{"id":130635,"date":"2019-05-09T13:44:09","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T18:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/?p=130635"},"modified":"2019-05-09T13:44:09","modified_gmt":"2019-05-09T18:44:09","slug":"meet-your-therapist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/education\/meet-your-therapist","title":{"rendered":"Meet Your Therapist!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">May is Better Hearing and Speech Month in the realm of all\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">things<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> speech, language, and audiology! This wonderful month is the time the community of speech language pathologists and audiologists work together to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role they play in providing LIFE-changing treatments.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/c.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-130636 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/c-300x85.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"392\" height=\"111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/c-300x85.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/c-768x217.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/c-1024x290.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/c.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 392px) 100vw, 392px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That being said&#8230; what better way to kick off Better Hearing and Speech Month than getting to know our very own on-site speech language pathologist, Taylor!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What exactly do you DO?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Speech-language pathologists in general work to screen, assess, identify and treat a variety of speech, language, cognitive-linguistic, voice, fluency, and swallowing\/feeding problems for all age groups!<span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I specifically work with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">individuals with Down sy<a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/f.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-130638 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/f-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/f-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/f-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/f.jpg 807w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>ndrome of various<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">age<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s&#8230; from 2-51 years old&#8230; assessing and treating communication disorders. Each participant I see is SO individualized that I have gotten to work with a variety of\u00a0 disorders such as speech delays\/disorders including articulation and motor speech disorders, language delays\/disorders such as expressive and comprehension, fluency disorders, voice and resonance disorders, swallowing disorders, cognitive-communicative disorders, pre-literacy and literacy skills, as well as aural rehabilitation.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0I provide evaluations (testing), treatments (therapy sessions themselves), collaborating with the child\u2019s other therapists, as well as providing parent education and empowerment! I am constantly talking with parents, attending IEP meetings, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-130639 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/d-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/d-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/d.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>What made you want to be a speech language pathologist?\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>I <span class=\"TextRun SCXW137419907 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW137419907 BCX0\">took a class during my undergraduate career in American Sign Language (ASL). I loved that there\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW137419907 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW137419907 BCX0\">was a language\u00a0created to give individuals a voice, even if it wasn\u2019t verbal speech. That\u2019s when the power of communication and language really settled in and hit me. From that moment on, I decided I wanted to <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW137419907 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW137419907 BCX0\">dedicate<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW137419907 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW137419907 BCX0\">\u00a0my life to helping EVERYONE find their voice.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do you have any particular areas of interest or specialties?<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0I <span class=\"TextRun SCXW27741130 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW27741130 BCX0\">do!! I have recently begun diving into oral-motor based approaches when dealing with speech sound production and feeding skills. I think the \u201csay and do\u201d approach works for VERY few. Being able to provide kinetic (tactile) input and assessing and<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW27741130 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW27741130 BCX0\"> treat underlying weaknesses in terms of muscle movements, endurance, etc. is important!<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW27741130 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>What is your FAVORITE part of working at GiGi&#8217;s Playhouse?<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53252042 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53252042 BCX0\">Hands down the families! I LOVE <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53252042 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53252042 BCX0\">each and every<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53252042 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53252042 BCX0\">\u00a0kid I work with and their families. In the 40 minutes I get to spend with these wonderful, amazing people, I truly take something away each day. I am committed to giving each participant their opportunity to shine and achieve their Best of All!<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW53252042 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/a.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-130640 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/a-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/a-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/a-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/a.jpg 1008w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Do you have a favorite memory of working here?<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW56689378\">There are WAY too many favorites to pinpoint just one. But I get the feels every time there is a Playhouse event and therapy is not in session&#8230;. and a little one goes to the speech room and tries to get in! I LOVE that participants want to come to <\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW56689378\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"SpellingError BCX0 SCXW56689378\">GiGi\u2019s<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW56689378\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW56689378\"> and instead of playing, they want to work with me.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW56689378\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW56689378\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/v.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-130641 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/v-246x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"246\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/v-246x300.png 246w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/v.png 379w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 246px) 100vw, 246px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>What&#8217;s your favorite therapy toy\/activity?<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW2189299 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW2189299 BCX0\">For my school-age and younger&#8230; BUBBLES. You can do so much with them! You can work on requesting with sign or words, expand language to form phrases (e.g. bubble up, big bubble, more bubble), target articulation sounds and respiratory support, joint attention, etc. It is always a great motivator as well!<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW2189299 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW109523869 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW109523869 BCX0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/m.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-130642 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/m-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/m-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/m.jpg 756w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 174px) 100vw, 174px\" \/><\/a>For school-age and older&#8230; I really enjoy <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW109523869 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"SpellingError SCXW109523869 BCX0\">HeadBanz<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW109523869 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW109523869 BCX0\">. It\u2019s a great way to work on asking and answering a variety of questions, expanding vocabulary, working on social skills (e.g. eye contact, active listening, turn-taking, etc.), rate of speaking, fluency, speech sounds, and so much more.<\/span><\/span>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The great thing about most activities is that they can be adapted in a way that works on goals! Communication is all around us and can easily be worked into a board game or pretend play!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tell us some fun facts about yourself!<a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/e.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-130643 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/e-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/e-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2019\/05\/e.jpg 684w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I have a crazy, silly, adorable 2-year-old kitty named Capone.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I love live music!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW187840573 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW187840573 BCX0\">I was recently married in December!<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For more information about the Amina Grace Speech and Language Program, visit our webiste at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/amina-grace-speech-and-language-program\">https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/amina-grace-speech-and-language-program<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>May is Better Hearing and Speech Month in the realm of all\u00a0things speech, language, and audiology! This wonderful month is the time the community of speech language pathologists and audiologists work together to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role they play in providing LIFE-changing treatments.\u00a0 That being said&#8230; what better way to kick&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":186,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wpo365_audiences":[],"wpo365_private":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/186"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=130635"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130635\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=130635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}