[Podcourse] Built to Win: INTRODUCING AAC WITH EVIDENCE-BASED COACHING STRATEGIES

In this podcourse episode, we welcome back Daj Mitchell to discuss evidence-based caregiver coaching strategies for AAC. Daj explains Andragogy (Malcolm Knowles), including adult learning assumptions (autonomy, experience, relevance, internal motivation, problem-solving) and principles such as involving adults in planning, using their experience, and clarifying end goals, with examples like collaboratively setting up device charging routines. She also shares a visual “stair-step” AAC acceptance/buy-in journey, from unaware to curious/cautious to open/overwhelmed to motivated/needing structure, with possible advocacy, and discusses its dynamic nature and potential research applications. Evidence-based coaching strategies highlighted include joint planning, observation, action/practice, reflection, and feedback, with practical adaptations for school, EI, and other settings using consult time, video modeling, and the SET Framework.

In this podcourse episode, Sophie Anais Renoir returns, a Speech-Language Pathologist who has advocated for early intervention and New York’s consumer-directed patient assistance program (CDPAP). Sophie explains how clinician self-advocacy influences patient outcomes and family trust, emphasizing collective action and alliances with families. She describes major early intervention barriers including low reimbursement, lack of providers, long service delays, inadequate mileage/supplies/PPE support, safety risks in home-based care, limited multilingual clinicians, and inequitable access for low-income and immigrant families; she notes New York’s crisis, telehealth reimbursement cuts, and proposed but limited fixes such as reimbursement increases, SLPAs, and loan programs. Reforms include centering disabled individuals’ voices and recognizing early support reduces later costs. Strategies include using ethics guidance, educating families on rights/resources, joining professional associations, collaborating locally with colleagues and officials, framing advocacy as organizational benefit, mentoring, and protecting mental health while staying informed.

In this podcourse episode, we welcome back Pediatric SLP Rachel May, founder and CEO of New Day Child Coaching, to discuss reframing SLP involvement in infancy (0–12 months) from a “wait and see” approach to proactive “watch and support” partnering with families. Rachel shares concerns about fragmented caregiver-child interaction, screen-related distractions, and late referrals, and proposes a Pathwise framework that moves beyond a binary “typical vs delayed” model to include “different,” with three support levels: watch/support, learn to support (coaching), and advocate for support (prescriptive therapy). They review early communication “breaks” to monitor in 6–9 months, including canonical babbling, joint attention/gaze following, and social engagement in interactive games like peekaboo, noting why these markers matter for later language and developmental outcomes. Rachel also outlines family-partnering strategies such as embedded coaching in daily routines and video-aided reflection to empower parents as primary observers and advocates.

In this podcourse episode, we are joined by Elise Mitchell, an SLP and school contracting consultant, about moving from burnout to renewed purpose through school contracting. Elise shares her background working with a staffing agency at the executive level, consulting provider-run businesses on school contracting, hosting the Beyond the Big Agencies podcast, and founding the Therapist Support Network to support SLPs, OTs, PTs, and assistants in building sustainable school-based work through direct contracting with an emphasis on ethical growth, pricing, compliant contracts, and autonomy. We discuss why burnout persists among school-based SLPs, emphasizing that caseload size alone does not explain workload and that research and clinician reports point to reduced autonomy, limited control over setting/caseload/workload, and feelings of ineffectiveness and being overextended. Elise describes how contracting can feel different by creating a business-to-business relationship where clinicians can set contractual boundaries around caseload, schedule, availability, group size (including virtual group limits), and billable tasks (including paperwork), while still adhering to legal and compliance requirements. Contracting can also allow clinicians to choose schools that align with their values (e.g., rural districts), establish clearer scope-of-work boundaries, and exit contracts more easily via notice terms; they note some states favor short-term contracts such as maternity/FMLA coverage.We explore how contracting can help clinicians reconnect with meaningful work by reducing non-therapy duties, focusing on student impact, restoring professional autonomy, and enabling rate-setting beyond teacher pay scales. We also define autonomy in practical terms—control over schedule/time, rate, student population, and the type of work performed (e.g., supervision/evaluations only vs. direct treatment only). And also discuss trends such as easier recruiting for virtual roles, challenges sustaining virtual work long-term, and barriers like facilitator requirements.

This episode discusses the significance of understanding and leveraging personal values through a strengths-based profile, and how these principles guided can guide you in creating a value-based vision board for 2026. It includes overcoming professional obstacles, making tough business decisions, and maintaining a balance between personal life and business ambitions. Tune in for tips on aligning your goals with your values and setting realistic, attainable targets for the year.

In this podcourse episode, Dr. Tara McAllister, an Associate Professor at NYU, discusses the impact of biofeedback on speech therapy, particularly for children struggling with the /r/ sound. She explains key findings from a recent randomized controlled trial, highlighting how biofeedback can enhance speech learning. Dr. McAllister also introduces the staRt app, designed to make biofeedback more accessible and affordable for clinicians. The conversation delves into the ongoing debate between motor control and phonological explanations for children's speech patterns, advocating for a balanced understanding of both factors. Additionally, Dr. McAllister shares her research on expanding biofeedback to other speech sounds and the potential of AI in supporting speech therapy.

In this podcourse episode, we interview Dr. Genesis Arizmendi about flipping the traditional script on bilingual assessment and practice. Dr. Arizmendi introduces FLiP (Functional Language Proficiency), a methodology she developed to better capture bilingual children's communicative competences in real-world contexts. She shares her background and journey in speech-language pathology, bilingual education, and implementation science. The discussion delves into the key features of the FLiP methodology, its design, and the study's conclusions, highlighting how FLiP can inform culturally responsive practices and reduce misdiagnosis of bilingually developing students. Dr. Arizmendi also emphasizes the need for more asset-based frameworks in assessment and the importance of understanding bilingualism as a resource rather than a risk factor. Key takeaways include the practical applications of the FLiP task in various settings and the ongoing work to make it more accessible to practitioners.

In this podcourse episode, we interview Alice Williams, an experienced Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) and entrepreneur, about the challenges and opportunities within the SLPA field. The discussion covers ethical challenges faced by SLPAs, the importance of proper supervision, and the mutual benefits of collaboration between SLPs and SLPAs. Alice shares her journey into speech pathology, the founding of the SLPA Network, and her vision for a more unified and empowered SLPA profession. She also sheds light on the disparities in SLPA certification and the need for better educational and professional support. This episode is a deep dive into the evolving landscape of the SLPA role, aimed at fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for all speech-language pathology professionals.

In this podcourse episode, we celebrate the show's 10th anniversary by welcoming back Amy Graham from Graham Speech Therapy as we explore the relationship between oral facial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) and speech sound disorders (SSDs). Amy offers insights from her 25 years of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist, discussing the importance of differential diagnosis, evidence-based practices for treating SSDs, and debunking myths about the effectiveness of OMD therapy in treating speech issues. This comprehensive discussion includes practical advice for SLPs, highlights from Amy's extensive career, and specific strategies to improve speech therapy outcomes.

In this podcourse episode, we welcome back Dr. Olivia Jensen, one of the most popular guests ever on the show. We celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Speechie Side Up with an in-depth discussion about evolving as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) over the past decade. Dr. Jensen shares her journey from hands-on clinical work to a successful career in content creation while balancing life as a mother of three. Listeners will learn strategies for maintaining a sustainable work-life balance, the importance of self-compassion, and setting effective boundaries. Dr. Jensen also shares resources for SLPs considering career pivots and emphasizes the importance of community and peer support.Register ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to earn ASHA CEUs and visit Speechie Side Up to learn more about this episode.