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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Unlocking Eyegaze: Learning the Mysteries Behind the Machine with Jenn Rubenstein
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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Feeding Strategies and Thickening Options for Infants with Dysphagia with Lindsay Stevens
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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Mentorship in PFD: What We Have to Learn as Mentors and Mentees with Taylor Anderson
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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A Model of Interprofessional Practice to Support Neurodiverse Individuals with April Helper
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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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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The SLP’s Role in Autism Evaluations with Lillian Thompson Brown
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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Strategies from SLPs Breaking Down Barriers to PFD Care with Juliet Ochura, Kerry Pearl & Jennifer Perez
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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Implementation Science and AAC: What, How, and Why with Rebekah Wada & Megan Israelsen-Augenstein
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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The Importance of Representation, Advocacy, and Mentorship within Our Fields with Jarrold Jackson
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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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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Pediatric Hearing Loss and You with Valerie James Abbott
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.
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“Spilling The Tea” on Starting a Private Practice with Lauren Hastings
October 10th, 2023 | 1 hr 23 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
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The Inside Scoop on Barium for Pediatric Instrumental Swallow Studies with Caroline Brindo
October 3rd, 2023 | 1 hr 15 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Caroline Brindo, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S & Steven Sireci, MD - Not all of us will have the professional opportunity to conduct video fluoroscopic instrumental swallow evaluations; however, most of us will encounter pediatric patients, clients, or students who are in need of one. When that happens, it is common for the caregiver to ask, “What’s going to happen?”, “Will the barium hurt?”, “Will they be radioactive?”.
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Centering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the COMD Profession with R. Danielle Scott
September 19th, 2023 | 1 hr 15 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: R. Danielle Scott, PhD, CCC-SLP - Dr. Dani shares the definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion in this hour and how they pertain to the CSD community as clinical practitioners and faculty.
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The Joy and Just Right Challenge for Successful Therapy with Karen McWaters
September 18th, 2023 | 1 hr 5 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Karen McWaters, MOT, OTR/L - This course will integrate theories and ideas from the previous three courses to dive deep into what we are actually asking our patients to do in sessions. How do we truly analyze the task and work to find the just right challenge to help them grow within their zone of proximal development while also helping them feel successful? Karen and Erin will explore the beautiful tool of joy and play, which can uncover true learning in a child.
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The Importance of Motor and Language Learning for Effective Therapy with Karen McWaters
September 14th, 2023 | 1 hr 13 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Karen McWater, MOT, OTR/L - As SLPs, we can often look at speech and language development in isolation, as our formal assessments encourage us to do; however, it is imperative that we learn from our occupational and physical therapy colleagues regarding motor learning principles and how they parallel those of language development.