Expert Panel: Amy Hobek, PhD, CCC-SLP, Fé González Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP, Vishnu KK Nair, Archie Soelaeman, Betty Yu and Reem Khamis

Take ACTION HERE: Changes to 2020 certification standards feedback. Survey. (n.d.). https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020_Cert_Changes

This episode will be available for 0.1 ASHA CEU on July 2

In this episode, Michelle and Erin host an all start line up of colleagues from across the globe to discuss ASHA’s Proposed Changes to the “2020 Certification Standards” and the long-term ramifications that these changes could have for our profession. This conversation is timely in that there are only a matter of days, roughly 3 weeks or less, for audiologists and speech-language pathologists (including students) to write in and advocate to ASHA on whether the proposed changes to the 2020 Certification Standards should be accepted… changes that remove key words and language that were hard fought to obtain. Be informed that this conversation does address political rationale behind the changes and offer a plethora of resources for individuals to grow their knowledge regarding the long-term ramifications of these proposed changes… but it ends with resources on how to make your voice heard! So, come join the ladies of “First Bite” and ADVOCATE!

About the Panel:

Amy Hobek, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. Her teaching and scholarship focus on equity and inclusion, with an emphasis on valuing and legitimizing cultural and linguistic variations in these areas within individuals, families, and communities. She is also a licensed speech language pathologist providing clinic supervision of graduate students in a culturally and linguistically diverse preschool setting on UC’s campus. She is a co-chair of the Cultural Humility Task Force of the National Black Association of Speech Language and Hearing. She is a topic co-chair of Equity, Inclusion, and Cultural-Linguistic Diversity for the ASHA 2025 Convention.

Professor Reem Khamis (also known as Reem Khamis-Dakwar) is Professor Emerita at Adelphi University and Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn. Her expertise centers on language development, processing, and clinical services within the sociolinguistic context of diglossia and diverse populations. Dr. Khamis is co-founder of the Journal of the Critical Study of Communication and Disability (JCSCD) and a co-founding member of the Speech, Language, and Hearing Scientists Equity Action Collective. She currently serves as Language Section Editor for the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR). She received the Excellence in Diversity Award in 2020 from the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD).

Fé González Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northern Arizona University. Prior to joining the NAU faculty, she worked for 25 years as an English/Spanish bilingual speech-language pathologist in various settings, most notably in public schools serving Indigenous American, migrant, and immigrant populations. In addition to teaching and supervising clinical rotations, she facilitates workshops nationally and internationally on topics related to responsive practice with culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and their families, including multilingualism and collaboration with interpreters.

Vishnu KK Nair is a lecturer in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences at University of Reading, UK. He currently co-leads the health theme of the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism, University of Reading. His

Guests: Leanne Togher, PhD, FSPA, FASSBI, Rachael Rietdijk, PhD, SLP, & Kate Smith, MSPA, CPSP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=The-Social-Brain-Toolkit-Practical-Resources-for-Caregiver

Join Renee Garrett as she kicks off Season 2 of Brainstorms Functional Neurorehab with esteemed guests Dr. Leanne Togher, Dr. Rachael Rietdijk, and Kate Smith. In this episode, the team explores the Social Brain Toolkit, a suite of resources designed to improve communication for individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI). The discussion covers the inception, development, and components of programs like TBI Express, TBI ConneCT, and Interactability. They delve into the crucial role of communication partner training, methodological research, and evidence-based practices in supporting TBI patients and their caregivers. Additionally, the episode touches upon the groundbreaking work at the University of Sydney and introduces speechBITE, a curated repository of treatment research in speech pathology. Tune in to learn about their innovative approach to making effective communication strategies accessible and practical for clinicians, students, and families worldwide.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Disclosures

01:40 Meet the Experts

04:50 The Social Brain Toolkit: Origins and Development

09:03 TBI Express, and TBI ConneCT: Evolution of Training Programs

11:36 Telehealth and Digital Health Innovations

13:18 Expanding Communication Partner Training

15:22 Interactability and Social Ability: New Tools for Broader Impact

17:39 Practical Applications and Future Directions

32:48 Understanding Communication After Brain Injury

33:26 Training for Caregivers and Students

35:14 Introducing TBI Express and interact-ABI-lity

36:03 Free Resources and Accessibility

36:46 speechBITE: A Resource for Speech Pathologists

37:32 The Evolution and Impact of speechBITE

44:19 Kate Smith's PhD Research on Clinical Information Needs

53:01 Addressing Methodological Quality in Research

56:07 The Social Brain Toolkit and Caregiver Support

59:08 Final Thoughts and Resources

About the Guests:

Professor Leanne Togher is a full Professor at the University of Sydney, Australia, and NHMRC Professorial Research Fellow (Investigator Grant Leadership Level 3). Professor Togher holds a PhD in speech pathology and is internationally recognised with more than 250 journal articles. Professor Togher has led the development of communication treatments for people with brain injury and their families, carers, and community agencies, including TBI Express, TBI ConneCT, and the Social Brain Toolkit. She is the director of the evidence-based practice website speechBITE. Professor Togher is the incoming Chair for the International Brain Injury Association and Chair of Brain Injury Australia.

Dr Rachael Rietdijk is a certified practising speech pathologist and Lecturer at the University of Sydney, with research interests in acquired brain injury, communication partner training, and digital health. Her PhD research produced a new evidence-based intervention for people with traumatic brain injury called TBIconneCT. Dr Rietdijk was the project lead for the Social Brain Toolkit project, including interact-ABI-lity, the first free evidence-based online program about communicating successfully with people with a brain injury. This program has reached over 1500 people from over 25 countries. Dr Rietdijk continues collaborating as part of research teams on the Communication Connect NHMRC Ideas Grant and the Communication for Safe Care NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building grant.

Kate Smith is a speech-language pathologist who has worked in evidence-based practice for two decades. She is a member of the speechBITE advisory committee at the University of...

Guests: Jessica Conn and Hilary Cooper - One of our favorite topics is the SLP’s role in advocacy, and today we are joined by some of the fiercest advocates around. Jessica Conn is a Visiting Clinical Instructor at Stephen F. Austin State University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate coursework, including dysphagia and neurogenic communication disorders. She also owns East Texas Swallow Diagnostics, a mobile FEES company serving the broader East Texas area. She is currently the Director of University Relations for the Dysphagia Outreach Project as well. Hilary Cooper, our second guest, is a self-proclaimed dysphagia nerd who has extensive experience with pediatrics and adults in a variety of settings. She owns North Louisiana Swallow Solutions, a mobile FEES company, and is the President and CEO of the Dysphagia Outreach Project. In today's episode, after hearing about how Jessica and Hilary became SLPs, we dive into advocacy. We talk about how it differs from education, the importance of getting involved at state and national levels, and why advocacy needs to be a part of curriculums. We also get into some specific ways that you, as an SLP, can advocate for your patients and their families, who are constantly faced with the injustice and systemic inequality in our healthcare system. To hear more from these inspiring women, tune in today!