In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Kylie Helm — school SLP, private practice owner, and PhD student who’s doing the research we all desperately need. Kylie shares how growing up low-SES herself and then working in a Title I school opened her eyes to the massive disconnect between what grad school teaches us and what these kids actually need. She gets real about the dangerous assumptions SLPs make (spoiler: poverty ≠ language disorder), why standardized vocabulary tests are basically useless for this population, and how syntax is actually the diagnostic hero we’ve been ignoring. If you’ve ever felt pressured to qualify a student just because they’re from a low-income family or wondered how to write a report that says “they bombed the test but don’t need services,” this conversation is packed with research-backed truth bombs and practical ways to do better. Bullet Points to Discuss: <ul><li>The myth that every low-SES kid has “bad language” and automatically needs services</li><li>Why we need to stop using vocabulary scores as our diagnostic smoking gun</li><li>Language samples and test-teach-retest: where the real answers actually live</li><li>How to tell teachers the difference between functional communication gaps and academic language concerns</li><li>When low vocabulary + low syntax = actual red flag vs. just environmental difference</li></ul> Here’s what we learned: <ul><li>Stop assuming multilingual + immigrant + low-SES + busy parents = needs speech therapy.</li><li>Syntax is ability-based, vocabulary is environment-based—that changes everything about diagnosis.</li><li>Dynamic assessment (test-teach-retest) shows learning ability, not just current knowledge.</li><li>Strong syntax + weak vocabulary? Probably environmental. Weak syntax + weak vocabulary? Now we’re concerned.</li><li>Teachers need to step outside their comfort zone too—it’s not all on us to adapt.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​</li></ul> Learn more about Kylie Helm:   Instagram: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/kylietheslp'>https://www.instagram.com/kylietheslp</a>Study: <a href='https://pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.1044/2024_PERSP-23-00299'>https://pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.1044/2024_PERSP-23-00299</a> <a href='https://products.brookespublishing.com/Developing-Cross-Cultural-Competence-P138.aspx'>Developing Cross-Cultural Competence</a> Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  📝 Website: <a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'>https://speechtimefun.com/</a> 🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup</a> 📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book</a> Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! <a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets">https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Kylie Helm — school SLP, private practice owner, and PhD student who’s doing the research we all desperately need. Kylie shares how growing up low-SES herself and then working in a Title I school opened her eyes to the massive disconnect between what grad school teaches us and what these kids actually need. She gets real about the dangerous assumptions SLPs make (spoiler: poverty ≠ language disorder), why standardized vocabulary tests are basically useless for this population, and how syntax is actually the diagnostic hero we’ve been ignoring. If you’ve ever felt pressured to qualify a student just because they’re from a low-income family or wondered how to write a report that says “they bombed the test but don’t need services,” this conversation is packed with research-backed truth bombs and practical ways to do better.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bullet Points to Discuss: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The myth that every low-SES kid has “bad language” and automatically needs services&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why we need to stop using vocabulary scores as our diagnostic smoking gun&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Language samples and test-teach-retest: where the real answers actually live&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to tell teachers the difference between functional communication gaps and academic language concerns&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;When low vocabulary + low syntax = actual red flag vs. just environmental difference&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here’s what we learned: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Stop assuming multilingual + immigrant + low-SES + busy parents = needs speech therapy.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Syntax is ability-based, vocabulary is environment-based—that changes everything about diagnosis.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dynamic assessment (test-teach-retest) shows learning ability, not just current knowledge.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Strong syntax + weak vocabulary? Probably environmental. Weak syntax + weak vocabulary? Now we’re concerned.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Teachers need to step outside their comfort zone too—it’s not all on us to adapt.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more about Kylie Helm:  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/kylietheslp'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/kylietheslp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Study: &lt;a href='https://pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.1044/2024_PERSP-23-00299'&gt;https://pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.1044/2024_PERSP-23-00299&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://products.brookespublishing.com/Developing-Cross-Cultural-Competence-P138.aspx'&gt;Developing Cross-Cultural Competence&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📝 Website: &lt;a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! &lt;a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets"&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Kylie Helm — school SLP, private practice owner, and PhD student who’s doing the research we all desperately need. Kylie shares how growing up low-SES herself and then working in a Title I school opened her eyes to the massive disconnect between what grad school teaches us and what these kids actually need. She gets real about the dangerous assumptions SLPs make (spoiler: poverty ≠ language disorder), why standardized vocabulary tests ...

Beyond the Myth: Socioeconomic Status and Language Development

Hallie chats with Colleen Ashford of Ashford Speech and Advocacy P.C. about navigating transition process from an IFSP to IEP.In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Colleen Ashford — bilingual SLP, private practice owner, and the special education advocate we all need. Colleen shares how she went from planning to be a school SLP forever to accidentally falling in love with advocacy work when families kept asking her IEP questions she couldn’t half-answer. She gets real about taking a special education law course on Saturdays, why we need to stop treating parent rights like secret information, and how she now runs her own practice doing both speech therapy and advocacy. If you’ve ever felt stuck answering parent questions or wondered how to actually support families navigating the IEP maze, this conversation is packed with real talk and “yes, you can totally do this” energy.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Bullet Points to Discuss: <ul><li>Why families in private practice were totally lost about basic IEP stuff</li><li>The difference between school speech services and what happens in clinics</li><li>Why SLPs need to stop being scared of “getting in trouble” for educating parents</li><li>Parent education vs. parent advocacy—and when it becomes a whole new service</li><li>When to hand families a community resource list (and how to build one that actually helps)</li></ul> Here’s what we learned: <ul><li>You’ll never get in trouble for objectively explaining educational rights to families.</li><li>IEP meetings are collaborative—not presentations parents just stamp “yes” on.</li><li>Early intervention families need extra support understanding what happens at age three.</li><li>Translation services aren’t optional—parents have the right to understand in their native language.</li><li>Building a resource list takes time, but tackle it during cancellations and it’s golden.</li><li>Parent education is valuable, billable work—don’t downplay what you know.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​</li></ul> Learn more about Colleen Ashford: Website: <a href='http://www.ashfordspeechandadvocacy.com'>www.ashfordspeechandadvocacy.com</a> Instagram: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/theadvocate.slp'>https://www.instagram.com/theadvocate.slp</a> Unfiltered IEPs: <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unfiltered-ieps/id18269'>Apple</a> | <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/3BLdDtgF8xQjaNM9sM0qfn?si=ct3ExRbmSc6tYxtX_phumA&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadAzTxNdTCVKKdATnxeEUT1VsX2GQa6mcOI1XiHMFtmGLAZM2Mro8qQh7MInw_aem_GbyujFJwSUAU1OvJimjuWA32663'>Spotify</a> Right to Translation Freebie: <a href='https://theadvocateslp.myflodesk.com/kp4nh8184r'>https://theadvocateslp.myflodesk.com/kp4nh8184r</a>  Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  📝 Website: <a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'>https://speechtimefun.com/</a>🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup</a>📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book</a> Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! <a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets">https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Hallie chats with Colleen Ashford of Ashford Speech and Advocacy P.C. about navigating transition process from an IFSP to IEP.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of &lt;em&gt;SLP Coffee Talk&lt;/em&gt;, Hallie sits down with Colleen Ashford — bilingual SLP, private practice owner, and the special education advocate we all need. Colleen shares how she went from planning to be a school SLP forever to accidentally falling in love with advocacy work when families kept asking her IEP questions she couldn’t half-answer. She gets real about taking a special education law course on Saturdays, why we need to stop treating parent rights like secret information, and how she now runs her own practice doing both speech therapy and advocacy. If you’ve ever felt stuck answering parent questions or wondered how to actually support families navigating the IEP maze, this conversation is packed with real talk and “yes, you can totally do this” energy.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Bullet Points to Discuss: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why families in private practice were totally lost about basic IEP stuff&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The difference between school speech services and what happens in clinics&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why SLPs need to stop being scared of “getting in trouble” for educating parents&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Parent education vs. parent advocacy—and when it becomes a whole new service&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;When to hand families a community resource list (and how to build one that actually helps)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Here’s what we learned: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;You’ll never get in trouble for objectively explaining educational rights to families.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;IEP meetings are collaborative—not presentations parents just stamp “yes” on.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Early intervention families need extra support understanding what happens at age three.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Translation services aren’t optional—parents have the right to understand in their native language.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Building a resource list takes time, but tackle it during cancellations and it’s golden.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Parent education is valuable, billable work—don’t downplay what you know.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Learn more about Colleen Ashford: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Website: &lt;a href='http://www.ashfordspeechandadvocacy.com'&gt;www.ashfordspeechandadvocacy.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/theadvocate.slp'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/theadvocate.slp&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Unfiltered IEPs: &lt;a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unfiltered-ieps/id18269'&gt;Apple&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/3BLdDtgF8xQjaNM9sM0qfn?si=ct3ExRbmSc6tYxtX_phumA&amp;amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadAzTxNdTCVKKdATnxeEUT1VsX2GQa6mcOI1XiHMFtmGLAZM2Mro8qQh7MInw_aem_GbyujFJwSUAU1OvJimjuWA32663'&gt;Spotify&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Right to Translation Freebie: &lt;a href='https://theadvocateslp.myflodesk.com/kp4nh8184r'&gt;https://theadvocateslp.myflodesk.com/kp4nh8184r&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📝 Website: &lt;a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! &lt;a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets"&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Hallie chats with Colleen Ashford of Ashford Speech and Advocacy P.C. about navigating transition process from an IFSP to IEP. In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Colleen Ashford — bilingual SLP, private practice owner, and the special education advocate we all need. Colleen shares how she went from planning to be a school SLP forever to accidentally falling in love with advocacy work when families kept asking her IEP questions she couldn’t half-answer. She gets real abo...

Helping Families Navigate the IFSP to IEP Transition at 3

Hallie chats with Luba about how to help parents navigate IEP meetings.In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Luba — SLP, bilingual private practice founder, and the brain behind Kidology and The Confident IEP Parent. They dive into the real challenges parents face when navigating IEPs, why so many feel lost (and sometimes overwhelmed), and how Luba helps families show up to meetings with confidence instead of confusion. Along the way, she shares her journey from aspiring broadcast journalist to running a thriving clinic, plus tips for SLPs thinking about private practice or looking to grow their own niche. If you’ve ever wished you could hand parents a “how-to” guide for IEPs, or you’re curious about juggling business, therapy, and advocacy, this episode is full of practical advice, inspiration, and plenty of real talk moments you won’t want to miss. Bullet Points to Discuss: <ul><li>Luba’s journey from broadcast journalism to running a bilingual private practice</li><li>Why parents often feel totally lost in the IEP process—and how she guides them step by step</li><li>The story behind The Confident IEP Parent and how it helps families show up to meetings with confidence</li><li>Tips for SLPs on working with parents, starting a practice, and growing your niche without losing your sanity</li></ul> Here’s what we learned: <ul><li>Parents need clear, simple explanations to feel confident in IEP meetings (no jargon, promise!)</li><li>You can start a private practice with just a few clients—no fancy clinic required</li><li>Growing your practice means evolving with your clients and building trust over time</li><li>There are so many ways to make an impact as an SLP—therapy, advocacy, content creation, coaching, and more</li></ul> Learn more about Luba Patlakh-Kaplun: LinkedIn: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubapatlakh'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubapatlakh</a> Website<ul><li>Kidology Inc.: <a href='https://kidologyinc.com'>https://kidologyinc.com</a> </li><li>The Confident IEP Parent: <a href='https://confidentiepparents.com'>https://confidentiepparents.com</a> </li></ul>Instagram<ul><li>@kidologyinc: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/kidologyinc'>https://www.instagram.com/kidologyinc</a> </li><li>@kidologyqueen: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/kidologyqueen'>https://www.instagram.com/kidologyqueen</a> </li><li>@theconfidenteipparent: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/theconfidentiepparent'>https://www.instagram.com/theconfidentiepparent</a> </li><li>@kidologyplayspacesouthampton: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/kidologyplayspacesouthampton'>https://www.instagram.com/kidologyplayspacesouthampton</a></li><li>@thegrowthlabpodcast: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/thegrowthlabpodcast'>https://www.instagram.com/thegrowthlabpodcast</a> </li></ul>TikTok<ul><li>@kidologyinc: <a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@kidologyinc'>https://www.tiktok.com/@kidologyinc</a></li><li>@thegrowthlabpodcast: <a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrowthlabpodcast'>https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrowthlabpodcast</a> </li></ul> Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  📝 Website: <a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'>https://speechtimefun.com/</a>🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup</a>📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'></a>Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! <a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets">https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Hallie chats with Luba about how to help parents navigate IEP meetings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Luba — SLP, bilingual private practice founder, and the brain behind Kidology and The Confident IEP Parent. They dive into the real challenges parents face when navigating IEPs, why so many feel lost (and sometimes overwhelmed), and how Luba helps families show up to meetings with confidence instead of confusion. Along the way, she shares her journey from aspiring broadcast journalist to running a thriving clinic, plus tips for SLPs thinking about private practice or looking to grow their own niche. If you’ve ever wished you could hand parents a “how-to” guide for IEPs, or you’re curious about juggling business, therapy, and advocacy, this episode is full of practical advice, inspiration, and plenty of real talk moments you won’t want to miss.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Bullet Points to Discuss: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Luba’s journey from broadcast journalism to running a bilingual private practice&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why parents often feel totally lost in the IEP process—and how she guides them step by step&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The story behind The Confident IEP Parent and how it helps families show up to meetings with confidence&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tips for SLPs on working with parents, starting a practice, and growing your niche without losing your sanity&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Here’s what we learned: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Parents need clear, simple explanations to feel confident in IEP meetings (no jargon, promise!)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You can start a private practice with just a few clients—no fancy clinic required&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Growing your practice means evolving with your clients and building trust over time&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;There are so many ways to make an impact as an SLP—therapy, advocacy, content creation, coaching, and more&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Learn more about Luba Patlakh-Kaplun: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;LinkedIn: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubapatlakh'&gt;&lt;b&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubapatlakh&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Website&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Kidology Inc.: &lt;a href='https://kidologyinc.com'&gt;https://kidologyinc.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Confident IEP Parent: &lt;a href='https://confidentiepparents.com'&gt;https://confidentiepparents.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Instagram&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;@kidologyinc: &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/kidologyinc'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/kidologyinc&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;@kidologyqueen: &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/kidologyqueen'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/kidologyqueen&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;@theconfidenteipparent: &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/theconfidentiepparent'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/theconfidentiepparent&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;@kidologyplayspacesouthampton: &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/kidologyplayspacesouthampton'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/kidologyplayspacesouthampton&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;@thegrowthlabpodcast: &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/thegrowthlabpodcast'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/thegrowthlabpodcast&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;TikTok&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;@kidologyinc: &lt;a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@kidologyinc'&gt;https://www.tiktok.com/@kidologyinc&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;@thegrowthlabpodcast: &lt;a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrowthlabpodcast'&gt;https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrowthlabpodcast&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📝 Website: &lt;a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! &lt;a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets"&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Hallie chats with Luba about how to help parents navigate IEP meetings. In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Luba — SLP, bilingual private practice founder, and the brain behind Kidology and The Confident IEP Parent. They dive into the real challenges parents face when navigating IEPs, why so many feel lost (and sometimes overwhelmed), and how Luba helps families show up to meetings with confidence instead of confusion. Along the way, she shares her journey from aspiring ...

Helping Parents Navigate IEP Meetings

Hallie and Bria Gibson chat about running a private practice and YouTube channel.In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Bria — SLP, private practice owner, and the creative mind behind Speech Up TV. Bria shares how she stumbled into the profession, rediscovered her passion while working with high schoolers, and eventually made the leap to a fully virtual practice after becoming a new mom. She walks us through the behind the scenes of Speech Up TV, from green screens to editing marathons to creating custom videos for her clients — and why YouTube has become such a powerful tool for language learning. If you’re curious about private practice, virtual therapy, or carving out your own path as an SLP, this episode is packed with honesty, inspiration, and plenty of “you can totally do this” moments.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Bullet Points to Discuss: <ul><li>How switching from elementary to high school brought back her love for speech</li><li>Why Facebook mom groups were the key to growing her private practice</li><li>The role representation played in connecting with families</li><li>What the transition from mobile therapy to virtual sessions actually looked like</li><li>How Speech Up TV started—and how her husband became the behind-the-scenes tech wizard</li><li>Ways SLPs can use her YouTube videos during sessions or for home practice</li><li>Ideas for avoiding burnout by exploring different settings or roles</li></ul> Here’s what we learned: <ul><li>Burnout doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong field—sometimes it’s the wrong setting.</li><li>You don’t need a clinic to start a private practice; start with your community.</li><li>Virtual therapy can work surprisingly well when you already have strong rapport.</li><li>YouTube can extend your reach far beyond your caseload (hello, Australia!).</li><li>Custom, language-focused videos can support both kids and caregivers.</li><li>There are so many ways to be an SLP—therapy, advocacy, content creation, coaching, and more.</li></ul> Learn more about Bria Gibson: Website: <a href='http://www.myspeechup.com'>www.myspeechup.com</a> Instagram: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/speechuptv'>https://www.instagram.com/speechuptv</a> YouTube: <a href='https://youtube.com/@speechuptv'>https://youtube.com/@speechuptv</a>  TikTok: <a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@speechuptv'>https://www.tiktok.com/@speechuptv</a>  Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  📝 Website: <a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'>https://speechtimefun.com/</a>🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup</a>📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book</a> Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! <a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets">https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Hallie and Bria Gibson chat about running a private practice and YouTube channel.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Bria — SLP, private practice owner, and the creative mind behind Speech Up TV. Bria shares how she stumbled into the profession, rediscovered her passion while working with high schoolers, and eventually made the leap to a fully virtual practice after becoming a new mom. She walks us through the behind the scenes of Speech Up TV, from green screens to editing marathons to creating custom videos for her clients — and why YouTube has become such a powerful tool for language learning. If you’re curious about private practice, virtual therapy, or carving out your own path as an SLP, this episode is packed with honesty, inspiration, and plenty of “you can totally do this” moments.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Bullet Points to Discuss: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;How switching from elementary to high school brought back her love for speech&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why Facebook mom groups were the key to growing her private practice&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The role representation played in connecting with families&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What the transition from mobile therapy to virtual sessions actually looked like&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How Speech Up TV started—and how her husband became the behind-the-scenes tech wizard&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ways SLPs can use her YouTube videos during sessions or for home practice&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ideas for avoiding burnout by exploring different settings or roles&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Here’s what we learned: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Burnout doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong field—sometimes it’s the wrong setting.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You don’t need a clinic to start a private practice; start with your community.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Virtual therapy can work surprisingly well when you already have strong rapport.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;YouTube can extend your reach far beyond your caseload (hello, Australia!).&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Custom, language-focused videos can support both kids and caregivers.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;There are so many ways to be an SLP—therapy, advocacy, content creation, coaching, and more.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Learn more about Bria Gibson: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Website: &lt;a href='http://www.myspeechup.com'&gt;www.myspeechup.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/speechuptv'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/speechuptv&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;YouTube: &lt;a href='https://youtube.com/@speechuptv'&gt;https://youtube.com/@speechuptv&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;TikTok: &lt;a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@speechuptv'&gt;https://www.tiktok.com/@speechuptv&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📝 Website: &lt;a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! &lt;a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets"&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Hallie and Bria Gibson chat about running a private practice and YouTube channel. In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Bria — SLP, private practice owner, and the creative mind behind Speech Up TV. Bria shares how she stumbled into the profession, rediscovered her passion while working with high schoolers, and eventually made the leap to a fully virtual practice after becoming a new mom. She walks us through the behind the scenes of Speech Up TV, from green screens to edi...

Private Practice and YouTube

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Libby Hill, a consultant speech-language pathologist with over 40 years of experience, about the fascinating connection between pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and selective mutism. Libby shares why students with PDA aren’t just being “naughty,” how their brilliant yet challenging language profiles can fool us into expecting too much, and why creating the right environment is everything. You’ll learn practical strategies like the “projects on pause folder” and why traditional therapy goals need to flip the script to focus on what the team needs to do, not what the student needs to fix. Whether you’re hearing about PDA for the first time or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode reminds us that sometimes the best therapy plan is building rapport and following the student’s lead.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Bullet Points to Discuss: <ul><li>How a rain-soaked TV appearance opened the door to specializing in PDA</li><li>Key differences between PDA and autism with extreme demand avoidance</li><li>The connection between pathological demand avoidance and selective mutism</li><li>Why environment and relationship-building matter more than direct goals</li><li>Practical strategies like the “projects on pause folder” and flexible choices</li><li>How to support students without triggering demand avoidance​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​</li></ul> Here’s what we learned: <ul><li>PDA and selective mutism? They’re more connected than you think.</li><li>Getting the environment right beats direct intervention every time.</li><li>Flexibility and choice look different for every student.</li><li>Try the “projects on pause folder” - it removes pressure and sparks curiosity.</li><li>Build rapport without an agenda, and watch progress happen.</li><li>The right diagnosis matters - wrong strategies can do more harm than good.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​</li></ul> Learn more about Libby Hill: Website: <a href='http://www.smalltalk-ltd.co.uk'>www.smalltalk-ltd.co.uk</a>Facebook: <a href='https://www.facebook.com/smalltalkspeechandlanguagetherapy'>https://www.facebook.com/smalltalkspeechandlanguagetherapy</a> Let’s Talk Small Talk Podcast: <a href='https://letstalksmalltalk.transistor.fm'>https://letstalksmalltalk.transistor.fm</a>  Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  📝 Website: <a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'>https://speechtimefun.com/</a>🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup</a> 📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! <a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'>https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book</a> Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! <a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets">https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Libby Hill, a consultant speech-language pathologist with over 40 years of experience, about the fascinating connection between pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and selective mutism. Libby shares why students with PDA aren’t just being “naughty,” how their brilliant yet challenging language profiles can fool us into expecting too much, and why creating the right environment is everything. You’ll learn practical strategies like the “projects on pause folder” and why traditional therapy goals need to flip the script to focus on what the team needs to do, not what the student needs to fix. Whether you’re hearing about PDA for the first time or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode reminds us that sometimes the best therapy plan is building rapport and following the student’s lead.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bullet Points to Discuss: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;How a rain-soaked TV appearance opened the door to specializing in PDA&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Key differences between PDA and autism with extreme demand avoidance&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The connection between pathological demand avoidance and selective mutism&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why environment and relationship-building matter more than direct goals&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Practical strategies like the “projects on pause folder” and flexible choices&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to support students without triggering demand avoidance​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here’s what we learned: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;PDA and selective mutism? They’re more connected than you think.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Getting the environment right beats direct intervention every time.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Flexibility and choice look different for every student.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Try the “projects on pause folder” - it removes pressure and sparks curiosity.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Build rapport without an agenda, and watch progress happen.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The right diagnosis matters - wrong strategies can do more harm than good.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more about Libby Hill: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Website: &lt;a href='http://www.smalltalk-ltd.co.uk'&gt;www.smalltalk-ltd.co.uk&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Facebook: &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/smalltalkspeechandlanguagetherapy'&gt;https://www.facebook.com/smalltalkspeechandlanguagetherapy&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Let’s Talk Small Talk Podcast: &lt;a href='https://letstalksmalltalk.transistor.fm'&gt;https://letstalksmalltalk.transistor.fm&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📝 Website: &lt;a href='https://speechtimefun.com/'&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! &lt;a href='https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book'&gt;https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! &lt;a href="https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets"&gt;https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Libby Hill, a consultant speech-language pathologist with over 40 years of experience, about the fascinating connection between pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and selective mutism. Libby shares why students with PDA aren’t just being “naughty,” how their brilliant yet challenging language profiles can fool us into expecting too much, and why creating the right environment is everything. You’ll learn practical strategies like the “proj...

Navigating PDA and Selective Mutism

A speech and language podcast to motivate and inspire school-based SLPs. Get the tips, strategies, and low-prep therapy ideas you need to confidently walk into your therapy room and plan with ease. Learn and hear stories from an SLP in the trenches just like you!

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