Strengthening collaboration to improve access, connection, and opportunities for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Guests: Tena McNamara, AuD, CCC-A, Laura Parnell, AuD, CCC-A, and Kim Fiorentino, AuD, CCC-A

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In this live episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, celebrates Educational Audiology Week with Tena McNamara, AuD, CCC-A, Laura Parnell, AuD, CCC-A, and Kim Fiorentino, AuD, CCC-A, for a joyful conversation about the power of collaboration in supporting children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Together, they explore how educational audiologists, SLPs, early intervention providers, educators, and families can work together to create strong, supportive pathways as children transition across settings.

About the Guests: Dr. Tena McNamara is the coordinator of the Cultural and Informational Hearing Center in Peoria, IL. She retired as an associate professor from the Communication Disorders and Sciences Department at Eastern Illinois University and as an educational audiologist with the Special Education Association of Peoria County. She has been a practicing audiologist for over 40 years and has held dual certification in speech-language pathology for 33 years.

Laura Parnell, AuD, CCC-A, is an educational audiologist at the University of Texas at Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders. She is a contracted services provider for the Plano Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, which serves deaf and hard of hearing students in a center-based program. She coordinates Educational Audiology Awareness Week for the Educational Audiology Association.

Kim Fiorentino, AuD, CCC-A, is the Implantable Device Program Coordinator at the University of Texas at Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders. She provides comprehensive audiological care for children who use cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing devices.

Show Notes:

• Educational Audiology Association: www.edaud.org
• Practice Standards & Resources
• IEPs, 504s & School Law
• Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Pediatric Audiology Links to Services
• American Board of Audiology: Certificate Holder—Educational Audiology® (CH-EdAud)
• www.infanthearing.org

Love Money Cause: Support EAA

Learn from Margaryta’s "C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T." EI SLP framework to support functional, collaborative, and family-centered intervention.

Guest: Margaryta Kuzmin, MA, CCC-SLP, TSSLD-BE

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In this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, is joined by Margaryta Kuzmin, MA, CCC-SLP, TSSLD-BE, a bilingual pediatric speech-language pathologist and early intervention provider, for a joyful and empowering discussion about the many hats SLPs wear in early intervention. From feeding and dysphagia to communication, caregiver coaching, and collaboration, this episode celebrates the meaningful, real-life work happening in homes and everyday routines. Michelle and Margaryta redefine what it means to be a “confident” EI SLP, reminding us that confidence is not about knowing everything. It is about trusting your foundation, staying curious, and showing up with intention.

About the Guest: Margaryta Kuzmin is a bilingual speech-language pathologist based in New York City with over 15 years of experience working with infants, toddlers, and school-age children with complex communication, feeding, and developmental needs. She specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, AAC, and working with medically complex populations.

Show Notes:

Contact Margaryta:

• IG: @kuzminslp
• LinkedIn
• Website: kuzminslp.com
• Courses
• Free Online AAC Boards

Resources:

• American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders 2026 Summer Webinar Series
• Feeding Matters
• Family Guided Routies Based Intervention
• HealthyChildren.org
• IDDSI
• Go Team Go! Interprofessional Practice for Pediatric Feeding in the Schools
• Guide to Supporting Pediatric Feeding Disorders in Schools
• Pediatric Feeding Disorder and the School-Based Speech-Language Pathologist: An Evidence-BasedUpdate for Clinical Practice

Love Money: 1p36 Deletion Support & Awareness

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

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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

A conversation examining the intersection of systems, bias, and clinical practice to promote equitable feeding experiences for all students.

Guest: Lily Glasgo, PhD, OTR/L

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In this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, sits down with Lily Glasgo, PhD, OTR/L, to explore how bias, policy, and politics have shaped the history of school meals and what that means for children today. Through the lens of institutional feeding systems, this conversation examines how school-based meal programs influence participation, access, and outcomes for students, particularly those with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). Together, they discuss the role of school-based clinicians, including the balance between therapeutic intervention and maintaining safe feeding practices, and how interprofessional collaboration can support more inclusive, student-centered care.

About the Guest: Lily M. Glasgo, PhD, OTR/L, (she/her) is an OT who is passionate about system level change to support kids with significant support needs. She gained clinical experience in outpatient and school based feeding before completing her PhD in Occupational Science from UNC Chapel Hill. Now, as an assistant professor at Pacific University, she teaches pediatrics and engages in a variety of research projects about pediatric feeding disorder.

Show Notes:

• Contact Lily
• The Feeding Link
• Feeding Matters Directory
• National Education Association
• Virginia Department of Health - Maternal Mental Health

Books:

• The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
• Feeding Tubes and Crushing on Dudes by Hannah Setzer

Love Money Cause: Spoon Foundation

Unpack the myths, realities, and clinical considerations surrounding pediatric concussions with an interprofessional team from The University of Tulsa's Concussion Center.

Guests: Laura Wilson, PhD, CCC-SLP, CBIST; Rachel Hildebrand, PhD, LAT/ATC, CBIS; and Jennifer Steward, PhD

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In this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, is joined by an interprofessional team from The University of Tulsa's Concussion Center. Together, they explore common misconceptions about concussions, including how symptoms present differently across toddlers, children, and adolescents, and why recognizing these differences is critical for timely identification and care. The conversation also highlights important topics such as second impact syndrome, current best practices in concussion management, and the role of interprofessional collaboration in supporting recovery.

About the Guest(s): Laura Wilson, PhD, CCC-SLP, CBIST, is an Associate Professor in Communication Sciences & Disorders at The University of Tulsa. She is a Co-Director of the Concussion Center and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer. Her clinical and research interest is acquired brain injuries, with a specific focus on concussion.

Rachel Hildebrand, PhD, LAT/ATC, CBIS is a Clinical Associate Professor of Athletic Training at The University of Tulsa. She is the co-Director of the Concussion Center at The University of Tulsa. Her research has highly focused on interdisciplinary concussion management, specifically for those experiencing prolonged concussion recovery.

Jennifer Steward, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and an Applied Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of Tulsa. She has been a member of the concussion team since the Concussion Center’s opening, and supervises advanced clinical psychology doctoral students in their work as part of the interdisciplinary team.

Show Notes:

• University of Tulsa Concussion Center
• Heads Up CDC
• HEADS UP to Schools: Online Concussion Training
• Pedsconcussion.com
• Concussioninsportgroup.com
• Love Money: Support The University of Tulsa

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

Guest: Mary Dooher, MA, CCC-SLP,

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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

Practical strategies for supporting autistic communicators.

Guest: Farwa Husain, MS, CCC-SLP

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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