First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional SLP Insights

Support children’s rights to safe feeding, adequate nutrition, and responsive care through an interprofessional approach.Guest: Emily DeLacey, PhD, RDN, LDNEarn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PDWatch on YouTubeIn this episode of First Bite, host Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, interviews Emily DeLacey, PhD, RDN, LDN, Vice President of Nutrition & Health Services at Holt International, to explore the nutrition and feeding needs of children living in institution-based care worldwide. Together, they examine the scope of nutrition risk for orphaned and vulnerable children, including why infants and children in institutional settings are at increased risk for malnutrition and feeding difficulties. Through real-world case studies, Emily brings these challenges to life, offering a deeper understanding of how early experiences, caregiving environments, and systemic factors shape feeding outcomes and child development.About the Guest: Emily is a registered and licensed dietitian/nutritionist and the director of Holt International’s nutrition and health services since 2016. She completed her undergraduate at Central Washington University, her master’s at Kent State University and her PhD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In her role at Holt, Emily oversees nutrition, health, food assistance and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) programming in all the countries where Holt works, with a focus on maternal and child nutrition and research.Show Notes:Holt International WebsiteHolt International’s Feeding and Positioning ManualIDDSI Patient HandoutsLove Money: Holt International Food Every Day

How do food access, caregiver stress, and everyday challenges affect children with PFD?Guests: Amy Delaney, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Ivonne M. Maldonado-De la Rosa, PhD, MLS, CCC-SLPEarn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PDWatch on YouTubeIn this episode of First Bite host Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, welcomes Amy Delaney, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Ivonne M. Maldonado-De la Rosa, PhD, MLS, CCC-SLP, to examine how social determinants of health (SDOH) influence pediatric feeding care and outcomes. From food insecurity and family resources to healthcare access and systemic barriers, the discussion highlights the real-world factors that can affect a family's ability to participate in feeding interventions. Drawing on emerging research and clinical experience, Michelle and her guests discuss why understanding each family's circumstances is essential to providing individualized, compassionate, and equitable care.About the Guests: Amy Delaney, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Marquette University. She is the Director of the Neurodevelopmental Feeding and Swallowing Lab, which focuses on identifying a normative reference for feeding development to establish diagnostic criteria and assessment tools for the early and accurate diagnosis of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD).Ivonne M. Maldonado-De la Rosa, PhD, MLS, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at A.T. Still University and a bilingual speech-language pathologist. Drawing on her background in speech-language pathology and legal studies, her teaching, clinical practice, and research focus on pediatric feeding disorders, dysphagia, social determinants of health, culturally responsive care, and preparing future clinicians to deliver equitable, evidence-based services.Show Notes:Family Guided Routines Based InterventionFeeding and Swallowing MilestonesHitos de la alimentación y la degluciónNeurodevelopmental Feeding And Swallowing LabMacSwallowIt’s Not Picky EatingASHA-PACThe Feeding Innovation Lab@unleranwithmetheslpIDDSI Around the WorldSmells From the Kitchen, Lessons From the Field, Part 1: Creative Dysphagia StrategiesHispanic Caucus Find ResourcesLove Money: Support Feeding Matters

Encouragement, perspective, and practical guidance for taking that first step to becoming a clinical supervisor.Guest: Katherine Mendez, MA, CCC-SLP, and Justine Springs, MA, CCC-SLPEarn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PDWatch on YouTubeIn this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, is joined by Katherine Mendez, MA, CCC-SLP, and Justine Springs, MA, CCC-SLP, from the University of Memphis to talk about the heart of clinical supervision and the important role supervisors play in shaping the next generation of speech-language pathologists. With honesty and humor, Katherine and Justine share what keeps them coming back to supervision year after year, the qualities that help make a great clinical educator, and how they navigate some of the challenging moments that come with supporting student clinicians.About the Guests: Justine Springs is a clinical instructor and former Co-Director of Clinical Education at the University of Memphis. Having held multiple positions at the university, she has always enjoyed working as a clinical educator. She has eight years of clinical supervision experience. Her passion lies in working clinically with graduate students and seeing their growth alongside the aphasia patients they serve together.Katherine Mendez is Co-Director of Clinical Education in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Memphis. Her clinical work focused on language, literacy, and executive function, but she is also passionate about clinician education. She began serving as a clinical educator as soon as she was eligible to after completing her CF, and she is now in her 12th year of supervising students. In her current role, she supports clinical faculty and off-site clinical educators in their efforts to provide high-quality, enriching, and inspiring clinical education experiences.Show Notes:Supervision in Practice CoursesAnderson J. L. (1988). The supervisory process in speech language pathology and audiology. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.Clinical Supervision in Speech-Language Pathology. (2026). ASHAWeb. https://www.asha.org/policy/tr2008-00296/McCrea, E.S. & Brasseur, J.A. (2019). The Clinical Education and Supervisory Process in Speech-Language Pathology.O’Connor, L. (2008). A Look at Supervision in the 21st Century. The ASHA Leader, 13(5), 14–18. https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.ftr2.13052008.14Supervision. (2026). ASHAWeb. https://www.asha.org/practice/supervision/Love Money Cause: University of Memphis NSSLHA

Strengthening collaboration to improve access, connection, and opportunities for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.Guests: Tena McNamara, AuD, CCC-A, Laura Parnell, AuD, CCC-A, and Kim Fiorentino, AuD, CCC-AEarn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PDWatch on YouTubeIn this live episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, celebrates Educational Audiology Week with Tena McNamara, AuD, CCC-A, Laura Parnell, AuD, CCC-A, and Kim Fiorentino, AuD, CCC-A, for a joyful conversation about the power of collaboration in supporting children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Together, they explore how educational audiologists, SLPs, early intervention providers, educators, and families can work together to create strong, supportive pathways as children transition across settings.About the Guests: Dr. Tena McNamara is the coordinator of the Cultural and Informational Hearing Center in Peoria, IL. She retired as an associate professor from the Communication Disorders and Sciences Department at Eastern Illinois University and as an educational audiologist with the Special Education Association of Peoria County. She has been a practicing audiologist for over 40 years and has held dual certification in speech-language pathology for 33 years.Laura Parnell, AuD, CCC-A, is an educational audiologist at the University of Texas at Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders. She is a contracted services provider for the Plano Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, which serves deaf and hard of hearing students in a center-based program. She coordinates Educational Audiology Awareness Week for the Educational Audiology Association.Kim Fiorentino, AuD, CCC-A, is the Implantable Device Program Coordinator at the University of Texas at Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders. She provides comprehensive audiological care for children who use cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing devices.Show Notes:Educational Audiology Association: www.edaud.orgPractice Standards & ResourcesIEPs, 504s & School LawEarly Hearing Detection & Intervention Pediatric Audiology Links to ServicesAmerican Board of Audiology: Certificate Holder—Educational Audiology® (CH-EdAud)www.infanthearing.orgLove Money Cause: Support EAA

A conversation examining the intersection of systems, bias, and clinical practice to promote equitable feeding experiences for all students.Guest: Lily Glasgo, PhD, OTR/LEarn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PDWatch on YouTubeIn this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, sits down with Lily Glasgo, PhD, OTR/L, to explore how bias, policy, and politics have shaped the history of school meals and what that means for children today. Through the lens of institutional feeding systems, this conversation examines how school-based meal programs influence participation, access, and outcomes for students, particularly those with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). Together, they discuss the role of school-based clinicians, including the balance between therapeutic intervention and maintaining safe feeding practices, and how interprofessional collaboration can support more inclusive, student-centered care.About the Guest: Lily M. Glasgo, PhD, OTR/L, (she/her) is an OT who is passionate about system level change to support kids with significant support needs. She gained clinical experience in outpatient and school based feeding before completing her PhD in Occupational Science from UNC Chapel Hill. Now, as an assistant professor at Pacific University, she teaches pediatrics and engages in a variety of research projects about pediatric feeding disorder.Show Notes:Contact LilyThe Feeding LinkFeeding Matters DirectoryNational Education AssociationVirginia Department of Health - Maternal Mental HealthBooks:The Astral Library by Kate Quinn Feeding Tubes and Crushing on Dudes by Hannah SetzerLove Money Cause: Spoon Foundation