Improving Early Detection of Autism and With an Eye Towards Infancy

Autism Navigator Early Social Interaction Model: Coaching Families of Young Children in their Everyday Activities

Patricia Armstrong, MSW is a Master Coach and Global Trainer for Autism Navigator and Baby Navigator with the Autism Institute at the Florida State University College of Medicine. She has 15 years of experience in Autism research training parents and professionals in the Early Social Interaction (ESI) intervention model. She has 20 years of experience in early intervention and Social Work focused on home and community-based services. Patricia earned her bachelor’s degree in child development from Florida State University and her master’s in social work from Florida A&M University.

The Importance of Acceptance with Stuttering

Shauna Ashley, MAT, MS, ASDCS, CCC-SLP received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Oregon Institute of Technology, Master of Arts in Teaching from Willamette University, and Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences from University of Oregon. Mrs. Ashley is currently working on her Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Sciences at Faulkner University with an emphasis in pediatric feeding. Her areas of specialty include adult language, cognition, swallowing, voice, and fluency and pediatric fluency, feeding/swallowing, and issues related to autism (Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist). She serves on thesis committees and as an academic advisor. Mrs. Ashley has worked as an SLP for 9 years with the last 3 years in academia and a university clinic and the previous 6 years in skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities (in-patient rehab), home health (out-patient rehab), schools, and early intervention. She is currently a tenure-track Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Faulkner University.

Preparing the Future of Our Professions through Clinical Education

Jennifer Morgan Baggettt M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathology clinical educator and instructor at The University of Alabama. She currently serves as the Director of Play Pals an evidence-based preschool program that provides a semi-structured learning environment for children in our community. She began her career in the Tuscaloosa City School system in 2008 where she worked with elementary and middle school students. She transitioned to the University of Alabama Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic in 2014 to serve on an interdisciplinary diagnostic team and provide speech-language therapy to children with autism. In 2018, Ms. Baggett served as the interim Clinic Director of the UA ASD Clinic and began teaching for the Department of Communicative Disorders.

Documentation in Health Care for Speech-Language Pathologists

Sallie Barham MS, CCC-SLP is a graduate of University of South Alabama (B.S.) and Auburn University (M.S). As a Speech-Language Pathologist she has worked in a variety of health care settings over a 30-year period. She has been a clinical reviewer for an insurance provider for over 20 years. She understands clinical documentation from the review process and as a clinician who provides speech and language services.

Aspiration Pneumonia: How can we help?

George Barnes MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S is a Board-Certified Specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders who has developed an expertise in dysphagia management focusing on diagnostics and clinical decision-making in the medically complex population. George yearns to make education useful and quality care accessible. With a passion for food and a deep appreciation for the joy and connection it brings to our lives, he has dedicated his life to helping others enjoy this simple, but deep-rooted pleasure.

“Not Safe to Eat!” Goal-Concordant Eating & Drinking at End-of-Life

Michael Barnett, MD, MS, FACP, FAAP, FAAHPM is a Hospice Physician at Four Seasons in Western North Carolina and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He completed medical school at the University of Kentucky, residency in combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at UAB, and fellowship in Hospice & Palliative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He served as Program Director of the UAB Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship for 10 years prior to moving his clinical practice into the rural Appalachian Mountains. He has been a faculty consultant in communication skills for the US Medical Licensing Exam and is distinguished faculty for the national VITALtalk communication skills training program. Dr. Barnett is triple boarded in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Hospice & Palliative Medicine and he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine.

Ototoxicity Monitoring and Long-term Follow-up for the Pediatric Oncology Patient

Johnnie Bass, AuD, PhD earned a clinical doctorate in audiology (Au.D.) from Salus University and a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Memphis while working full-time as a research audiologist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She has over 20 years of experience working as a clinical pediatric audiologist and has been involved in clinical research for the past 11 years. Her research interests include investigating acute and late auditory effects of ototoxic agents, the efficacy of otoprotective drugs, and the diagnostic techniques used in the detection of ototoxicity. Because her work with pediatric oncology patients treated with ototoxic agents has shown to cause significant auditory impairment, she is also interested in studying the impact ototoxicity has on neurocognitive and quality of life outcomes and interventions for improving these outcomes in childhood cancer survivors. She has mentored multiple graduate students and externs from across the country in clinical audiology practice and research. She currently serves on the expert panel for the Children’s Oncology Group Auditory Late Effects Task Force Committee dedicated to reviewing and developing long-term follow-up guidelines for hearing surveillance in survivors of childhood cancer.

The Role of the SLP as part of the interdisciplinary team in skilled nursing facilities

Candace Bennett, MS CCC SLP currently serves as Rehab Director for Restore Therapy Services. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in Communication Disorders in 1991 and a Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of South Alabama in 1994. She has been a practicing speech language pathologist for 30 years and has been employed full time with Restore for the last 15 years. She has experience in acute care, skilled nursing facilities, home health, and early childhood. She holds a license in the state of Alabama, a certificate of clinical competency from ASHA and is a member of SHAA. She was selected for the Leadership, Excellence and Development (LEAD) program for Restore's future leaders and graduated from that program in 2016. She currently serves as a clinical fellow supervisor, rehab director mentor and provides trainings for Restore.

Integrating Effective Autism Practices into Community Early Intervention Settings

Blaklie H Blevins, MS CCC-SLP earned her bachelors degree (2000) and masters degree (2022) in speech language pathology from The University of Montevallo. She is the owner of Talk2Me, Inc and enjoys providing services to children in a variety of settings. Blaklie is employed with Alabama Pediatric Services where she provides outpatient services to children with a variety of speech/language disorders. She provides early intervention services for ages birth to three through contracts with agencies throughout East-Central Alabama. As an Alabama Part C Autism Mentor, Blaklie has worked to collaborate with a cohort of professionals to expand the identification and service provision within natural environments for children with characteristics of autism.

ABR vs ASSR: Which should be used?

Angela J Bottley, CTDP, With an extensive background in electrophysiology, Angela develops and delivers quality training programs in the electrophysiologic / neurodiagnostic applications of Audiology. Previously she delivered training on Intraoperative monitoring, EMG & nerve conduction, sleep studies, EEG, SSEP, VEP, MEP, etc. As the clinical trainer for Vivosonic, Angela enjoys working with clinicians, with a broad range of electrophysiology experience, in the provision of client services including ABR, ECochG, DPOAE, TEOAE, ASSR, VEMP, 40 Hz Erp on the Integrity system.

Eye Gaze 101 Discussion: Challenges & Opportunities, Pre-screening & Evaluation

James Brinton, M.A., CCC-SLP, has a personal mission of educating all clinicians about the fundamentals of eye gaze AAC access, and how to ask the right questions in the process of finding the best device for AAC communicators. As the Director of Clinical Education & Business Development for Eyegaze Inc., he works with families, evaluators, and AAC communicators, both young and old, to use eye tracking technology for robust communication and computer access.

Preparing the Future of our Profession through Clinical Education

Mary Bryan, M.Ed. CCC-SLP received her Bachelor of Arts from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Communication Studies and Linguistics and her Master of Education from The University of Virginia in Speech-Language Pathology. Mary is a Clinical Educator and Internship Coordinator at The University of Alabama. Clinical interests include working with children and their families experiencing Pediatric Feeding Disorders. She also enjoys mentoring undergraduate and graduate students through the clinical education process as they pursue their career goals of making a difference and becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist. Mary serves as the Director of Clinical Education for the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama.

Connecting Passion to Practice: Specialization in the Field of Speech-Language Pathology

Dr. Kameron Carden, Ph.D., CCC/SLP, LSLS Cert. AVEd. has over 15 years of experience working with children who are deaf/hard of hearing as a speech-language pathologist and listening and spoken language specialist. As a practitioner, she has taught in oral preschool programs, served children and their families through early intervention, and provided outreach services to students and their teachers in public school settings throughout the state of Alabama. Dr. Carden currently serves as a research associate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alabama. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama in the Department of Special Education and Multiple Abilities and at Samford University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Carden is a board member of the Division for Communication, Language, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DCD) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD). She also serves on Alabama’s Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) as a parent of a child with hearing loss. Her research interests include complex language development and ecologically valid language assessment practices for preschoolers who are deaf/hard of hearing using listening and spoken language.

Co-Treating Hits the SPOT

Kandis Chatman, MS CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Deer Valley Elementary School in Hoover City Schools. She has 19 years of experience working in interdisciplinary clinics, Early Intervention, University clinics, and schools. Most recently, she was a Clinical Instructor and Clinical Educator at The University of Alabama (UA) in the Department of Communicative Disorders and the Speech-Language Pathologist at the UA RISE Center. She has also worked as the Clinic Director in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of Montevallo. Prior to that, she was the lead Speech-Language Pathologist at Easter Seals Pediatric Therapy as well as the Program Manager. Mrs. Chatman received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Auburn University and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She holds Licensure from the Alabama Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology. Mrs. Chatman is the first and only Black President of the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (SHAA). She is also the 2022 recipient of the Honors of the Association Award for SHAA. Currently, she serves as the Membership Secretary, Ethical Practices Chair, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Chair of SHAA. Mrs. Chatman has served on various departmental and state diversity committees including the Communicative Disorders Diversity Committee, the College of Human Environmental Sciences (CHES) Committee for Diversity and Inclusivity (CDI), and the RISE Committee for Diversity and Inclusivity. She developed the SHAA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Her passion and ministry is serving children with multiple abilities and complex communication needs. Her clinical and research interests focus on Augmentative and Alternative Communication evaluation and treatment.

Preparing the Future of our Profession through Clinical Education

Candace H. Cook, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Educator and Instructor at The University of Alabama with 15 years of experience supervising undergraduate and graduate students providing assessment and treatment for feeding, articulation, language, fluency, and social communication disorders, as well as utilizing augmentative/alternative communication strategies. She is a certified trainer for Project ImPACT©, a parent-mediated intervention for children with delays in social communication. She is also trained in SCERTS ® Model, as well as the SOS Approach to Feeding© and the CAN-EAT© Approach for children with feeding difficulties.

Assessment and Treatment of Dysphagia in Parkinson’s Disease

Michele Dacy-Nichols, MA, CCC-SLP (she/her) is currently a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Alabama. She earned her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Northern Iowa. She has clinical experience working primarily with adult and geriatric patients in skilled nursing and outpatient settings. She is interested in conducting clinically focused research in the area of swallowing and swallowing disorders, particularly in populations with neurological disorders.

Improving Early Detection of Autism and Communication Delays with an Eye Toward Infancy

Autism Navigator Early Social Interaction Model: Coaching Families of Young Children in Their Everyday Activities

Renee Daly Holland, MS, CCC-SLP is the Assistant Director of Early Intervention Services Research for the Autism Institute in the College of Medicine at Florida State University. Her clinical experience over the past 30 years has focused on parent-implemented early intervention for children with autism spectrum and speech and language disorders. An author of the Autism Navigator collection of web-based courses and tools, she also serves as an Autism Navigator Master Coach and Global Trainer, supporting professionals within early intervention systems to deliver effective, evidence-based intervention in natural environments. Renee earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Florida State University.

Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Essential Practices for Improving Outcomes for the D/HH child on your caseload

Kristen DeLauney, Au.D., CCC-A, is the Director of Audiology at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Department of Health and Clinical Services. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in General Chemistry from Jacksonville State University and her Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of South Alabama, where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA and received the Outstanding Doctor of Audiology student award in her graduating class. She currently serves as the representative of audiologists and the Fourth Congressional District for the Alabama Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology. Dr. DeLauney has 14 years of experience in the field of pediatric audiology and is passionate about working with Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and giving them the tools they need to succeed and be the best version of themselves. 

Components of Successful Dysphagia Intervention for the SLP in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SLP) Setting

Gena Dismuke, M.S., CCC-SLP-Endoscopist graduated from Auburn University in 1988 with a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. At that time “dysphagia” was maybe a 1-day lecture in the anatomy or voice class. Since graduation, Gena made it her mission to gain knowledge and experience learning about dysphagia evaluation, intervention and at that time MBSS. She has worked in hospital, rehab and long-term care settings beginning with her CF experience. Gena has worked with Restore since 2005, has been providing Endoscopy services in 17 SNFs in south central Alabama, and has been a clinical fellowship supervisor and student mentor. She is a member of ASHA and is VitalStim certified.

Autism Strategies and Neurodiversity Affirming Practices

Nuts and Bolts of Apraxia Therapy

Cari Ebert, MS, CCC-SLP, is a pediatric speech-language pathologist in private practice in the Kansas City, Missouri area. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1993 and her master’s degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1995. Cari is a therapist, consultant, author, product developer, and nationally recognized speaker who gets paid to do what she loves most—TALK! She has an energetic personality, and this translates to a high-energy speaking style. Cari has an Autistic son, allowing her to engage audiences both as a professional and as a parent of a neurodivergent child.

Components of Successful Dysphagia Intervention for the SLP in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Setting

Erin Edwards, M.S. CCC-SLP-Endoscopist is a state and nationally certified speech-language pathologist. Erin has worked in the healthcare industry for 4 years with a focus on evaluation and treatment of dysphagia in the adult and geriatric populations. She currently works as a treating and evaluating clinician, as well as an endoscopist for Restore Therapy Services. Erin received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from the University of Alabama, and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of South Alabama. Her areas of interest include swallowing disorders, voice disorders, head and neck cancer, esophageal disorders, and cognitive communication disorders. She specializes in diagnostic procedures including Flexible Fiberoptic Videostroboscopy, Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), and Comprehensive Swallow Voice Assessments (CSA) of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract. She also has training in Surface Electromyography and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation.

Encouraging skilled word reading and spelling development in children with speech sound disorder

Anna M. Ehrhorn, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an assistant professor within the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences department at Auburn University. Dr. Ehrhorn’s passion for the profession and research began as she obtained her college degrees and continued to evolve while practicing as a pediatric-focused speech-language pathologist in a variety of settings. These clinical experiences informed and inspired the direction of her programmatic line of research. Dr. Ehrhorn’s research aims to understand strengths and deficits in children with and without speech, language, and literacy deficits to inform interventions that can improve speech and language deficits and reduce the risk of literacy difficulty.

Is my Anxiety making my dizziness worse? The role of anxiety & stress in Vestibular/Balance diagnosis & management 

Ashley Flagge, AuD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Audiology at the University of South Alabama, and currently serves as the CSD PhD Program Coordinator. Her primary research interests are in the areas of vestibular function, music/pitch perception, and pediatrics. After working clinically for several years primarily in the areas of hearing and vestibular diagnostics, Dr. Flagge co-founded the Vestibular and Balance Research Lab at USA. Much of her current research is focused on the influence of mental health and physical training on vestibular and balance function.

Mitigating Fluency Conformity by Transforming Stuttering Treatment with Evidence-based CARE

Caitlin Franchini, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Research Associate at the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research—Atlanta Satellite through the University of Texas at Austin. Caitlin specializes in developmental stuttering and implements person-focused treatment that builds positive attitudes toward stuttering and confidence when communicating. In 2023, she received the Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Caitlin is a person who stutters and is very passionate about advocating for her community. She is a National Stuttering Association Chapter Leader and is a member of the NSA’s Professional Relations Committee. Caitlin currently serves on the Georgia Speech Language Hearing Association’s Executive Board.  

State Department of Education Updates

Stephanie Frucci-Bear, Ed.S., CCC-SLP is with the Alabama State Department of Education in Special Education Services, with a focus on speech-language impairment, preschool special education, English Learners with special needs, and technical assistance. She also serves school systems as a Regional Specialist. Prior to joining the State Department eight years ago, she served primarily as a preschool speech-language pathologist in the Elmore County Schools for thirteen years, and before that worked with students of all ages in the Marietta, Georgia Schools.

Is Anxiety Making My Dizziness Worse? The Role of Anxiety & Stress in Vestibular & Balance Diagnosis & Management

Alexandria Greene, B.S. is a dual-track Au.D./Ph.D. student at the University of South Alabama. Her audiologic areas of interest include vestibular assessment and management as well as noise-induced hearing loss. Her recent research in the vestibular field has focused on the effects of personality and anxiety on subjective and objective vestibular outcomes.

Life-changing Technology: BrainHearing Evidence and its Application

Amanda Greenwell, Au.D., is the Education and Training Specialist for Oticon’s Southeast region. She brings an educator’s perspective to her responsibilities, providing new and continuing education for hearing care professionals, technical product training and audiology field support for adults and children. Amanda’s clinical experience includes both ENT and private practice settings, where she worked with diverse patient populations. She holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from Butler University and an Au.D. from Ball State University.

Language Matters: Building Connections with the Words We Choose

Megan-Brette Hamilton, PhD, CCC-SLP; Chief Staff Officer for Multicultural Affairs at ASHA, has been an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist for over 20 years. She earned her B.A. from Hampton University, M.A. from the University of Maryland, and PhD from the University of Illinois, with each degree focusing on communication sciences and disorders. Megan-Brette has published, presented, and trained on the topics of African American English, culturally responsive practices, and effective communication across a variety of settings and audiences. Previously, she worked as a qualitative researcher and academic professor, teaching courses on child and adolescent language disorders, clinical problem solving, and communication disorders in society. Prior to academia, she spent 10 years as a practicing clinician working collaboratively with families and other professionals in New York City K-12 schools. Megan-Brette has hosted Brooklyn cable television shows, is the former host and producer of the Honeybee Connection podcast by MB, and owner of www.meganbrettehamilton.com.

It’s All About the Dash

 Tamara D. Harrison, MS, CCC, SLP is a retired (still working!) Speech-Language Pathologist with Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. Tamara spent her career serving Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Visually Impaired babies and students at AIDB. Tamara served in leadership roles while at AIDB and in various civic groups, and has served on the SHAA Executive Board for many years. Tamara is the current SHAA President for the 2023-25 term.

Demystifying Voice Therapy

Edie R. Hapner, PhD, CCC-SLP is the Co-Director of the UAB Voice Center, Division Director of Hearing and Speech Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was named the George W. Barber Jr. Foundation Endowed Professor of Otolaryngology. Dr Hapner has served both the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAOHNS) in many leadership capacities. She received the honor of being named Fellow of ASHA and Associate Fellow of America Laryngological Association, and in 2022, she received the highest honors from the American Laryngological Association, the ALA Award. Dr. Hapner has published and presented extensively on aging voice, dystonia and tremor, and adherence to voice therapy. She is the co-editor of Voice Therapy, Clinical Case Studies editions 4, 5 and now 6. She developed the voice curriculum and serves as an instructor for Medbridge, Inc in addition to several ASHA and IALP online clinical instruction modules. Dr Hapner co-developer an evidence based therapy approach for the aging voice, Phonation Resistance Training Therapy, PhoRTE Voice Therapy that is widely used in the treatment of presbyphonia. Dr Hapner’s passion is mentorship and she has mentored 21 consecutive speech pathology clinical fellows in voice and upper airway and countless students.

Facilitating Literacy Development for Beginning Communicators who use AAC

Dr. Pamela Hart is a Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders who focuses on evidence-based practices to support language and literacy development for individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication strategies. She has more than 20 years of experience working with clients with complex needs and has published and presented on related topics at state and national levels. Dr. Hart is an ASHA Leadership Development Program alum and currently serves as a Site Visitor for the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). Dr. Hart previously served as SIG 10 steering committee member and as the Missouri SLP representative to the ASHA Advisory Council.

What should I do?: The importance of parent education in early intervention

Lauren Hastings, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, business coach, podcaster, and Ph.D. student. Lauren received a Masters of Speech & Hearing Science from Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology from Andrews University. She has held various clinical positions in Tennessee and Georgia ranging from rehabilitation centers, school districts, and an Autism center. She enjoys collaborating with a variety of professionals including school psychologists, special educators, occupational therapists, neurologists, and gastroenterologists. Her clinical and research interests include child language disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the impact of socioeconomic status on language/literacy development, and early intervention. In 2016, Lauren began full-time work in her practice, Hear to Speak, in South Fulton (Atlanta) Georgia which serves the pediatric population using a community-based model. In January 2021, she started a coaching business, Hear to Speak Academy, to help other therapists build their private practice and learn how to become an insurance provider with ease. She expresses her love for her profession and the African American community through her weekly podcast, Speech Tea. She enjoys co-hosting the podcast with her colleague, Lauren Prather, discussing topics impacting minorities and breaking down special education concepts in understandable terms. Currently, she is obtaining her Ph.D. in Educational Studies in Diverse Populations with a concentration in Health Disparities at the University of Alabama Birmingham and has restructured Hear to Speak to include advocacy services for the Birmingham area.

Components of Successful Dysphagia Intervention for the SLP in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Setting

Leigh Hester, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Endoscopy Services Manager at Restore Therapy Services. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Montevallo and a Master’s Degree from Alabama A & M University. Leigh has worked in the health care industry with experience in dysphagia evaluation and treatment for over 20 years. Leigh has received training in performance and interpretation of flexible and rigid laryngeal videostroboscopic imaging through Emory University Hospital Voice Center and Vanderbilt Voice Center-Department of Otolaryngology. She has training in the McNeil Dysphagia Therapy Program, Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT-LOUD), PhoRTE voice therapy, Surface Electromyography (sEMG), NMES and Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding. She is a recipient of the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama’s (SHAA) Distinguished Clinical Achievement Award and ASHA’s Continuing Education (ACE) Award. She is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) Special Interest Groups for Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) and Voice and Voice Disorders; a member of the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (SHAA), and a member of the Dysphagia Research Society (DRS). 

Applying Ethical Standards in Everyday Practice: ABESPA Update for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

Christopher D. Howell, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Alabama Attorney General has worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Alabama Attorney General since 2020, serving in both the Consumer Interest Division and the Criminal Appeals Division. Prior to that, I served as a Staff Attorney for the Supreme Court of Alabama and The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals for almost ten years. I currently serve as legal counsel for five State boards including ABESPA and provide a wide range of litigation and non-litigation services to those boards.

Preparing the Future of our Profession through Clinical Education

Kayce Hinton, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist, serving as a Clinical Educator and Instructor at The University of Alabama. She earned her Bachelor of Human Environmental Science, Early Childhood Development degree and Master of Science degree from The University of Alabama. She began her career with Restore Therapy Services in 2012 where she worked with Adults to Geriatrics in various Skilled Nursing Homes and Rehabilitation Centers. She served as an off-campus supervisor for graduate student clinicians as well as a Clinical Fellow supervisor for new SLP employees in a CF position while working in these settings. She transitioned to the University of Alabama Speech and Hearing Center in Spring 2022. As a clinical educator, she supervises graduate student clinicians as they provide individual and group therapy services to pediatrics to adults with speech, language, social-communication, and voice disorders. She is certified in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT – LOUD) as well as trained in PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) and currently is providing individual and group therapy in these areas. She also teaches an undergraduate course – CD 225 – Introduction to Communicative Disorders.

Demystifying Voice Therapy

Sarah D. Hoch, CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist and singing voice specialist at the UAB Voice Center. Sarah completed her graduate studies in CSD at the University of Pittsburgh and her clinical fellowship in voice and upper airway at the UAB Voice Center. Sarah had a long performance career prior to coming to speech pathology and brings that insight into her work with performing voice.

Practical Strategies for Improving Language Processing Skills: From Disorder to Order

Margaret Holladay, M.C.D, CCC-SLP, received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Auburn University in 2013 and 2015, respectively. She has been a member of the outpatient speech-language pathology since 2016. Her special interests include language processing disorder, voice, early and preschool language, and childhood apraxia of speech.

Practical Strategies for Improving Language Processing Skills: From Disorder to Order

Ashley Hood, M.A., CCC-SLP, received her undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Mississippi in 2003 and her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2005. After working in private practice in Tennessee for 6 years, she joined the outpatient speech-language pathology team at Children’s of Alabama in 2011. She has special interest in language processing, preschool and school age language, articulation, and resonance.

Measurement of Interprofessional Practice Skills of SLP Graduate Students

Kelly Jackson, M.S. CCC-SLP is an assistant professor in the CSDS department at Samford University. She received her BA in Communicative Disorders and Spanish and her MS in SLP from the University of Alabama. Kelly is a PhD in Health Sciences candidate at Northern Illinois University. She has worked in various settings and has provided services in both English and Spanish. Kelly’s research interests include bilingual service delivery, interprofessional collaboration, and clinical education.

Becoming a Culturally Responsive Service-Provider and Professional

Mitigating Fluency Conformity by Transforming Stuttering Treatment with Evidence-based CARE

Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is the Associate Director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research – Atlanta Satellite through the University of Texas at Austin. She specializes in developmental stuttering with a focus on culturally diverse populations. She is also a growing leader in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical and professional settings. She has previously served on the ASHA Board of Directors and as National Advisor to National NSSLHA. She currently serving as immediate Past-Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing and is a member of the ASHA Board of Ethics.

It’s All About the Dash

Dr. Margaret L. Johnson SLP. D, CCC is a retired professor from Samford University. She spent 39 years of her career teaching students about neurogenic communication disorders at the University of Montevallo and at Samford University. She was awarded the prestigious honor of ASHA Fellow in 2012. Dr. Johnson is enjoying retirement and is now able to travel both nationally and internationally.

Talking with a Trach

Robert B Johnson, MS, RRT, a seasoned Respiratory Therapist with over 35 years of experience. Currently serving as the Sr. Director of Respiratory Services, Bronch, PFT Lab at UAB Hospital, Robert is also the President Elect of the Alabama Society of Respiratory Care. With an impressive track record of over 1,500 Critical Care Transports with UAB/COA, he has dedicated 8 years to Children's of Alabama and 7 years to RNICU - UAB Neonatal. Robert's commitment to respiratory care extends over 18 years of service at UAB Adult RT Care. Continuing the family legacy, his father was a RT, his mother was an RN, and his daughter is also a RT at COA

Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Essential Practices for Improving Outcomes for the D/HH child on your caseload

Laura Kitchen, MS Ed is a certified teacher of the deaf in her 9th year of teaching in the Listening and Spoken Language Program at the Alabama School for the Deaf. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Buffalo State College and her Master of Science degree in Deaf Education from Canisius College.

Conversations Shine with Sky Lumity

Nicole King, Au.D., CCC-A is the Phonak Pediatric Account Manager for the Southeast region. Nicole has extensive history within the hearing care industry and has previously provided clinical services in private practices and tele-medicine. Additionally, she worked with infants and toddlers as a diagnostic audiologist and with school age children as an educational audiologist in the largest school system in North Carolina. She received her Master of Arts degree in Audiology from the University of Connecticut and a Doctor of Audiology degree from Salus University. Nicole resides in Charlotte, NC.

Quest for the Cup

Carol Koch, EdD, CCC-SLP is a Professor and Graduate Program Director at Samford University in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders. Dr. Koch was recently been honored with the Fellow of the Association Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She was also recently recognized as a Board Certified Specialist in Child Language. She has worked in pediatrics for most of her clinical career specializing in speech sound disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders, and feeding. Dr. Koch currently teaches courses in clinical phonetics, speech sound disorders, autism spectrum disorders, counseling, and professional issues. She has also published the textbook, Clinical Management of Speech Sound Disorders: A Case-Based Approach, and is a co-author of Bjorem Speech Contrast Cues for Speech and Literacy, the Box of _____ series, and the “R” Inventory and Facilitating Contexts for ”R” Therapy.

AAC in the Schools

 Taylor Ann Korson M.Ed is a Special Education teacher who works at Oak Mountain High School. She began working in Shelby County Schools in January 2019. Prior to working with Shelby County, she served as an executive member of the Mississippi State chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children while in college. She has a passion for working with people with special needs and watching them develop job skills.

Understanding Psychiatric Diagnoses

Timothy P. Kowalski, M.A.,CCC-SLP, ASDCS is a clinical specialist in ASD and is internationally known for his work in social-pragmatic communication deficits and high functioning autism spectrum disorders. He is a past president of FLASHA and previously held the positions of Vice President of Professional Practices in Speech-Language Pathology and Vice President of Convention. He holds the FLASHA 2020 Outstanding Service Award, the FLASHA 2010 Clinician of the Year Award and was one of eight national nominees for the 2011 ASHA Louis M. di Carlo Award for Recent Clinical Achievement. He also holds the TEAMS 2000 Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year award for his work with autism in the four-countywide greater Orlando metropolitan area and has served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Orlando Chapter of the Autism Society of America as well as the Central Florida Center for Independent Living.

Implementing the IDDSI Framework in Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing

Morgan Leonard, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist currently serving as inpatient speech supervisor at Children's of Alabama. She began her career in private practice in Auburn, Alabama serving a variety of patients. In her career at Children's of Alabama she has served patients in the intensive feeding program, aerodigestive clinic, multidisciplinary feeding clinic, inpatient, and outpatient settings with a strong focus on pediatric feeding and swallowing. She enjoys the every growing nature of our field, the challenge of treating patients with feeding and swallowing disorders, and is passionate about partnering with families when faced with the stressors of feeding and growing their child.

Evidenced Based and Person-Centered Treatment Methods for Acquired Apraxia of Speech

Jordan S. Lins, M.S., CCC-SLP is a practicing speech-language pathologist and doctoral student in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of South Alabama. Her research interests include assessment and treatment for individuals with aphasia and concomitant alexia, with a specific focus on reading prosody and comprehension. Additional interests of hers includes person-centered interventions for aphasia, as well as assessment and treatment of apraxia of speech.

Integrating Effective Autism Practices into Community Early Intervention Settings

Amanda E Marable, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, DS, earned her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Florida State University (2011) and her masters in speech-language pathology from the University of West Georgia (2014). She is the owner of Speech Easy Rehab Services, Inc. which provides speech therapy and developmental specialist services in central Alabama. Amanda has worked in schools as well as outpatient settings for children. Amanda joined the Alabama Part C Autism Initiative in the initial cohort and has worked across the state as an Alabama Part C Autism Mentor. Amanda enjoys encouraging the use of Naturalistic Developmental Behavior Interventions, early identification of autism, and providing services to children who have characteristics of autism.

Preparing the Future of our Profession through Clinical Education

Amanda Mennen, M.S. CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist serving as a Clinical Educator and Instructor at The University of Alabama. She began her career in the Tuscaloosa City School system in 2009 where she worked with schools across the district serving preschool, elementary, and middle school students. She transitioned to the University of Alabama Speech and Hearing Center in the fall of 2021. She currently serves pediatric clients at the Speech and Hearing Center and the RISE Center. She has additional training and professional development in the areas of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), literacy and language delays, speech sound disorders, developmental delays, stuttering/fluency and autism/social communication delays.

Attitudes and Biases Among Speech-Language Professionals Who Serve African American English-Speakers: A Discussion and Review of Clinical, Educational, and Societal Impacts

Dr. Erica Middleton, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an assistant professor and clinical supervisor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders. Dr. Middleton completed her Bachelor of Science in Communication Science and Disorders at Alabama A&M University in 2013. She received her Master of Science in Communication Science and Disorders at Howard University. After receiving her Master’s degree, Dr. Middleton achieved a Ph.D. from Howard University in Communication Science and Disorders. She has done research in the areas of Cultural-Linguistic Diversity and African-American English. Dr. Middleton holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the states of Maryland and Alabama. Dr. Middleton also serves on the University of Montevallo’s Academic Support Subcommittee of TAC, the Black Heritage Committee, and she is the advisor for the local National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter. Dr. Middleton teaches courses in stuttering and diagnostics at the graduate level and courses in survey of communication disorders and multicultural issues at the undergraduate level.

Applying Ethical Standards in Everyday Practice: ABESPA Update for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

Lawrence (Larry) Molt , Ph.D., CCC-A, CCC-SLP, FASHA, FAAA has a dual master's degree in both Speech-Language Pathology and in Audiology from the University of South Florida, and a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Tennessee. Dual Certified and in the initial cadre of ASHA Board Certified Fluency Specialists, he is also an ASHA Fellow. Larry is recently retired after 40 years as a professor at various universities, now serving as Professor Emeritus in the Auburn University Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Department. He has also served on the faculty of the University of Georgia, University of Utah, and Florida Atlantic University. Larry’s current contributions to the professions include serving as ASHA’S Vice-President for Finance and on ASHA’s Board of Directors, Chairing the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) Commission, and Chair of the Alabama Board of Examiners for SLP/A (ABESPA). He is ASHA’s representative to the World Health Organization Rehabilitation 2030: Rehabilitation Competency Framework Working Group. Larry also serves on SHAA’s Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors of Alabama Special Olympics and as state director of that organization’s “Healthy Athletes” and “Healthy Hearing” programs. Larry has served as President of the International Fluency Association, President of the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama, President of the National Council of State Boards of Examiners for SLP/A (NCSB), Coordinator of ASHA Special Interest Group 4: Fluency and Fluency Disorders, Chair of ASHA’s Scientific and Professional Education Board, ASHA Political Action Committee (ASHA-PAC) Chair, Chair of ASHA’s Financial Planning Board, and on the National Stuttering Association’s (NSA) Board of Directors. Larry is a person who stutters and is especially proud of being selected as the NSA’s “Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year” in 2003.

Improving Early Detection of Autism with an Eye Toward Infancy

Autism Navigator Early Social Interaction Model: Coaching Families of Young Children in their Everyday Activities

Joy Moore, MS, CCC-SLP has worked as a speech-language pathologist serving children and families for the past 39 years and is an Autism Navigator Master Coach and Global Trainer with the Autism Institute in the College of Medicine at Florida State University. Her current work includes training parents and professionals in the Early Social Interaction (ESI) model of intervention as well as contributing to the ongoing development of Autism Navigator courses and tools. She is one of the authors of the Autism Navigator for Success in PreK-2 Classrooms. Joy earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Alabama.

Preparing the Future of our Profession through Clinical Education

JoAnne Payne,  Au.D., CCC-A is an Associate Professor and Clinic Director at the University of Alabama. Dr. Payne has been an audiologist for 35 years and has worked in a variety of settings. She joined the UA Department of Communicative Disorders in 2009 as a research and clinical audiologist, became the Coordinator of Audiology Services in 2016, and was named the Clinic Director in 2021. During her time at UA, Dr. Payne has developed the Newborn Hearing Evaluation program, the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy program, and the Cochlear Implant Mapping program.

Documentation in Health Care for Speech-Language Pathologists

Daniel E Phillips EdD, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and retired clinical and academic educator. He currently serves as an independent contractor to review claims and clinical documents for an insurance provider. He has worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings with both children and adults. A graduate of Auburn University, The University of Memphis, and Samford University, he has taught communication disorders courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Let's talk about TEXT, baby!

Hank Poore is a 22-year-old with cerebral palsy who uses a Tobii Dynavox device for communication. Hank has two jobs at local businesses in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, AL. In addition, Hank helps to run a nonprofit organization called The Hank Poore Foundation which helps people with disabilities in his community. Hank also works as an assistive technology program assistant at United Ability in Birmingham, AL, and is the advocacy chair of the Junior Board of Easterseals of West Alabama. In his free time, Hank enjoys hanging with friends, playing with his service dog, Ion, and listening to music. 

Creating a Culture of Equity and Access: Culturally Responsive Speech and Language Services for Young Learners with Complex Communication Needs

Beth Poss, M.A., CCC/SLP is an educational and technology consultant, accessibility and inclusion advocate, speech/language pathologist, former special education administrator, and former assistant principal. In addition to her independent consulting, she is the Director of Educational Programs for LessonPix. Beth is passionate about designing educational environments that support all students in accessing a rigorous curriculum and meeting educational outcomes. In her work with school districts, universities and national and state level organizations she focuses on literacy, augmentative and alternative communication, Universal Design for Learning and inclusive educational practices. She is one of the authors of Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of the Year, released in August 2021.

Sympathy and Empathy--Let's Sit on the Other Side of the Table

Haylyn Potter Kracalik, MS, CCC-SLP earned a bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Alabama in 2013 where she graduated summa cum laude. Haylyn earned a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology at Mississippi University for Women in 2015 where she graduated magna cum laude. Haylyn’s career began working with adults as a floater in a multidisciplinary setting which included various SNFs, inpatient rehab facilities, an acute care and swing bed hospital unit, and in an outpatient clinic. During this time, she specialized in cognitive-linguistic disorders, swallowing disorders, and aural rehab. After two years, Haylyn transitioned to working for Easterseals of the Birmingham area where she served the Alabaster City School system’s middle school and high school, the Warrior Center, and Project Search - a program that prepared new high school graduates for the workforce. Haylyn later moved to the Easterseals pediatric outpatient clinic and served children of all ages, most often assessing and treating nonverbal toddlers and preschoolers. Currently, Haylyn works for Discovery Speech Therapy (DST) in Tuscaloosa--a private practice in affiliation with Easterseals of West Alabama. This work has given Haylyn the opportunity to expand her knowledge of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. Haylyn also provides teletherapy during the school year as a private contractor for Presence, aka Presence Learning. Using technology meant to “enhance human connections,” she virtually treats students in the home-school setting and brick and mortar school setting. Haylyn lives in Tuscaloosa with her husband and two daughters. Her second "job" as a parent has in many ways inspired her drive to discuss the topic of sympathy and empathy with her SLP peers, as is her own childhood memories of suffering from a severe phonological disorder.

Magical Morphemes

Melissa Pouncey, Prior to joining PRC- Saltillo as a Consultant in 2023, Melissa worked for United Ability in Birmingham for 13 years, where she worked in outpatient providing AAC intervention and evaluations, early intervention, and preschool programs. Melissa also worked as a LAMP Trainer through the Center for AAC and Autism, and through this role loved seeing the beautiful work happening across the country. She has served on teams that provided therapy intervention and caregiver training in orphanages in China through a program called unadopted. To Melissa, working as an SLP and now a Consultant, is a way to continue to spread light and joy in her community.

Let's talk about TEXT, baby!

Tiffani Powell, M.S.,CCC-SLP is an AAC Solutions Consultant for Tobii Dynavox with 12 years experience as a Speech Language Pathologist in multiple settings. With a clinical background in child and adult populations, she is currently enjoying working with AAC across the lifespan. Tiffani is driven by relationships and connection. The desire to see everyone flourish with the gift of communication- which is the core of all relationships- fuels her to consistently engage with assistive technology in creative ways.

The Role of the SLP as part of the interdisciplinary team in skilled nursing faciliies.

Ashleigh Pristas, MS CCC SLP, PNAP, currently serves as Regional Director of Clinical Services for Restore Therapy, providing clinical support, training, and education for South Alabama, Missouri, and Arkansas. Ashleigh received her Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in Communication Disorders in 2002 and received her Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in 2004. She has been an SLP for 18 years and has been employed with Restore Therapy for the last 12 years. She has experience in acute care, LTACH, and SNF settings. She currently holds licenses in the States of Alabama and Florida and holds her certificate of clinical competency from the American Speech and Hearing Association. Ashleigh was inducted as a professional member of the National Academies of Practice – Speech Language Pathology Academy in 2022 and serves on the Public Policy and Regulatory Committee. Ashleigh is also a member of ASHA and the Florida Speech and Hearing Association. She was selected for Advion’s 2019 Inaugural Emerging Leader Class and is an active member of the Advion IT committee. She serves as a domain expert on the SPLASCH use case within the PACIO project to develop an implementation guide for Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource APIs that will exchange clinical data throughout post-acute care to include information usually captured by Speech Language Pathologists. She helped create and formalize initial project scope statement to allow for sponsoring work groups within HL7 to support the SPLASCH use case and continues to provide ongoing development input and support for interoperability. She is a four-time recipient of ASHA’s ACE award for continuing education and has provided trainings and CEU opportunities for Restore and its partners.

Integrating Effective Autism Practices into Community Early Intervention Settings

Pamela Ramsey, M.C.D., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 35 years of experience. She graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Education in Speech Language Pathology and a Master of Communications Disorders. She served as a speech pathologist in the public-school setting for 25 years. The focus of those years was identifying, evaluating, and serving children ages 3 to 6 years of age following the Alabama Administrative Code. She assisted in establishing the HAPIE Program (Helping Auburn Preschoolers – Intervening Early) for Auburn City Schools. While in that role, she was the liaison between the Auburn Autism Center, the Little Tree and the HAPIE Program. During her tenure with Auburn City Schools, she served as the technology coordinator for the Auburn Early Education Center. Currently, she serves as a Speech-Language Pathologist in a variety of counties for Alabama’s Early Intervention System. She recently became an Autism Mentor through the Part C: Autism Initiative Project and organizes, conducts, and speaks at learning collaboratives statewide.

You've Almost Earned Your Degree! What's Next? Preparing for Your Future as an SLP!

Mary Ray-Allen , M.Ed., CCC/SLP received her BS in Education from The University of Georgia in 1993 and her master’s degree from Valdosta State University in 1995. Her clinical area of expertise is in adult neurogenic communicative disorders. She served as the Clinic Director of The University of Alabama Speech and Hearing Center for 6 years, 2016-2021, overseeing the day-to-day operations and clinical training experiences for graduate and undergraduate CD students. Prior to this, Mary was instrumental in establishing the Adult Neuro Clinic at The University of Alabama Speech and Hearing Center, which is a thriving adult program, serving clients with strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and progressive neurological diseases. With 28 years of clinical experience, her interests include language interventions in adults with aphasia and related disorders, psychosocial/functional approaches to intervention, and the effectiveness of social approaches to aphasia intervention. Currently, Mary is the director of the grant-funded project, Bama Perks, a simulated coffee shop that is housed within The UA Speech and Hearing Center that offers a unique social environment for individuals with aphasia to practice and enhance their communication skills. The project was highlighted in The ASHA Leader Academic Edge article, Bama Perks: Beats Aphasia One Sip at a Time, March 2017 issue. Additionally, Mary shared this innovative treatment approach with the Aphasia Access Podcast series, Cups of Confidence, in May of 2019. Bama Perks has received national attention with many university programs aiming to create this unique supplemental treatment in their centers. Mary also has clinical experience working with individuals with dementia and other memory disorders. Mary helped to establish a community service-learning project with Caring Days of Tuscaloosa, an adult day-program for persons with dementia. The project aims are to provide programming for the attendees at Caring Days focusing on socialization, communication, and engagement, clinical training for students, and routine in-services for the administration and client care specialists at Caring Days. Mary has been committed to this partnership with Caring Days for 10+ years.

Public Health Perspectives on Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

Nicholas S. Reed, AuD PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a joint appointment in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Audiology) at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He received his clinical doctorate in audiology from Towson University, completed his audiology clinical fellowship at Georgetown University Hospital and received his research doctorate from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is the director of the Audiology Core at the Johns Hopkins Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, where he oversees the integration and management of hearing measures into multiple large epidemiologic cohort studies and clinical trials. His research focuses on the association of hearing loss among older adults and healthy aging outcomes including cognitive decline and health resource utilization, the impact of hearing intervention on health outcomes, and novel models of hearing care delivery. He was awarded the Early Career Research Award in 2021 from the American Auditory Society.

ENT and Audiology Partnership at COA

Philip Rosen, MD, is a fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist at Children's of Alabama. I have been working with Children's since the fall of 2022 as a fully trained surgeon but completed my residency and fellowship training here in Birmingham with UAB and COA. I spent one year working in Indianapolis, IN at Riley Children's Hospital before returning to Birmingham. While I treat most areas of pediatric otolaryngology, I have a special interest in pediatric hearing loss and ear disease. This includes from simple middle ear disease intervention with ear tube placement up to surgical hearing rehabilitation with cochlear implantation.

Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Essential Practices for Improving Outcomes for the D/HH child on your caseload

Candace Scearce, M.S., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVEd is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Listening and Spoken Language Specialist. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of West Georgia and her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. This is Candace's 20th year in the field and she has worked in private and public schools in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama before she began serving deaf and hard of hearing students at the Alabama School for the Deaf. She is currently serving preschool and kindergarten students as the full-time SLP and Listening and Spoken Language Specialist in the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind’s Listening and Spoken Language Program at ASD.

Preparing the Future of our Profession through Clinical Education

Sara Shirley, MS, CCC-SLP, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and her Master of Science degree from The University of Alabama. She is a speech-language pathologist, and she specializes in the area of acquired neurogenic cognitive-communicative disorders. Sara began her career by working as a speech-language pathologist in skilled nursing facilities and hospitals across West Alabama. She served as an off-campus supervisor for graduate student clinicians while working in these various medical facilities, and she joined the faculty of The University of Alabama Department of Communicative Disorders in 2016. She currently serves as a clinical educator and instructor for the department. As a clinical educator, she supervises graduate and undergraduate student clinicians as they provide individual and group therapy services to adults with cognitive-communicative changes following medical events such as strokes and traumatic brain injuries.

Understanding Congenital Cytomegalovirus to Connect the dots, Create a shared mental model, and engage in interprofessional Collaboration.

Angela Shoup, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders and a professor in the department of Speech, Language and Hearing, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas. She also has an appointment as clinical professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Shoup has published articles and textbook chapters on audiologic procedures, implantable auditory devices, newborn hearing screening and congenital cytomegalovirus. She has been an invited speaker at national and international meetings. She served as president of the American Academy of Audiology, Texas Academy of Audiology, chair of the Ethical Practices Committee for the American Academy of Audiology, and chair of the American Academy of Audiology Foundation Board of Trustees. Among other professional activities, she is currently Chair of the Audiology Academy of the National Academies of Practice and a member of the NAP leadership council, chair of the Guidelines and Strategic Documents Committee for the American Academy of Audiology and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the National CMV Foundation.

Components of Successful Dysphagia Intervention for the SLP in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Setting

Misty M. Sloan M.S., CCC-SLP-endoscopist, earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Alabama in 1998 and has been practicing as a medical Speech Language Pathologist with Restore Therapy for 25 years. She trained as an endoscopist and has been providing Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) for the last 17 years with Restore Therapy. She currently provides FEES for approximately 15 SNFs in central Alabama. Misty has advanced training in vital stim certification and is a member of American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). She has numerous years of experience with supervision of clinical fellowships and students.

Co-Treating Hits the SPOT

Julie Smith OTR/L is a licensed, certified Occupational Therapist with 40 years of experience working in acute care, rehabilitation, and pediatrics. Julie attended the University of Alabama for her pre-requisites and received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Julie is licensed by the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy and is certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Julie began her career as an Occupational Therapist in an acute care hospital, where she worked with patients recovering from a variety of injuries and illnesses. Julie then transitioned to a rehabilitation setting, where she helped patients prepare for their return to the community. Over the past 25 years, Julie has worked exclusively in school systems in Hoover, Shelby County and Bessemer. Julie has worked with children of all ages from preschool to high school, and she addresses a wide range of occupational therapy needs, including fine motor skills, gross motor skills, visual motor skills, sensory processing, handwriting and executive functioning skills. Julie currently works at Deer Valley Elementary School in Hoover, Alabama, where she is dedicated to help children of all abilities reach their full potential. She has a passion to develop each child’s unique gifts and abilities. Outside of work, Julie is an active member of her community. She volunteers for the Miracle League in Hoover, at Unless U in Vestavia and is actively involved in her church. She is also certified by the Alabama Baptist Association to care for children in foster care. In her spare time, Julie spends time with family and friends hiking, playing pickleball, and playing board games. But her favorite pastime is spending time with her six grandchildren!

Collaborative Goal Writing with Person with Aphasia

Kimberly G. Smith, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an associate professor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of South Alabama. Her research investigates speech and language processing in neurotypical adults and persons with aphasia, particularly related to reading and processing of multimodal stimuli. She is also interested in person-centered assessment and treatment, as well as the quality of life of persons with aphasia.

Let’s Talk About TEXT, Baby!

Elizabeth Stewart, Ph.D., ATP, serves as an assistive technology specialist at United Ability and APT AT (Accessing Potential Through Assistive Technology). Her passion for education extends to her roles as an adjunct instructor at both the University of West Georgia and the University of Alabama, where she shares her knowledge in special education and assistive technology. Elizabeth has also contributed her expertise as a solutions consultant for Tobii Dynavox and as a special education teacher at Homewood City Schools.

Everything you wanted to know about AAC in School

Sara Stewart is a Speech Language Pathologist who has worked in the school setting for 13 years. She has worked in preschool through high school settings. She currently works in Shelby County Schools at Oak Mountain Middle School. She is also the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Consultant and Assistive Technology Consultant for Shelby County. She is a LAMP Certified Professional and a National Board Certified Teacher who has a passion for helping students tap into their potential through AAC.

Dysphagia in the Head & Neck Cancer Population: A Case-Based Approach

Caitlin Stone, MCD, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist at The University of Alabama at Birmingham in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Hearing and Speech. She attended Auburn University and graduated in 2008 with her Master of Communication Disorders degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In her early career, she gained experience in a variety of settings including skilled nursing and rehab, LTAC, home health, and acute care. She joined the UAB Department of Otolaryngology in 2017 where her primary focus is on speech, swallowing, and voice intervention and rehabilitation related to head and neck cancer and/or surgery.

Preparing the Future of our Profession through Clinical Education

DeLaine Stricklin, M.S. CCC-SLP joined The University of Alabaman Communicative Disorders Department in 2010 as a clinical educator and instructor. She completed her graduate studies at the University of Southern Mississippi. She has over 42 years of experience working as an SLP and a Clinical Educator in a variety of settings that include schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practice before coming to the university setting. Her current primary clinical focus is language and literacy disorders, including dyslexia. DeLaine’s training includes Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS)®, Wilson Language Training®, Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Training through the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) and she holds certification in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling – Elementary and Early Childhood (LETRS-E, LETRS-EC), a structured literacy approach endorsed by the Alabama Reading Initiative through the Alabama State Department of Education. She is the founder of The University of Alabama Language and Literacy Lab Program.

Dysphagia in the Head & Neck Cancer Population: A Case-Based Approach

Duane Trahan, MS, CCC-SLP has extensive experience related to swallowing & communication disorders in various settings (including skilled nursing facilities, in-patient rehabilitation, acute care setting, and outpatient setting) with a heterogeneous population as well as healthcare leadership. His specialty areas are in evaluation and intervention/rehabilitation for adult oropharyngeal & esophageal dysphagia as well as in the care for the head & neck cancer/surgery population regarding swallowing disorders, communication, and facial palsy intervention. He is the former Speech Pathology Clinical Specialist at UAB Medicine and now Lead speech pathologist within the Department of Otolaryngology. He is a co-founder and primary therapist of the UAB Facial Nerve Multidisciplinary Clinic. He has performed numerous in-services and presentations related to swallowing and communication with wide range of medical professionals including physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing, and other therapy disciplines with a large emphasis on endoscopy and fluoroscopy. He has been recognized for his clinical contributions, being awarded the “Distinguished Clinical Achievement Award” by the Speech Hearing Association of Alabama in 2023. His research areas are focused on outcome and quality of life measures related to swallowing, head and neck cancers, and facial nerve deficits.

Treating Hearing Loss in Adults: A Continuum of Care

Ellison Uzzell, AuD, is the Clinical Territory Manager for Cochlear Americas and covers Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. She graduated from Auburn University with her AuD in 2010 and worked in a variety of ENT settings until she began working for Cochlear in April 2022. Ellison supports audiologists and surgeons with clinical and surgical needs within Cochlear's full product portfolio. She resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and has three children, ages 10 and 6.

Mental and social well-being in children who use cochlear implants

Dr. Andrea Warner-Czyz, Ph.D., CCC-A, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas. Her research investigates communication and quality of life in children and adolescents who are deaf/hard of hearing and use cochlear implants. Her primary professional goal centers on a whole-person approach, drawing on speech-language pathology, psychology, and audiology, to develop data-driven recommendations to improve social well-being in patients who are deaf/hard of hearing.

Evidence-Based Practice and Screening Solutions for Adult Auditory Processing Deficits

Aurora J. Weaver, Ph.D., Au.D. is an Associate Professor at the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She received both her Bachelor's degree in Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences, her clinical doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.), and Ph.D. in Hearing Science from Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio. As the Lead Researcher in the Auditory and Music Perception Lab, I investigate developmental Psychoacoustics, Fundamental Central Auditory Processes, Diagnostic Audiology, and Auditory Benefits of Auditory (and musical instruction). Dr. Weaver teaches coursework that includes: medical aspects of Hearing disorders, diagnostic audiology, outcome measures in audiology, professional issues in Audiology, advanced amplification, and Audiology grand rounds: pharmacology.

Improving Early Detection of Autism with an Eye toward Infancy

Autism Navigator Early Social Interaction Model: Coaching Families of Young Children in their Everyday Activities

Amy M. Wetherby, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Director of the Autism Institute in the Florida State University College of Medicine and the Laurel Schendel Professor of Communication Disorders. She has over 45 years of clinical experience with Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Her research has focused on improving early detection of autism and communication disorders and providing community-viable evidence-based early intervention for toddlers with autism and their families. She is the Executive Director of the Florida State University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. She served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee for Educational Interventions for Children with Autism and on the DSM-5 Neurodevelopmental Workgroup of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Wetherby is Director of the FIRST WORDS Project, a longitudinal research investigation on early detection of ASD and other communication disorders, funded by the US DOE/OSEP, NIDCD, CDC and NICHD. She has been Co-PI on several randomized clinical trials, including the Early Social Interaction Project, an early treatment study to teach parents of toddlers with ASD how to support social communication in everyday activities funded by Autism Speaks and NIMH. She was Co-PI on a multisite health services grant funded by NIMH using Autism Navigator® for Primary Care with an automated screening tool, the “Smart” Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorder (ESAC), and its companion Baby Navigator, developed by the FSU Autism Institute, which will have important implications for mobilizing communities to improve family action, participation, and engagement in early screening and diagnosis of ASD and entry into early intervention. She was PI on an Autism Center of Excellence Network—the ACE ACTION Network, that has blended clinical effectiveness and implementation research designs to study individual and combined effects of 2 evidence-based interventions in real world settings. She is PI on a new collaborative research project to implement an effectiveness randomized clinical trial of Mobile Coaching with the ESI model for parents of toddlers with ASD identified at 18 months. The overarching goal of the collective efforts of her research is to build the capacity of healthcare systems to improve early detection and provide access to cost-efficient early intervention that is feasible for far-reaching community implementation.

Components of Successful Dysphagia Intervention for the SLP in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Setting

Sushannah White, M.S., CCC-SLP-Endoscopist, earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Alabama in 2008 and has been practicing as a medical Speech Language Pathologist with Restore Therapy for 14 years. She has been a provider of Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) for the last 7 years with Restore Therapy Services throughout Alabama. Sushannah has advanced training in Vital Stim certification and is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She has mentored 15 clinical fellows throughout their clinical fellowship year.

The Importance of Partnership Between ENT and Audiology for Pediatric Populations

Hannah Widner, AuD, CCC-A is a pediatric audiologist at Children’s of Alabama. She received her undergraduate degree from The University of Tennessee and her clinical Doctor of Audiology degree from The University of Memphis. Before joining Children’s of Alabama, she worked at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and as an educational audiologist serving multiple school districts in southwest Ohio.

Sound Evidence: Assessment and Treatment of SSD in Children

A. Lynn Williams, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL is Interim Dean in the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences at East Tennessee State University and Professor in the Department of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology and was an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney, Australia (2015-2018). Dr. Williams is a clinical scientist with interests in models of assessment and intervention of communication disorders in children, primarily with children with speech sound disorders who are highly unintelligible. She is the author of the Sound Contrasts in Phonology (SCIP) app that was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to facilitate speech-language pathologists’ implementation of evidence-based contrastive models of phonological intervention. As an international expert on intervention for speech sound disorders in children, her research has been funded through NIH. Dr. Williams has a strong track record of over 200 publications (books, book chapters, peer reviewed articles) and presentations and three textbooks. She is currently the Vice President of the National Academies of Practice and served as the 2021 President of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), which is one of the 10 largest professional or trade associations in the U.S. with over 232,000 members. Dr. Williams is an ASHA Fellow, a member of the West Virginia University College of Human Resources and Education Hall of Fame, an Erskine Fellow at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, and is a 2023 recipient of the Honors of ASHA.

Creating a Culture of Equity and Access: Culturally Responsive Speech and Language Services for Young Learners with Complex Communication Needs

Tonya Williams-Walker, M.A., CCC-SLP is the coordinator of the Up County Early Childhood Center, a pre-k inclusion model program in the Division of Early Childhood for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. She provides educational leadership that promotes culturally responsive teaching practices and making learning accessible to under-resourced communities, disabled children, and English language learners. She is a Maryland Pyramid Model Master Cadre member, supporting the implementation of the Pyramid Model Framework, an approach that integrates culturally responsive practices to promote social-emotional learning in young children. Mrs. Williams-Walker, a speech pathologist and assistive technology consultant, is also an adjunct professor in the Hearing and Speech Sciences Department at the University of Maryland at College Park, where she teaches the graduate course in Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Speech and Language Development in Children as part of the Hearing and Speech Sciences in the Evening (HESPIE) program.

Dysphagia in the Head & Neck Cancer Population: A Case-Based Approach

Demystifying Voice Therapy

Jacob Wright, MM, MA, CF-SLP is currently employed at the UAB Voice Center specializing in the evaluation and treatment of voice and upper airway disorders and gender-affirming voice care. Holding advanced degrees in singing, Jacob brings a long performance career in classical music and musical theatre to his work with performing voice and gender-affirming voice care. Jacob has presented at local, regional, and national conventions in the areas of gender-affirming voice, vocal health for performing voice, voice and upper airway disorders, and diversity in the speech and hearing professions. Jacob completed the MA in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan, and the Professional Artist Certificate at the AJ Fletcher Opera Institute.

Exploring Infant Vocal Development: Early Intervention and Early Markers for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Hyunjoo Yoo, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders at the University of Alabama. She has a broad background in psychology and communication sciences and disorders, with specific training and expertise in early vocal development and caregiver-infant interaction. Her interests also encompass conversational turn-taking, autism, and multicultural issues in communication.

Components of Successful Dysphagia Intervention for the SLP in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Setting

Jasmine E. Young, DrPH, CCC-SLP, is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and has spent the last 19 years in practice as a medical speech-language pathologist. Jasmine is a proud Alabama A&M University Bulldog where she earned her Bachelor's of Science and Master's of Science degrees in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. After graduating, she began working with Restore Therapy Services and maximized all opportunities that were afforded to her. Jasmine has served a variety of populations from pediatric to adult clients, and she has experiences in different settings, such as skilled nursing facilities, acute care, outpatient, university teaching and university clinic. She currently works as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Endoscopist for Restore Therapy Services where she provides the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) instrumental swallowing assessment to skilled nursing facilities and outpatient clinics in North Alabama. Jasmine has an earned clinical doctorate in Public Health from Capella University where her research focused on the bedside dysphagia evaluation practices during COVID-19.