Are consonant clusters really “too complex” for kids with severe speech sound disorders—or have we been aiming too low?

This episode tackles one of the most persistent myths in speech therapy: that children with childhood apraxia of speech, autism, or severe speech delay aren’t ready for clusters. I’m unpacking the real science behind complexity, coarticulation, and system-wide change—and why waiting for “readiness” often slows progress rather than supporting it.

Let's break down three common myths that are not evidence-based:
• Myth 1: Children must master single sounds before clusters
• Myth 2: Clusters should always come later in treatment
• Myth 3: Consonant deletion must be fixed first

You’ll hear why speech doesn’t develop like a geyser, how the waterfall effect actually works, and why starting with complex targets can accelerate gains across the entire sound system—even in preschoolers.

This episode also walks through how to do this in therapy: using dynamic tactile-temporal cueing, maintaining an 80% challenge point, and choosing treatment targets that improve motor planning, programming, and verbal working memory simultaneously.

If clusters feel uncomfortable, slow, or messy—that’s the point. Challenge creates change.

Want treatment targets that already do this work for you—without reinventing the wheel every week?
Join the SIS Membership for ready-to-use, research-informed activities designed to create real speech change while protecting your time and energy.
https://www.kellyvess.com/sis

If you work with children who are minimally speaking with autism or you love a child who is minimally speaking, today’s episode matters.

Over the past year, I’ve been doing something deeply intentional. I’ve been having long, honest conversations with speech pathologists and special education teachers who are truly effective with high-tech AAC. These weren’t quick chats. Each interview ran over an hour. I asked open-ended questions. I pushed for specifics. I wanted to know what is actually working for robust AAC systems with thousands of words.

What I found surprised me.

There was no magic training. No perfect certification. No secret setting hidden inside the device.

What these highly effective professionals shared was something much more human. They believed in themselves enough to try. To fail. To troubleshoot. To look clumsy. To learn alongside the child.

In this episode, I talk about why vulnerability is the real needle mover in AAC implementation.

I share why modeling uncertainty, curiosity, and joy matters more than appearing fluent. Showing a child how you search for a word, celebrate finding it, or flexibly choose an alternative builds far more communication power than perfection ever could.

We discuss treating AAC as play, not performance. About using devices the way we use books with young children as interactive tools meant to spark connection, not test correctness.

I also connect what I’m seeing in my dissertation research to real-life practice. Across hours of transcripts and coding, the same theme kept surfacing. Fluency doesn’t come from training. It comes from hands-on experience. Repetition. Messy, imperfect action.

This episode will challenge you to rethink comfort zones, to stop waiting until you feel ready, and to remember that communication growth begins when adults are willing to learn out loud.

If AAC has ever felt overwhelming, intimidating, or like something you were supposed to already have mastered, this conversation is for you.

And if you want ready-to-use, engaging, and effective activities that make AAC implementation doable in real sessions, join the SIS Membership. Weekly resources arrive in your inbox so you can spend less time prepping and more time modeling, exploring, and connecting with your kids. You can learn more and join at https://www.kellyvess.com/sis

Thank you for being part of this work. Roll up your sleeves. Be vulnerable. And keep changing lives one child at a time.

If you work with children who have complex communication needs, you already know this truth:
you cannot pour from an empty cup.

In this episode, I share six realistic self-care swaps I use from morning to night to support energy, focus, and emotional regulation in the work we do. These are not trends. They are practical, research-informed adjustments that help me show up fully present in therapy sessions, even during long, demanding days.

As winter approaches and energy dips, comfort-food cravings rise. Instead of relying on willpower, I build better systems. In this episode, I walk you through:

• A caffeine swap that supports focus without crashes
• A protein-rich breakfast that stabilizes blood sugar
• A comfort-food lunch that doesn’t derail energy
• A 4 p.m. strategy for end-of-day slumps
• A clean popcorn hack that actually works
• A dessert and sleep routine that supports recovery, not burnout

Self-care isn’t indulgence. It’s infrastructure. When your body and brain are supported, you can stay responsive, regulated, and fully present with the children and families you serve.

A note for SIS Members and those considering joining

Inside the SIS Membership, I design therapy the same way I design my self-care: with systems that remove friction.

Members receive weekly, done-for-you, research-informed activities so they can spend their energy where it matters most: interaction, responsiveness, and connection. No scrambling. No reinventing the wheel. Just showing up ready.

If you are ready to reduce decision fatigue, protect your energy, and innovate your practice alongside a community of practitioners doing the work in real classrooms and therapy rooms, you can join us here:

👉 https://www.kellyvess.com/sis

You deserve support that actually supports you.

Thank you for joining me at today’s drawing board for a better tomorrow,
💚 Kelly