. Additionally, she is the acclaimed host of “First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional,” a weekly speech therapy podcast that addresses “all thangs” of pediatric speech therapy and is presented by SpeechTherapyPD.com. 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 the evaluation and treatment of medically complex infants, toddlers, and children with respect to their pediatric oropharyngeal dysphagia, pediatric feeding disorder, as well as language acquisition within the framework of Early Intervention. She currently volunteers as the Topic Chair for the Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders committee for the 2024 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention and volunteers as the co-chair for the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV) Dysphagia and Pediatric Feeding Disorder Group, as well as a convention committee for the 2025 annual SHAV Convention. She has served as the Treasurer for the Council of State Association Presidents (CSAP), is a Past President of the South Carolina Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (SCSHA), a graduate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Leadership Development Program (ASHA LDP), a recipient of the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Awareness Champion from Feeding Matters, a recipient of the Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement from the SCSHA, a recipient of the State Clinical Achievement Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Foundation, recognized as an ASHA Innovator in 2023, and eleven-time recipient of ASHA’s ACE Award for continuing education.
Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC has hosted 236 Episodes.
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Easing the Transition From EI to Schools for Our Feeding and Swallowing Friends with Emily Homer
December 4th, 2019 | 59 mins 26 secs
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Emily Homer, CCC-SLP, MA, ASHA Fellow - In this episode Michelle is joined by the author of Management of Swallowing and Feeding in Schools Emily M. Homer, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow! If you have ever been concerned about transitioning your patient from the world of Early Intervention into the Local Education Agency, (LEA), then after this hour you should be armed with knowledge and peace of mind about options to support and ease your little one’s transition. Are you concerned about who will provide services for feeding and swallowing in the LEA? What about if the CCC-SLP at the LEA can make referrals to the medical community? OR…and this is a biggie for the EI CCC-SLP…what can you do to ease the transition from EI to LEA for your patient? Don’t worry Emily Homer, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, will equip you today!
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Case Studies for Infants, Toddlers, and Children with Down Syndrome with Erin Forward
October 30th, 2019 | 1 hr 5 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is once again joined by the passionate Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP. Together they spend an hour dedicated to dissecting common airway, cardiac, and GI issues prevalent with Infants, Toddlers, and Children who have Down syndrome, and how these can result in a Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders. Special attention is placed on how airway, cardiac, and GI issues can occur in isolation, but often for our patients with Down syndrome, they occur concomitantly. Appropriate Interprofessional Practice referrals, Functional Feeding strategies, and shout outs for the amazing work that the National Down syndrome Society is doing… are all on the menu too!
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Food Chaining with Cheri Fraker
October 9th, 2019 | 1 hr 1 min
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Cheri Fraker, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC - In this episode Michelle is joined by the One and Only Cheri Fraker, MS CCC-SLP, CLC! That’s right, the guru behind “Food Chaining: The proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Pick Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Child’s Diet”. This phenomenal book has indescribably positively impacted that patients of the clinicians that have devoured the text. So, are you feeling stuck with how to proceed with a patient to expand their diet beyond 3 choice foods? Are you feeling overwhelmed with how to introduce PO for the first time to a little one who has feeding tube dependency? Well, leave your chewy tubes at home, lock them away in a box, lose key, and be prepared to have your professional soul nourished with Cheri!
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Ethics Behind Bilingual Evaluations and Treatment with Fé Murray
September 11th, 2019 | 1 hr 31 secs
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Fé Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by the fabulous Fé Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP, who is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department at Northern Arizona University (NAU), and the Immediate Past President of the Arizona State Speech Language and Hearing Association. Have you been unsettled by a recent referral for a child who speaks a different language? Are you unsure with how to proceed? Concerned on whether or not you need an interpreter to assist in the evaluation and/or treatment? Or…the big scary one…what if you can’t find an interpreter?!? Don’t worry, Michelle has had that fear too…but the Fearless Fé is her today to offer some evidence and ethical recommendations on how to proceed!
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Ideas & Inspirations to Motivate Your Kids to Practice with Char Boshart
September 9th, 2019 | 1 hr 8 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Char Boshart, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by the charming Southern Lady that is Char Boshart, MA CCC-SLP…THE SLP behind the dynamic “Speech Link” PodCourse, also sponsored by Speechtherapypd.com! Have you felt “stuck” lately trying to get your little one’s family motivated to implement Speech Therapy homework… aka The sometimes dreaded Home Exercise Program? Welp…me too friend! But I have great news! Char is here to help give us functional strategies to establish motivation and “buy-in” from our little’s ones care givers and loved ones…so watch out HEP…we are about to get-it-done!
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“Speechie Side Up” Presents AAC with Venita Litvack
August 21st, 2019 | 1 hr 4 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Venita Litvack, MA, CCC-SLP - Michelle is joined by the hostess with Venita Litvack, of “The Speechie Side Up” Podcast and SLP Blog. Today they cover all “thangs” AAC. Ever struggled to find credible resources for learning more about theory and history of best practices behind pediatric AAC, or how to implement AA with a complex pediatric patient, or… and here is the kicker…getting the daycare teachers or the ECSE on board with using the device within their classrooms? Venita is here to take those frustrations and worries away! Enjoy the nerdy-gal conversation between two podcasters who love their field and particularly AAC!
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So About That IDDSI! with Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP
August 7th, 2019 | 58 mins 55 secs
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined once again by Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, and they take on the beast of the change between the National Dysphagia Diet and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative. It is time! Erin and Michelle spend this fast paced hour updating and taste testing foods and drinks according to the new IDDSI guidelines! They will share their favorite IDDSI transition resources, as well as help to explain the differences in food and drink between NDD and IDDSI for all consistencies. Bring your private practice and personal practices in line with current best practice with this lively lecture! Also, be sure to check out the First Bite Insta and FB accounts for the videos of all the taste testing!
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Early Childhood and AAC… with SpeechandLanguage Songs with Stephen Kneece
July 31st, 2019 | 1 hr 5 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Stephen Kneece, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Mr. Stephen Kneece, MA CCC-SLP, the charming southern gentlemen who is the mastermind, voice, and musician behind the YouTube Channel “Speech & Language Songs”. Stephen, who serves as the Assistive Technology Consultant for Aiken County School District during the day, joins Michelle to share his passion for all “thangs” AAC. Core Vocab, Fringe, the struggles of choosing an AAC device, and evidenced based options if Speech Generating isn’t the way to go at this moment, are all covered in this dynamic power-hour!
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Sage Sierra Therapy Tips for Starting a Private Practice with Shawna Ross
June 19th, 2019 | 56 mins 39 secs
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Shawna Ross, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by the one and only Shawna Ross of the Sierra Therapy Group from the far-far-far away land of Reno, NV! Together these two ASHA LDP Cohort grads tackle the fears and tribulations of what goes on behind the scenes prior to opening the doors of a private practice. Listen in as the wise and utterly delightful Shawna shares her passion that drove her to become not only a dynamic clinician, but also successful private practice owner that regularly gives back to her community through hearing screens, summer camps, and Buddy Walks!
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Cortical Vision Impairments and AAC with Carol Page
June 5th, 2019 | 1 hr 10 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Carol Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP, CBIS - Michelle and Carol discuss strategies and methods for implementing and using AAC to help our students excel.
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Raising Red Flags for Dyslexia with Susan Lee
May 29th, 2019 | 1 hr 2 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Susan Lee, MA, CCC-SLP - Michelle takes a leap out of her comfort zone to discuss dyslexia and early warning signs that may be present in youngsters and why identifying those signs early can be vital!
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Serious Talk About Stuttering in Preschoolers with Craig Coleman
May 22nd, 2019 | 1 hr 3 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Craig Coleman, MA CCC-SLP, BCS-F - Michelle talks with Craig about how he first got into stuttering therapy and best practice for diagnosis and treatment of stuttering in young children.
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The Language of Language Assessments with Erin Forward
May 15th, 2019 | 1 hr 5 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP - Erin picks Michelles brain on strategic uses of evaluations and the science behind them.
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Mysteries of Muscle Memory and AAC with Rebecca Hoke
April 24th, 2019 | 57 mins 4 secs
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Rebecca Hoke, MA CCC-SLP - Michelle sits down with Becca and they discuss the impact that AAC has on developing vital muscle memory and the best practices in order to achieve therapy goals.
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Functional Feeding From Birth with Diane Bahr
March 27th, 2019 | 1 hr 10 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Diane Bahr, MS, CCC-SLP - Michelle sits down with Diane and they discuss the development of the human mouth and resources available to feeding therapists.
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Common to Uncommon Genetic Conditions and their Accompanying Functional Feeding Disorders with Erin Forward
March 20th, 2019 | 1 hr 22 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP - Erin and Michelle discuss different genetic conditions that can impact a child's ability to feed effectively and/or inhibit growth and development entirely.