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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Opening Doors for Improved Community Access with Amy Holbert
September 28th, 2022 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
In this episode, Michelle and Amy spend this hour discussing the role of this federally recognized “PTI,” how to empower caregivers for success with IEP advocacy, and how they support caregivers in pursuing medically necessary insurance in SC.
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Strategies to Expedite Research to Practice with Natalie Douglas
September 21st, 2022 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
In this episode, Michelle is joined by Natalie Douglas, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who discusses the critical deficits in the traditional research-to-practice model and the current trends that are working to address the shortages and breakdowns.
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Insightful and Heartfelt Tips from an AAC Sibling with Rylee Klocow
September 14th, 2022 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Rylee Klocow, MS, CF-SLP - This episode is an incredibly intimate project that holds deep personal meaning for all of us. However, it is especially powerful for Rylee, as she is the younger sister of an augmentative and alternative communication user.
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An Example of Excellence for NICU to EI Transitions with Alyson Ware
September 7th, 2022 | 1 hr 4 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Alyson Ware, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Alyson discusses the process as a community-based clinician to improve continuity of care for medically complex patients discharged from the NICU.
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Surviving the Transition from Grad Student to Clinical Fellow with "Speaking of Samantics" with Sam Walker
August 31st, 2022 | 1 hr 16 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Sam Walker, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD - This course will provide information geared toward empowering speech-language pathology graduate students and the new clinician.
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Yoga for the Peds SLP with Karrie Mansfield Rigberg
August 24th, 2022 | 1 hr 2 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Kerrie Mansfield Rigberg, MS, CCC-SLP - Kerrie, a highly trained pediatric speech-language pathologist with experience in the NICU, PICU, Inpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation, Private Practice, and teletherapy, is here today to talk about the empowering role of yoga for both our pediatric patients, as well as for the treating clinician.
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Getting a Patient Started: Triaging a Waitlist, Dynamic Assessments, and Goal Writing with Erin Forward
August 17th, 2022 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
In this episode, Michelle and Erin discuss functional strategies for getting a pediatric patient started. If you are in the world of pediatric private practice (home health and/or a clinic), this is the hour for you.
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PFD: Public Schools, Resources and Baby-Led Weaning with Memorie M. Gosa
August 10th, 2022 | 1 hr 8 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Memorie M. Gosa, PhD., CCC-SLP, BCS-S - If you love pediatric feeding disorders and deep diving into research to practice on this topic, then this is the hour for you. Michelle and Dr. Gosa tackle pediatric feeding disorders and the public schools, baby-led weaning, favorite dysphagia resources, as well as a sneak peek for the pediatric feeding disorder track at this year’s ASHA 2022.
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All Thangs AAC with Stephen Kneece
August 2nd, 2022 | 1 hr 14 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Stephen Kneece, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Stephen Kneece, who is a highly skilled augmentative and alternative communication specialist, inspires us all with his practical insight into how to select the ideal access approach for the little ones that we serve.
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Myth Busting for AAC and Early Intervention with Erin Forward
July 29th, 2022 | 1 hr 9 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
In this episode, Michelle and Erin discuss a topic dear to their hearts: busting common myths surrounding using speech-generating AAC devices in early intervention.
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Pediatric Feeding Disorder and the NICU: Best Practice for Discharge with Cuyler Romeo
July 27th, 2022 | 1 hr 10 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Cuyler Romeo, M.O.T., OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC - Cuyler discusses the recent changes to best practices for NICU discharge for infants with a pediatric feeding disorder.
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Empowering Caregivers in Early Intervention From All Cultures with Marina Shipilova
July 12th, 2022 | 1 hr 6 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Marina Shipilova, MS, CCC-SLP - In this course, the presenter discusses her successful strategies for connecting with families from different cultures, the most common empowering advice she gives to families, and how to hold crucial conversations to embolden caregivers when barriers exist to accessing the highest quality services available to them.
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Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy and Pediatric Dysphagia with Raquel Garcia
June 29th, 2022 | 1 hr 3 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Raquel Garcia, SLPD, CCC-SLP, CNT, BCS-S - In this course, the presenter discusses hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and how this devastating diagnosis can result in pediatric dysphagia.
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Mentoring the Next Generation of PFD Clinicians with Jennifer Casteix
June 22nd, 2022 | 1 hr 11 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Jennifer Casteix, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, discuss how to mentor the next generation of pediatric feeding disorder clinicians. Do you have a waitlist a mile-long for your services? Do you have a calling to do “more” for our profession, but are unsure of where to begin? Do you have a bit of wit along with your PFD wisdom and a desire to share it?
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Playful versus Play-Based Language Therapy with Erin Forward
June 16th, 2022 | 1 hr 2 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
In this episode, Michelle and Erin will focus on clarifying the differences between “playful” and “play-based” language therapy and how this approach can make your therapy more functional and fun!
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Implementing Neurodiversity Affirming Intervention with Kylie Jeffrey and Serena Murison
June 8th, 2022 | 1 hr 6 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Kylie Jeffrey, MS, OTR/L & Serena Murison, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode is an hour dedicated to understanding what neurodiversity-affirming intervention is.