Getting the Words Out: communication

Friday, September 28, 2012

I'm just an SLP livin in an ABA world... :)

Posted by Dani, Speech-Language Pathologist

Hello everyone! This is my first time blogging so hang in there! I am a part of a dynamic team of amazingly intelligent and passionate women who kick some major butt at their jobs (to quote Heather from Real Housewives of New York City- "HOLLAA!!") and I represent the "Speechie" of the group.

Like many speechies, I was groomed against ABA (applied behavior analysis) during my undergrad and graduate years (I more specifically remember my grad school childhood language professor emphasizing the unnaturalness of using ABA for language development). All in all- I was taught that ABA is this terrible old school way of teaching children.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Getting The Words Out

Posted by Ashley, Special Educator

Why this title for our blog?

It seems fitting to begin our posts with an explanation of our title, as it lays the groundwork for all that follows. This phrase was chosen because we feel that it encompasses who we are as professionals, the work we do, the needs of our learners, and the ultimate goal of this blog. The meaning behind this phrase is multi-faceted, so let’s start from the beginning.

Our Mission

As professionals, our mission is to provide excellent and meaningful services in the world of autism, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Early Childhood Special Education. As colleagues, our mission is to drive and support one another. As bloggers, our mission is to share our process with other professionals, individuals, and families affected by autism. We have created this forum as a place where we can get our words out, and hope that we will inspire others to do the same. Change and progress often begin with conversation. Simply getting the words out—sharing a thought, asking a question, reaching out for help—is often the start of something wonderful. As we take this journey together, we reflect on our thoughts, experiences, mistakes and victories along the way. With every amazing child we work with, we become increasingly aware that they too are our teachers. This is a learning process for us all, and the best teachers are the ones who always remain students. It is our wonderful, talented, and unique children who inspire us to learn more. It is for them that we strive to be our best and to do our best. We do not have all the answers, but we are committed to the search. This is a place for us to share our journey and to invite others into our team. We hope that you will join us in getting the words out.