In today’s episode, we’re talking to Joan Green about The Benefits Of Tech To Support Attention, Organization, Literacy, and Communication. Joan is an SLP and Inclusive Assistive Technology Specialist in the DMV area. Through her practice, Innovative Speech Therapy, she specializes in assistive tech for individuals of all ages. Today we will answer these questions:

• What is assistive technology?
• What kinds of technology is out there? Are there low-cost vs. high-cost options?
• Which piece of technology is best suited to the different areas we’re focusing on today?
  • Attention
  • Organization
  • Literacy
  • Communication
• Should parents and teachers use their child/student’s technology when working with them, and if so how should they practice with this technology?
• How has technology improved a child’s life? Academically, socially, home life etc.

More about Joan

Joan is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, technology consultant, eldertech advocate, mother of four wonderful young adults, and the founder of Innovative Speech Therapy. Her passion is to do all that she can to help families, educators, caregivers, and therapists address a wide variety of communication, cognitive, literacy, and learning challenges. Over her years as a speech therapist, she’s worked to fine-tune her uniquely effective approach to therapy and professional development. Joan believes in empowering individuals, families, and professionals through affordable, cutting-edge technologies that many of us already have in our homes, schools, and workplaces.

Over the past 35+ years, Joan developed systems, techniques, and strategies to help others speed toward their communication, cognitive, and learning goals. To do this, Joan combines the use of the latest assistive technology features, online tools, engaging speech and language therapy apps, evidence-based speech therapy techniques, inclusive family-centered communication training, and multiple means of support. In addition to providing customized individual sessions, Joan enjoys speaking at conferences and creating webinars, courses, and online tutorials about using engaging and motivating resources to enhance communication and learning.

Joan believes that education should never end, and so she is constantly on the lookout for new, innovative ways to help her clients. Joan received the “Most Outstanding Contribution to the Field” award from the Maryland Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as well as the “Technovator Award” from MATN (Maryland Assistive Technology Network) sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University School of Education for Technology in Education and the Maryland State Department of Education.

Joan knows how important it is that you trust and feel comfortable with the person helping you move forward toward your goals so Joan offers a free initial phone consultation. Joan is based in the Washington, DC area but offers the majority of tech advising and coaching sessions online, everywhere. Along with her one-on-one sessions, Joan also provides video-based courses and often shares her techniques through blog posts, online courses, books, and speaking engagements.

Links and Resources:

• Joan’s practice: www.innovativespeech.com
• Task breakdown: https://goblin.tools/
• Read & Write for Google Chrome: https://www.texthelp.com/products/read-and-write-education/for-google-chrome/

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In today’s episode, we’re talking to Judith Bass about Fostering Independence & Self-Advocacy. Judy is a certified educational planner based in Maryland. She specializes in the field of college and postsecondary placement for students who learn differently. Today we will answer these questions:

• What is self-advocacy?
• How do you teach self-advocacy and independence?
• What are the best ways to encourage independence and self-advocacy at home?
• Why is it so important to foster strong independence and self-advocacy in a child?
• What are some of the challenges neurodivergent students face when attempting to self-advocate in school?
• How can being an independent learner and good self-advocate impact a student's postsecondary education?

More about Judy

Judith S. Bass, CEP is an internationally recognized expert in the field of college and postsecondary placement for students who learn differently. For the past 20 years, Ms. Bass has provided comprehensive planning services for students with ADHD, ASD, and other learning differences. Ms. Bass is a contributing author in the recently published book, Navigating the Transition from High School to College for Students with Disabilities. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines, including Washington Parent and ATTENTION Magazine. Ms. Bass has developed CollegeWebLD, www.collegewebld.com , a one-stop source of information on college disability services at over 400 colleges in the US. She is past Chair of the Commission on Credentialing for AICEP (www.aicep.org) and a past Board Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). She also serves as a consultant to several independent high schools in the Washington, DC area. Ms. Bass received her undergraduate degree in Education and Spanish from Stony Brook University, earned a Graduate Level Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA and holds the designation of Certified Educational Planner.

Links and Resources:

• Judy’s practice: https://www.basseducationalservices.com/

Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!

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• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

In today’s episode, we’re talking to Joanna Salzman about IEPs, 504 Plans, the laws that make them possible, and More. Joanna is an educational consultant in Maryland. Joanna is a strong advocate for families in the initial identification of students who need an IEP and 504 plan. She is well-versed in the law, IDEA, and ensures that schools follow the proper procedures and rules.

Today we will answer these questions:

• What is the law that provides rights to special education services?
  • IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
    • FAPE - Free and Appropriate Education
    • LRE ( Least Restrictive Environment)
• What is an IEP?
  • What are the major parts of the IEP?
  • Who decides what goes into a child’s IEP?
  • How should a parent prepare for the IEP meeting?
  • What happens at an IEP meeting?
  • How often are IEP meetings held?
• What is a 504 plan?
• What is the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP?
• What should a parent know to advocate for their child?
• What can a parent do if they feel the IEP or 504 Plan isn’t being implemented as outlined?
• How does an educational consultant like Joanna, help advocate for someone’s child?

More about Joanna:

Joanna Salzman is the CEO of JMS Education Consulting. Joanna has a wealth of knowledge and expertise with 30 years of experience in the field of special education.

Joanna received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from James Madison University, her Master’s Degree in Special Education from American University, Education Specialist Degree from George Washington University, and an Administration Certificate from Towson University. She completed her special education teacher training at the Lab School of Washington in Washington, D.C.

Joanna’s experience includes observing students from 3 to 21 years of age with differing abilities and disabilities. She has extensive knowledge and expertise in problem-solving and identifying supports that students need to be successful. These skills were perfected due to her time teaching in Prince George’s County Public Schools, as well as in the Montgomery County Public School System as a special education teacher, special education instructional specialist, and special education supervisor.

Most recently, Joanna was a guest speaker at George Mason University for an Advanced Practicum class in Clinical Psychology with Third-year doctoral students. The objectives of the course are related primarily to the application of psychological skills, supervision and interpersonal skills, professionalism and ethical standards, and demonstration of understanding how to function on a team with other professionals.

Links and Resources:

• Joanna’s practice: https://www.jmseduconsulting.com/about
• Joanna’s phone number: (240) 994-0330

Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!

• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
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• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center