ginamschumann

October is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month. As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), my role is often to introduce parents and caregivers to this new world of communication opportunities. As a parent, you want to know what your child is thinking, feeling, and trying to tell you. You want to hear about their favorite things, understand when something is wrong, and give them a way to share their personality with the world. So what happens when speaking is...

The Power of Following a Child's Lead By: Gina Schumann, M.A., CCC-SLP This article was originally published in EP Magazine and is shared here with permission. If you'd like to read it in its original format, you can find it here: https://www.epmagazine.com/blog/the-power-of-following-a-childs-lead I had been working with Max (name changed to protect his privacy) for a little over a month. He was a sweet, bright autistic child who clearly understood much more than he was able to express. I...

By Gina Schumann, MA, CCC-SLP About 15 years ago, during my clinical fellowship as a speech-language pathologist at a large, well-respected outpatient clinic, a group of colleagues and I were introduced to a brand-new tool to use in therapy sessions: an iPad. It was exciting. I remember watching therapists explore all the different features and apps. For whatever reason, I specifically remember checking out a Mr. Potato Head app that let you drag and drop body parts and facial features onto...