This episode offers practical guidance on building a feeding practice that is clinically sound, ethical, and sustainable.

Guest: Jean Hawney, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

Watch on YouTube

In this episode of First Bite, host Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, is joined by Jean Hawney, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC, to break down some of the biggest barriers pediatric SLPs face when considering private practice, from mindset blocks and finding your niche to the logistical challenges of getting started. Michelle and Jean dig into what SLPs need to consider when building a feeding-focused practice, including scope of practice, advanced training, ethical decision-making, and the resources that can help guide the process.

About the Guest: Jean Hawney, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist, and the founder of Little Eaters & Talkers, a multidisciplinary private practice based in Houston, Texas. Jean specializes in infant and pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, with a focus on medically complex infants, bottle aversion, early feeding development, and caregiver coaching.

Show Notes:

• The American Association of People with Disabilities

Contact Jean:

• IG: @littleaters_talkers
• Website: thelittleeaters.com

Love Money Cause: Hope for Minds

Learn how to support NICU graduates as they transition from the hospital to home.

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

Watch on Youtube

What happens when Michelle sits down with Tiffany Elliott, MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, IBCLC, NTMTC; Sara Circelli, MA, IMH-E, PMH-C; and Dr. Leslie Butterfield, PhD, PMH-C, from Hospital-to-Home Systems Change? You get a powerful hour dedicated to perinatal mental health, systems change, and supporting NICU graduates as they transition from the hospital to home. Together, they discuss how perinatal mental health, including postpartum anxiety, depression, and trauma, impacts caregiver engagement, readiness to learn, and the ability to support their newborns. They also highlight why supporting caregivers is essential to improving outcomes for infants and families.

About the Guests: Tiffany Elliott, MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, IBCLC, NTMTC, is a Speech Language Pathologist and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. She brings her deep clinical experience in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, preterm and medically complex infants, and healthcare systems in the work she does as a clinician, educator and systems change advocate.

Sara Circelli, MA, IMH-E, PMH-C, is the Hospital-to-Home Systems Change Manager at Northwest Center, where she also served as an Early Intervention Family Resources Coordinator for nearly a decade. She helped develop Northwest Center’s Hospital-to-Home team to address the “service cliff” families face after NICU discharge, ensuring a supported transition home.

Leslie Butterfield, PhD, PMH-C, is a perinatal psychologist specializing in the transition to parenthood, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), perinatal loss, recovery from traumatic birth, NICU parenting, and parenting medically fragile infants. She is past Chairwoman of Perinatal Support Washington and the past President of PATTCh (Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth).

Show Notes:

hospitaltohomesystemschange.org

pediatricfeedingconnections.com

Love Money: Support National Perinatal Association

What role do SLPs play with literacy development?

Guest: Heather L. Ramsdell, PhD, CCC-SLP, CALT, QIT

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

Watch on Youtube

In this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, is joined by Heather L. Ramsdell, PhD, CCC-SLP, CALT, QIT, for a passionate, research-backed discussion that positions speech-language pathologists as central to literacy development. Heather reframes dyslexia and reading challenges as reflections of underlying language and developmental profiles, explains how early oral language skills lay the foundation for reading, and discusses key early indicators of risk and the diverse developmental pathways that contribute to reading difficulties.

About the Guest: Heather L. Ramsdell, PhD CCC-SLP, CALT, QI in Training, University of Memphis, 2009, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Idaho State University, owner/clinician at Once Upon a Time LLC, and mother of two children with dyslexia. Her teaching, research, and clinical areas of expertise/interest include infant vocal development, phonetics, phonology, multisensory structured language intervention, spelling, structured word inquiry, literacy, and dyslexia.

Show Notes:

• Read with Ramsdell: www.readwithramsdell.com
• Contact Heather: www.isu.edu/slp/about/faculty
• Publications: https://pubs.asha.org/authored-by/Ramsdell/Heather+L
• Sign up for the ASHFoundation 7th Annual Virtual Walk/Run
• Join the First Bite Team: "First Bite Fun Runners"
• Love Money: Support Children's Dyslexia Centers

What does it take to prepare pediatric SLPs in serving diverse communities?

Guest: Paula V. Pineda, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

Watch on YouTube

In this episode of the First Bite podcast, host Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, is joined by Paula V. Pineda, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, bilingual speech-language pathologist, Chief Clinical Supervisor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and President of the ASHA Hispanic Caucus, for a thoughtful conversation about preparing pediatric SLPs to serve culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

About the Guest: Paula V. Pineda, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Speech-Language Pathologist with over 14 years of experience. Originally from Colombia, Paula has lived in New York City since 2001. She earned her Master’s degree from Adelphi University in 2011 and completed her clinical doctorate at Northwestern University in 2023.

Show Notes:

• Contact Paula: www.tc.columbia.edu
• Family Guided Routines Based Intervention: fgrbi.com
• Sign up for ASHFoundation's 7th Annual Virtual Walk/Run
• Join the team "First Bite Fun Runners"

Love Money:

• Support the Hispanic Caucus: www.hispaniccaucusasha.org
• Support your local immigration association: www.findhelp.org

Gain actionable strategies to support more inclusive, culturally responsive, and family-centered practice.

Guest: Samantha Dudding, MS, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

Watch on YouTube

In this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, is joined by Samantha Dudding, MS, CCC-SLP, for a thoughtful conversation about how culturally responsive communication can promote more equitable outcomes in special education. Drawing on her clinical expertise and leadership experience, Samantha shares practical strategies for supporting culturally and linguistically diverse students and families while strengthening collaboration across educational teams.

About the Guest: Samantha Dudding, M.S., CCC‑SLP, is a speech‑language pathologist and special education leader whose work centers on culturally responsive communication within school‑based special education processes. She is currently a Student Support Coordinator in a school district just outside of Washington, DC where she facilitates special education processes, supports multidisciplinary teams, and leads professional development focused on inclusive practices.

Show Notes:

• Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory
• Sign up for the ASHFoundation's 7th Annual Virtual Walk/Run
• Join the team "First Bite Fun Runners"

Practical strategies for supporting autistic communicators.

Guest: Farwa Husain, MS, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

Watch on YouTube

In this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, is joined by Farwa Husain, MA, CCC-SLP, bilingual speech-language pathologist, for a thoughtful conversation about supporting autistic individuals through relationship-based, neurodiversity-affirming care. Together, they discuss how echolalia can be understood as meaningful communication rather than a behavior to eliminate. Farwa shares practical strategies for supporting autistic communicators who use echolalia, emphasizing how caregiver coaching and everyday interactions can create rich opportunities for connection, language, and participation.

About the Guest: Farwa Husain, bilingual SLP, is the Founder of First Phrases and Owner of One-on-One Speech Therapy. She specializes in relationship-based, neurodiversity-affirming care, with a clinical and educational focus on supporting echolalia. Farwa is an international presenter who provides professional development training for schools and organizations worldwide.

Show Notes:

Contact Farwa:

• IG: @firstphrasesofficial
• LinkedIn
• www.firstphrases.com

Related Course: Autism Conference: Embracing Joy Through Practical Intervention

Family Guided Routines Based Interventions

Morris County Speech and Hearing Association

Explore the realities of addressing dysphagia and pediatric feeding disorder in schools.

Guest: Mary Dooher, MA, CCC-SLP,

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

Watch on YouTube

In this episode of the First Bite podcast, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, sits down with Mary P. Dooher, MA, CCC-SLP, a passionate school-based clinician and advocate from Alaska, for a heartfelt and energizing conversation about supporting students with feeding and swallowing needs in the school setting. Drawing from her journey across medical and educational environments, Mary shares how her work in pediatric feeding and swallowing evolved into systems-level advocacy within her district, state, and national organizations.

About the Guest: Mary P. Dooher, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a school-based SLP in Wasilla, Alaska, for 15 years. She has experience in public schools, hospitals, SNFs, and home health settings. Mary is a strong advocate within her school district and the State of Alaska to increase awareness of/needs of students with dysphagia. She is an active member of her local union, MSEA, and the state association, NEA-Alaska.

Show Notes:

Feeding Matters PFD in Schools

Go Team Go! Interprofessional Practice for Pediatric Feeding in the Schools

ASHA Voices: Engaging With Teacher Unions and Education Associations in Schools