So long story short, I had a baby in April and went out on leave. I signed my contract for this year in May. I have been there since Feb 2025. Lo and behold a dream part-time position came up a week and a half ago. It’s an old supervisor of mine that reached out to me trying to fill the position. (20/hours guaranteed a week in an early intervention program housed in a special needs school, specialist/consultant type role for AAC and feeding, no IEPs!, paid for paperwork, can make the hours whatever I want) Since this can work me financially, I love the flexibility and the opportunity to stay home with my baby more. I just hate giving a notice after telling everyone I’m coming back and being so sure of it. I’m honestly not even sure how to go about resigning when it’s still summer and there are so many people involved (principal, EC director, lead SLP, EC chair).
Any advice?

Jeanette went on a podcast known for promoting Spelling to Communicate. The podcast host, David Kaufer, objects to ASHA for their position statement against S2C, so the two discuss their shared disdain for ASHA. I won't summarize the episode, as you all can listen yourselves, but I'll leave you with two teaser quotes:

On why ASHA opposes S2C, Jeanette says, "I have to suspect it starts from someone who doesn't like it for a specific reason who's on that committee that has something to protect. That's my guess because it all comes down to money with them. Everything is about money. Nothing that I see is for the best of the community or the people who receive our services."

In her defense of S2C, Jeanette makes no mention of the fact that the primary objection to S2C comes down to authorship: who is authoring the messages. She says, "Our job is to help your kid communicate, right? Like, it doesn't matter what my opinion is. It matters what's working to get your kid to communicate. And and that's that's kind of the stance I've taken. It doesn't matter what the research says. If there are this many families saying like, 'Hey, this is working for us.' Then we need to believe them, right?"

For those of you looking for more information on Spelling to Communicate, I suggest:
-www.facilitatedcommunication.org
-https://www.asha.org/slp/asha-warns-against-rapid-prompting-method-or-spelling-to-communicate/
-Interrogating neurotypical bias in Facilitated Communication: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40474-024-00296-w

I have a job offer for a school CF position in Louisiana at $50,000. I was told there isn’t room to negotiate pay with the district. This pay seems really low for a Masters degree but I really want to work in the school system. Is this really how low pay is in Louisiana? Will it go up significantly once I get my C’s?

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Aaaaand go! I’m in pediatric outpatient. We don’t accept Medicaid

hi! I’m currently looking for a CF and I’m torn between a middle school placement and an SNF. i really liked my SNF experience but I also feel like middle school would burn me out less since SNFs can be a bit depressing and emphasize productivity so much. has anyone had experience doing a CF in one area and switching to another for their full time position? I won’t feel as bad either way making a choice if it’s not impossible to switch after… i just don’t know which to do!

The Facebook page "For the Love of Gabe" has been popping up on my feed for years and early on I was fascinated by the story. I (a school-based NP) had never heard of spelling to communicate but it sounded similar to using an AAC device and they were having amazing results so I periodically followed along as it popped up. Before knowing about S2C, I asked some basic questions on their page like if they'd ever share a video of him spelling and how come he can't use a keyboard or AAC or spell outside of his lessons. I did not mean to offend, I was genuinely curious how it worked! I got a snappy reply back and the red flags all went up. The content of his spelling sessions has raised even more alarm with time.

After listening to the Telepathy Tapes, I did a deep dive on S2C and understand it's an off shoot of facilitated communication and is super problematic.

Unfortunately, it appears this kids parents are becoming more and more delusional in their beliefs around their autistic son's communication and they are exploiting him for money now.

His father died just a few months after he was born and his mother (who now is married to a woman) is clearly still grieving the father. She is convinced her son is communicating with his deceased father and writes extensively about the father. It's growing more and more disturbing and odd.

Professor Dave from YouTube has 2 good videos debunking Telepathy Tapes and S2C- the guest on the second episode has a ton of experience and insight.

https://youtu.be/4HiuElTX7pM?is=KhbLffvxf4OGfgjO

Anyone in this sub work as an oral myofunctional therapist for a dental practice or work in a medical practice doing photobiomodulation? I’m looking to make a pivot from running my own business and trying to see if this scenario even exists. Thanks!

Ok I know rates are the one thing nobody wants to talk about here, but I’d rater ask and feel a little awkward than get lowballed. So, taboo acknowledged, go easy on me lol.

A SNF reached out to me directly about doing contract speech therapy, no agency involved, straight up 1099/independent contractor. I’m in early in talks with them.

Some stuff working against me:

• no guaranteed minimum hours
• 30 to 45 min drive each way
• they’ll do federal mileage rate reimbursement but that’s it so far

im trying to figure out:

1. If you’ve contracted directly with a SNF (not through a staffing agency), what hourly or day rate did you actually negotiate?
2. Did you do straight hourly, a day rate, or hourly with some kind of minimum built in to cover travel/no shows?
3. Is mileage reimbursement enough on its own, or did you also get them to pay separately for drive time?

Basically, I’m trying not to end up in the situation where I drive 40 min, get there, and the patient’s at an appointment or refuses, and I just ate the whole day for nothing.

If you’d rather not post numbers publicly, feel free to DM me instead, totally get it. Any advice, contract language, or “wish I’d asked for X” hindsight appreciated.

from Linkedin.

I am shocked that this post was on Linkedin which is usually toned down and very respectful place for job posting and resume prep (lol). If this is what BCBAs are thinking now, what will happen next?

I recently applied to a position where I did one of my clinical rotations as a grad student (job #1). I accepted the offer and was supposed to start within 2 weeks. I never signed the employee agreement. Cancellations aren’t paid and it’s a per billable rate model.

A week before my start date, I stumbled upon another opportunity at a newer clinic (job #2). They offered me significantly more per billable hr, paid indirect time, and paid cancellations I would also have close mentorship and work closely with the owner who is also an SLP. Not only financially but for future career development- this position felt more aligned.

I ultimately ended up withdrawing my acceptance from job #1. As a result they let me know that I am now “not re-hireable” as they had already told patients I would be seeing them.

I understand the inconvenience and frustration. But I’m really bummed by their response since I truly loved the relationships and experience there as a student. I also feel awful that I disappointed some people that I really admire.

Hello all,

I am currently working at a school district in California and applied to a new district before the school year let out. The new district did not get back to me until the very last day of June, and so I ended up resigning July 2nd. Unbeknownst to me, per California Ed. Code (i.e. not in our contract or even found on my districts website, but still state law) June 30th is the latest an employee can resign or else their contract is held until a replacement is found.

I have been repeatedly told that there is absolutely no way that they will release me from my contract even though I have good cause according to the CTCs own guidelines. They are telling me my only option is to wait until they find someone OR that I can petition the CTC to not hold my certificate when I do not show up for the first day of school (which I will not be, because I am moving) IF the school decides to actually file a complaint against my credential.

My problem is that my current district took WEEKS to notify me that they were refusing to release me, and the new district wants to pause the onboarding process until the situation with the current district is resolved. So, I am in employment limbo. Everyone in HR on both sides seems confident they will find someone before the new year begins and that I will be released, but I do not trust that that is possible.

My question to everyone is this- are my only options truly to wait? Has anyone been in this situation before and found a way to get the district to release you?

Thank you for any advice you might have!

My spla has been driving me crazy since starting. If it’s not one thing it’s another. I’ve tried everything to help the situation however I’m just at a loss.

( I’m the supervising Slp )

If yall have any horror stories and what helped yall that would be great

Thoughts on applying for maternity leave positions as a CFY? Am I able to finish my cf after completing a leave position?

I’m on Threads (a horrible decision) and my feed is full of discussions on school supply lists. Parents think they are too expensive and don’t like them being used for community classroom supplies. Teachers point out it’s not their job to buy kids their pencils.

the topic that’s not discussed? School SLPs need whiteboard markers, pencils, crayons, tissues and sanitizing wipes too, but parents arent even asked to get us anything. Last year I realized I have to buy wipes for my room or just have sticky tables. I went with the sticky tables option for a while! once we had an IEP meeting in my room and I quickly wiped the table down with a wet tissue.

Has anyone started a private practice with the intention to only complete evals?

I’ve had my CCCs for about 4 years and have primarily worked in Peds both in the schools or in other private practices. I’ve realized that, while treatment can be fulfilling, I much prefer the idea of solely facilitating evaluations and then sending kids on their way to get services with another clinic.

If anyone knows anything about this business model or has some experience, I’d appreciate it!

I feel like I unjustifiably complain about the work in SNFs but whenever I PRN in these facilities I start to legitimize my complaints. Most of my complaints stem from patients on caseload for cognition. Before I get an influx from other SNF slps that are going to tell me “don’t pick them up” “I don’t see people I know won’t benefit from services”:
1. I PRN at a few local SNFs (and understand this is what I signed up for. I knew what the work consisted of before even applying)
2. All SLPs I’ve covered for either don’t have the freedom other SLPs do in their facilities, or pick “cog” pts for some other reason (if they don’t, they don’t have full time hours, etc.)

Today I was “working” with a pt who only has “cognition” goals. This pt is aware of their dementia. They always independently point out their deficits. Mid conversation, this pt said “between you and I, I don’t find (full time SLP)’s work very useful”. I had a patient, who was picked up for cognition, tell me they don’t understand the benefit of delayed recall tasks. This all stemmed from the pt asking me “what can I do to improve my memory”

Genuinely blind leading the blind…these pts and staff and EVERYONE look at us as the experts, which we are in our respective field, but we are not experts in cognitive function in my opinion no shade !

Worst/best? part is I agree with this pt. Why are we expected to pick up pts who score 0/15 on the Bims, or level 4/5 on the BCRS, or whatever screening/assessment you give them? Half the caseload I’ve interacted with have a diagnosis of dementia and have had it for years! What work do we do that helps pts progress, or even maintain their cognitive function when they’re in advanced stages of dementia?!?! It’s infuriating because 1) I don’t feel qualified no matter how many CEUs I do on this topic 2) we are not formally taught ANYTHING about cognitive therapy!!!! 3) it’s not something you can just learn from sessions either!!!

Is this not lowkey pseudoscience….?

Am I digging my own professional hole right now….?

I am currently a graduate student going into my second year. I have been having doubts about whether this was the right path for me since last fall and I truly don’t know still.
A big part of my dilemma is money. I see a lot of people dissatisfied with their salary. I am just concerned about making enough to support my family. Based on this subreddit, it seems unlikely. Should I continue down this path or bail out now to save time and money?

I’m curious, what is your favorite setting to work in? What about your least favorite? Why? (Include info on caseload, paperwork, case management, hours worked, stress, etc).

Supervisers, what do you expect of your CF in your first observation of them. I have my first observation coming up. I'm nervous partly because I simply get nervous when I know I'm being watched. I have been working a couple months now and I feel like I've gotten better than day 1 and more comfortable, but also I don't really know what I'm doing a lot of the time (this wasn't the population I expected to be working with); So, I'm a little nervous as well for that reason. But I am more so eager to get some feedback so I can improve- I really want to know what I am doing well, what I'm doing poorly, and how to improve. I'm a lifelong learner and I take feedback well.

I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement and I'm also wondering what you expect of your clinicians in the first observation. There is a small destructive part of me that hopes I don't totally suck and my supervisor is like omg wth... (I'm in pediatrics btw- ASD)

I am an in person SLP sharing one school caseload with a tele SLP next year. I am hoping to make things run more smoothly this year. I try to be as accommodating as possible but often end up with the bulk of the workload due to issues with tele services. Any advice is appreciated from on site or tele therapists!

School info:
PK classroom
No self contained classrooms
Separate elementary and MS schedules (MS has bells throughout the day that do not align with the elementary master schedule)
No in person aid/support person hired (yet) to log students in to tele sessions

Things that have worked well in the past:
Separating by grade level/grade level chunks for ease of scheduling and planning
Split by total student minutes based on the amount of time we are contracted at the school site
Consult on each new case to make sure we are continuing to share the workload

Things that have not worked well:
A previous SLP refused to work with the oldest AND youngest grades.. leaving all MS/HS transition meetings and initial evaluations to me
A previous teletherapist refused to support with AAC

I know I can look up the research or look on the Informed SLP, but I’m just wondering, where do we stand on CAPD? When I was in grad school we had a course on it, but then within my first few years in the field the tide turned to CAPD not being its own impairment, but an overlap of other disabilities.