A Family’s Journey Through Brain Injury with Julie A. Fechter

Brain injury affects more than the individual. Guest: Julie A. Fechter, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, welcomes Julie A. Fechter, MS, CCC-SLP, to share her family’s experience navigating life after brain injury and the challenges of advocating for a loved one. Through her family’s experience, Julie highlights the challenges of understanding a loved one’s injury, navigating healthcare systems, communicating with providers, and ensuring that the person behind the diagnosis is seen and heard. The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing subtle changes in communication and cognition, listening to families, and building meaningful partnerships among clinicians, patients, and caregivers. About the Guest: Julie A. Fechter, MS, CCC-SLP, is an adult medical SLP with 15 years of experience across nearly every setting imaginable. Specializing in Parkinson’s in her home health clinical practice, Julie was recently diagnosed with Sjogren's disease. She participated in a clinical trial, which deepened her understanding of what it's like to be a patient. Julie has spoken at state speech conventions in California and Louisiana, as well as for the APDA NW.