DASH Speech Pathology

01/04/2025

It’s DASH SLPs birthday! We have been around for one whole year now 🥳 I want to thank all families, past and present, for their ongoing support 🥰

11/12/2024

Limited assessment-only packages available over the school holidays. Ages 2-12 years. Please contact hello@dash-slp.com.au or message 0461 406 489

27/06/2024

Hi Everyone! Due to (almost overwhelming 😅) enquiries and bookings from our beautiful, local community, DASH SLP has just about had to close the books for Term 3. As of today, I have 1 only, Flagstone only, availability for 3pm Tuesday's beginning the first week back, 9th of July*.

*This time is best suited for a school-aged child, and only clients from Year 1+ will be considered for this time. Thank you for your understanding.

04/06/2024

Duke Racing what a shot. That’ll make the sponsor happy 😉

28/02/2024

Good morning everybody!

Ever since realising my passion in life is to support any and all clinicians entering the paediatric disability space, I've started getting up ridiculously early to fit in as much transformation as possible into my day!

It's kinda painful - but the problems clinicians in the early stages of their careers as big grown up speechies are even more painful!

Often lacking support, mentorship, work shadow opportunities - you name it - these passionate clinicians feel overwhelmed or lost. They start looking for roles with better job conditions, leave private practice, and then what happens?

The paediatric disability sector loses ANOTHER trained, motivated, awesome communication pro - waitlists continue to balloon out, families don't receive timely and meaningful supports, and autistic children miss out on early childhood interventions that we KNOW are beneficial and life-changing.

If the SLP sliding toward overwhelm or burnout feels like you - shoot me a PM. Tell me what hurts. I'm here for you!

23/02/2024

Will someone please clean my room 😅😅

The aftermath of child-led, connection-based, speech therapy for a non-speaking 5 year old autistic girl.

We did painting until we realised the cup of washing water was more fun...

We did foam craft until we decided drawing was more fun...

We did bubbles until we remembered speech *has* to include 'bishing' (monotropism - check it out)...

We dumped out a bag of magnetic tokens to see what would happen...

Finally, we announced it was time for Mummy, took our trophies, and off we went.

And even though it's gonna hurt to get down on the floor to tidy this up (hashtag disability) I would not have it any other way.

🩷Connect to Communicate💙

How trashed does your space get during effective, engaged therapy? Let me know in the comments 🥰

Passionate senior speechie. SLP supervision & education. Social comms, ECEI, autism support

21/02/2024

Who's been in this situation?

You've got a new little bean on your caseload.

Maybe you're meeting up with them in a busy place or at a time they'd usually be resting.

You have a bag full of swag and you're good to go with your language modelling resources!

Except - Little Bean is wandering around. They're not coming to sit with you. You're calling their name, saying what fun you're going to have.

That doesn't work - so you think, alright! Time to follow the child's lead! Up you pop and now you're like a shadow - a chatty shadow narrating their every move.

What an ineffective and frustrating experience for both of you!

"But Maddi, I have to target my goals! Everyone's watching me. I don't want the carer to think I don't know what I'm doing!" - you, probably.

Get. More. Interesting.

1. Pick a comfy spot cos you're setting up Base Camp. Cushions preferred.

2. Whip out your handy-dandy irresistible sensory play activity. The more colourful the better!

3. PLAY! Create dialogue for characters if you've got them. Get your hands wet and dirty and react to the sensations. Laugh. Make up a song. Ask 'I wonder...' questions...
..because...

"I wonder what would happen if you were having the time of your life, with a tray of kinetic sand, in a comfy accessible spot, and Little Bean wanted in on the action?"

I bet it would be awesome.

Try it out and get back to me! Share in the comments how you WOO!

19/02/2024

What is THE WORST Piece of Advice You’ve Received About Supporting Kids Who Stim?

We have alllll had that moment where a well-intending person who has no *actual* idea about what stimming is offer up some advice that makes you want to scream (and possibly flap your hands or click your pen) in frustration.

I remember the one time an AHP suggested, quite seriously, that if all a kiddo liked was wobbling his special paper that we should just ... take it away ... so he would HAVE to attend!

My dude. Please hand your qualification back to Reception on your way out.

So...what’s the worst advice you have ever received?

Let me know in the comments so that we can all scream together! 😒😝😭😬😳

10/02/2024

I don't know about you, but I can't watch a show or a movie without subtitles. I even play my favourite videogames with subtitles! I *need* to see what I'm hearing in order to process it properly.

I'm fortunate that text is my most accessible form of communication. Written words are my jam, yo (sorry 😅).

It's generally not the most supportive thing for children, or adults with developmental needs.

There are a LOT of reasons to use visual supports, and I'll go into depth on my next post.

For now, this is a quick tip and a reminder to grab those task cards out, renew your sub to LessonPix or Boardmaker, and get to SHOWING

09/02/2024

Nawwwwww

Bit of a self-promote, but this sort of message touches my soul!

I live for the thrill of hearing about a speechie's success. I love empowering teams to support themselves, each other, and their clients.

PLEASE drop me a line if you want confidence and care in your team, too!

08/02/2024

"All behaviour is a form of communication"

How often have you heard or even said these words?

It's the truth.

When our littles have BIG feelings, usually their words are the first thing to go.

Some of our littles aren't even using spoken words yet.

A message is a message is a message.

The mode of delivery varies. The intention varies. The message is being broadcast into the universe and it needs to be picked up and interpreted by the receiver (sometimes that's you, or a caregiver, a teacher, a peer).

Hints can be found in body language, facial expression, vocalisations, gestures, signs, location ... be on the lookout for the clues.

Throwing food off the edge of the highchair? Done eating!

Hiding under the bed when the shower starts running? Doesn't want a bath right now!

Hitting their playmate? Something went wrong and they don't know how to fix it!

Screaming meltdown in the toy aisle at Coles? Wants the My Little Pony (I feel you, kid)!

There's no such thing as 'naughty' - They have a message, and they need you to hear them and help them.

07/02/2024

What do we mean when we say it's so important to establish rapport with our clients and their families?

Well, sure, it's about being liked and enjoyed. Having kids feel like it's fun to be around you. Having caregivers value your clinical opinions and follow your recommendations.

It's also about building trust.

Sometimes - nay - a LOT of the time speechies ask clients (big and small) to do uncomfortable, hard, confronting things.

It's all in the name of achieving the goals so it's okay, right?

Right! Except.... we aren't the ones in the spotlight. We can already say the sounds, use the grammar, facilitate the language... so we're asking THEM to be vulnerable with US.

Good rapport goes a long way. Make building that trust your priority from the start.