Communication Connections Conference for SLPs

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

With Lisa Rukovena

With Dr. Coutrney Byrd

With Scott Prath

With Lisa Rukovena

With Dr. Coutrney Byrd

With Scott Prath

A Brain-Based Approach to Increase Success and Satisfaction in Your Work-Life

Scott Prath, M.A., CCC-SLP

What is behind the expansion of workload and complexity that many speech language pathologists now encounter on a daily basis? This presentation explores recent economic, political, environmental, and technological developments and how the same executive function strategies used to make students more successful can restore a sense of professional balance.

AAC Implementation and Building Capacity

Emily Diaz, M.S. CCC-SLP

Contemporary Autism Research & Ethical SLP Public School Services through the Lens of the Neurodiversity Movement

Julie Roberts

Presented by a formally late-identified Autistic SLP who works in the public school sector, this 2-hour course will provide a brief overview of the neurodiversity movement as defined by the movement’s self-advocates and the ethical implications for allied service providers. SLPs will learn why autistic lived experiences of trauma, as voiced in qualitative autism research studies suggest that current public school autism assessment practices and IEP services may result in adverse mental health outcomes and well-being for autistic students. From a neurodivergent-affirming lens and heavily supported with research evidence, SLPs will receive updated recommendations regarding evidence-based autism assessment practices, IEP development, and autism-related services that prioritize good mental health and well-being outcomes for autistic students in public schools.

Empowering Children who Stutter to Dream. Speak. Live. through Evidence-based CARE

Dr. Courtney Byrd

Contrary to the widespread notion that that effective communication requires fluency, the Blank Center’s CARE (Communication, Advocacy, Resiliency, and Education) ModelTM rests on the evidence-based understanding that when children, teens, and adults (1) learn communication is not defined or limited by fluency, (2) learn to share about their stuttering meaningfully, (3) develop the resiliency needed to navigate adversity, and (4) are knowledgeable about stuttering, they are empowered to Dream. Speak. Live.®. This lecture series will demonstrate the rationale for, and application of each component of this distinct whole-person, non-ableist approach to assessment and treatment.

Ethically Reduce Your Caseload

Scott Prath, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech language pathologists cite large caseloads as being one of their greatest concerns. Yet, most resources and continuing education only consider how to get students onto our caseload rather than focusing on how to get them off. This course presents research and methods for reducing caseloads both ethically and effectively.

Ethics, Advocacy, and Self-Care for School Speech-Language Pathologists

Teresa Roberts, EdD, SLP

Speech-language pathologists in schools may experience a range of different ethical dilemmas. Ethical problem solving frameworks and advocacy methods provide guidance on potential courses of action. Challenging work experiences can increase risks for burnout. SLPs may benefit from incorporating self-care practices to support ethics and advocacy.

Evaluations and Therapy for Emergent Bilingual Students

Executive Functions: More Thank Just Attention!

Tera Sumpter

Executive functions play a critical role in the overall learning process as the all-encompassing self-regulatory system of cognition. Deficits in executive function impact all aspects of learning, including academic and social. In this mini-course, attendees will learn about the various executive function skills, their role in the learning process, means to dynamically assess them, and Tera’s SEEDS Therapy framework for executive function. Treatment techniques such as reflexive questioning, planning, internalization of meaning, and self-evaluation will be addressed.

Residual Articulation Errors

Amy Graham

Many SLPs find correcting lateral lisps and residual /r/ errors among children to be extremely challenging. SLPs frequently have older children with these residual articulation errors and distortions on their caseloads, which can be even more difficult to remediate. This presentation will focus on particular elicitation strategies that can be effective for older children who have such habituated and motorically-based errors and distortions, such as phonetic shaping and cognitive reframing. Practical therapy tips, video demonstrations, and target selection recommendations will be outlined that can help children move from isolation level to spontaneous speech.

Julie Roberts, M.S., CCC-SLP

Julie Roberts, M.S., CCC-SLP is an Autistic Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) specializing in neurodiversity-paradigm-aligned approaches to therapy and education, with a particular focus on autistic social communication. Julie is the founder of Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, and her work centers on teaching culturally responsive, evidence-based approaches and strategies that advance the emancipation goals of the Neurodiversity Movement, deconstruct autism stigma and bias, and prioritize good mental health and quality of life outcomes for neurodivergent populations.

Lisa Rukovena

Scott Prath, M.A., CCC-SLP

Vice President, Bilingual Speech Language Pathologist

Scott has been working as a bilingual speech pathologist in Austin, Texas since 2004 and is the Vice President of Bilinguistics. He has worked in Early-Childhood Intervention and currently serves bilingual children in the schools and clinic setting. His research focuses on developing protocols, materials, and professional development to better serve special population such as Autism, VPI, and second-language learners.

Scott presents to Speech-Language Pathologists nationally and internationally, and translates for the Spanish-speaking community in Austin. His conversations and presentations are fun, circuitous rides that weave quotes, history, and humor into any discussion. Scott is masterful and methodical at turning the passions and interests of the staff into the books, presentations, and courses

Tera Sumpter

Tera Sumpter, Speech-Language Pathologist and founder of Seeds of Learning, LLC, presents internationally and across the United States on her cognitive processing model for academic learning. She provides professional development and workshops to therapy clinics, hospitals, school districts, professional organizations and parent groups on executive functioning, literacy, and her integrative cognitive processing model.

Emily Diaz, M.S. CCC-SLP

Emily Diaz, M.S. CCC-SLP is a certified speech-language pathologist with a passion for empowering individuals to find their voice. With a focus on neurodiversity affirming care and augmentative & alternative communication (AAC), Emily offers valuable insight and support to clinicians, parents, and school districts.

Emily’s expertise extends to topics like managing AAC in the classroom, the importance of staff-buy in and dynamic coaching methods, and the nuances of gestalt language processing and AAC implementation strategies.

Having shared her knowledge at conferences and platforms, including Meaningful Speech, Bright Ideas Media, and SpeechPathologyPD.com, Emily stands as a beacon of expertise and innovation in the field of speech-language pathology. Discover the transformative impact of AAC with Emily Diaz, SLP.

Amy Graham

Amy is a speech language pathologist and owner of Graham Speech Therapy, a private practice in Colorado
Springs that specializes in pediatric speech sound disorders. She received both her bachelors and masters degrees in Communicative Disorders from California State University, Fullerton and has been an SLP for over 20 years. Amy is the creator of the Graham Speech Therapy Oral-Facial Exam and the Bjorem Speech Sound Cues Decks for Lateralization and Phonology Targets for Cycles, has been a guest on numerous SLP podcasts, and is listed on the Apraxia Kids Directory of SLPs with expertise in Apraxia. She has a particular interest in supporting and equipping SLPs to help them provide evidence-based treatment by posting frequent therapy videos and practical therapy tips on social media.

Teresa Roberts, EdD, SLP

Teresa Roberts, EdD, SLP (she, her) works as Clinical Assistant Professor in Speech and Hearing Sciences at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Her areas of interest include language development and disorders, multiculturalism, and postsecondary pedagogy. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and provides clinical training in assessments.

Dr. Courtney Byrd

Courtney Byrd is a Full Professor, Associate Chair, and Graduate Advisor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, where she also serves as Founding and Executive Director of the newly established Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research, which has three core branches each of which she also founded and directs, including the Michael and Tami Lang Stuttering Institute, the Dealey Family Foundation Stuttering Clinic, and the Dr. Jennifer and Emanuel Bodner Developmental Stuttering Lab. Dr. Byrd also serves as the Vice President for Research for The Stuttering Foundation and has been an active member of the National Stuttering Association since attending her first meeting 25 years ago. She has over 100 peer-reviewed publications, and has dedicated her life's work to advancing understanding of the etiology across culturally and linguistically diverse populations, as well as improving treatment and training practices to better serve people who stutter.