I’m a nerd, and when a new technology like ChatGPT comes along it gets my attention. ChatGPT developed by OpenAI in San Francisco is a kind of Artificial Intelligence termed a “large language model.”

This summer I had a chance to see the power of natural environments in action with a new patient. Natural environments can powerfully connect the skills we work on in speech therapy to the patient’s world — home. family. immediate environment.

During the pandemic, I was looking for additional materials for one of my patients, and on a whim, I subscribed to Highlights Magazine. When I got my first issue I realized it wasn't your mother's Highlights Magazine. For one thing, there are diverse children represented, and even bi-lingual stories in Spanish and English. I fell in love. It supports so many goals — story grammar, problem-solving, receptive and expressive language, social thinking — and it is a no-prep time saver.

The trend of violence against Asians in our country is deeply saddening. Teachers and parents can take a small but powerful action by reading their children books with Asian themes and Asian protagonists.  We can start inoculating our children by exposing them to new stories. Stories are powerful.

In the Puget Sound, we have a culturally and linguistically diverse population. Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin, Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Somali are just a few of the languages that school-based speech therapists can encounter in the Seattle area. Young language learners can encounter a different language at home (and out in the community) than the language they hear in school.

This is September 2020, almost 6 months since the initial shutdown due to Covid-19. We are all living through a historic moment. Each of us experiences this pandemic through a unique lens and has unique stories to tell. By sharing my story, I hope I can benefit you in some way. I hope you enjoy my sage advice at the end.

In the first of the “Back to School 2020” Series, Missouri mom Stephanie Huff describes her journey to pick a school that fit her daughter's unique needs.

Parents have been making difficult decisions about sending their children back to school in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of us who work in education have difficult decisions to make. This includes parents, teachers, administrators, and agencies providing counsel such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Want to encourage language development? Don't buy toys that talk this holiday season.

What is self-efficacy? It is the little engine that could.

Stuttering is a complex, even mysterious disorder, and like all mysteries it is wrapped in myth. Certain myths recur.

Busy families are like busy, lively ant hills, bustling with industry and activity. Moms and Dads work. There is a lot of coming and going. Kids have outside activities such as sports and scouting. Life is hectic and fast-paced.

Sometimes stuttering just happens. You often hear that phrase in the stuttering community. One parent recently described a “puzzled look” that passes over her young daughter's face when she stutters. Stuttering seems to happen out of nowhere.

Sometimes stuttering just happens. You often hear that phrase in the stuttering community. One parent recently described a “puzzled look” that passes over her young daughter's face when she stutters. Stuttering seems to happen out of nowhere.

Each year in the US, over 78.8 million kids, teens, and adults enroll in school.

Dogs can teach us how to socially connect. I didn’t realize the extent of their gifts until we started living with our dog Mac, who we got as a puppy. Before we realized it, my husband and I were figured out, bamboozled, and manipulated into providing walks, treats, and tummy rubs.

I learned this group activity at a social thinking workshop sponsored by my school district. It is simple and profound.

Recently I bought the pocket edition of Minecraft ($6.99) and installed it on my iPhone. I also bought a "how-to" book recommended by a friend’s seven-year-old son.

Now that I’m working in the school system, I’ve got increasing numbers of kids on my caseload who are on the autism spectrum. One issue we deal with frequently is behavior management. If the child can’t sit in his or her seat and focus on a task, or work collaboratively with others, he or she isn't going to be successful in school.