Frederick SLP & OT

One of the best ways to learn about is through reading! Apraxia Kids has compiled a book list for professionals, parents, and children to help with sound practice and to share stories about the apraxia journey!

Visit the Apraxia Books Resource Guide today: https://www.apraxia-kids.org/apraxia-books

Anxiety and Parkinson's Disease Feeling worried is an understandable reaction to a Parkinson’s diagnosis. But when feelings of constant worry or nervousness go beyond what is understandable...

Dealing with Relationship Changes Learn tips to dealing with relationship changes as your family roles may evolve.

Frederick SLP welcomes our newest Clinical Fellow, Elle,

Elle Gilbert, MA, BM, CF-SLP (they/them) is a Speech Language Pathology Clinical Fellow and an SVI - Trained Vocologist. Their clinical specialities include Voice and Upper Airway Disorders, Singing Voice, Gender Affirming Voice Care, Dysphagia, Aphasia, Motor Speech Disorders, and Cognitive Communication Impairments.

They received their Masters at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. During their graduate education, they completed clinical rotations at the Memphis VA Medical Center, Methodist Medical Group ENT, Baptist Memorial Hospital - Desoto, Bon Lin Elementary School, and Memphis Speech and Hearing Center. They received a BM in Voice Performance and BA in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park. While attending UMD, they founded 32 Bars, a musical theatre troupe that is still run by students today. Elle has also been a voice teacher for students of various ages and genres since 2019.

Please welcome our newest Employee Baylee:

Hi, my name is Baylee! I am currently working on becoming an SLPA and am so excited to fill this role. I have many years of experience in the education field. I graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with my Bachelor's in Elementary Education. While attending school, I spent a couple of years working as a paraprofessional, assistant preschool teacher and substitute teacher. After graduating, I taught 1st grade for 2 years before deciding to transition to speech therapy. I attended an online program through University of St. Augustine to obtain my speech leveling courses and plan to go back to school in the future to become an SLP. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my husband and my dog and traveling to new places. I look forward to the opportunity to be a part of the Frederick SLP team!

Here are some tips as you get your children ready to go !

https://www.ppmd.org/resource/back-to-school-success-tips/

Welcome back Keri Young!!!

Keri has returned after almost 3 years to our front office administrator position following her
family move to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. She plans to work primarily remotely M-Th 8-4:30a.

She looks forward to opportunities to venture back to Maryland to visit family, friends
and work in our Frederick office as well.

Some of you may remember Keri came to us in June 2019 with 16 plus years of healthcare experience working in a variety of settings. Keri started her career as a certified nursing assistant and later became a registered nurse graduating from Frederick Community College in 1999.

She also gained customer service and bookkeeping skills working for a small business, Janitorial Systems Inc., in Maryland, serving commercial cleaning companies.

Keri’s son received speech therapy services beginning at 18 months of age through the 2nd grade. Even in college, he continues to benefit from the accommodations that began in his
school age years. She has experienced first- hand the positive impact speech therapy has had not just for her child, but for the entire family.

Finally, Keri received training at her church to become a Stephen’s Minister supporting others experiencing a life crisis.

Since Keri’s move to Virginia, her twins entered college at Virginia Tech and James Madison University. She accepted a paraprofessional position at a local elementary school supporting
second grade classrooms. She often helped to fill staffing needs as a substitute teacher and enjoyed school related community outreach service. In addition, she started an after- school
program called “Happy Kids” book club based on Sean Covey’s book series “7 Habits of Happy Kids” designed for 4th or 5th grade leaders and 2nd grade emergent readers.

She feels very passionate about growing in relationships, building up social skills without screens, reconnecting with nature, working through conflicts in a positive way, fun and fitness with team
building movement activities and helping to build our next generation of healthy happy leaders with integrity😊. She plans on continuing this mission in the years to come :0)

Keri loves being back and reconnecting with our staff, patients and families and making new friends in this new chapter at Frederick SLP:0) You may learn more about her by reading below:

What kind of pets do you have?
Our family has a Golden Retriever named Skylar. She is our 3rd Golden Retriever female pup over the years and is the smallest, lightest cream color and she has the most laid-back
personality. We also have a little dog, Molly. She is a Maltese/Pomeranian mix and does the cutest happy dance with her 2 front paws poised together and bounces them up and down in
her excitement!!! We have also had Siamese cats, bunnies and back yard chickens in the past:0)​

What is your favorite dessert?
That is a tough question, but If I had to pick it would be a slice of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake with the Oreo cookie crust!!! It’s sweet but not too sweet, creamy and delicious....yum!!!

What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
I enjoy serving as a Children’s Ministry Leader at our local church. Exercising on my stair stepper and/or treadmill listening to my favorite contemporary Christian tunes is a great stress reducer
and lifts my spirit. I also enjoy being out in nature hiking, biking and kayaking, reading and playing cards and games with family and friends:0)

If you, your child or another family member are in need of speech therapy services, reach out to us to schedule an evaluation by calling 301-668-1852 or send an email to: [email protected].

Happy !

June 19th marks the official end of slavery in the United States. It was on this day in 1865 that news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved people were now free made it to Galveston, Texas.

Today, June 19th, is a celebration with a wide range of activities, from barbecuing to fishing to picnics and so much more!
Do you and your family celebrate Juneteenth? Let us know how you plan to spend your holiday in the comments!

Happy ! We honor all those who were a relentless force for freedom and celebrate everyone today making bold moves to create a more just and equitable nation.

Did you know that dysphagia affects as many as 15 Million Americans? It is often unheard of until it impacts the health of yourself or loved one. Learn how you can help spread awareness at: https://www.simplythick.com/National-Dysphagia-Awareness-Month or https://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com

Eating and drinking provide opportunities for social engagement and improved quality of life. People with dysphagia often miss out on these opportunities. However, education and training can be a first step toward allowing people with dysphagia a seat at any table. A pilot program from the University of Cincinnati aims to help restaurants expand their menu options for people with swallowing difficulties. https://at.asha.org/kY

The Journey of Two: A Poem of Perspective – by Sarah Moore
“…our biggest worry has always been their ability to make friends and function well with their surroundings.”

Sarah Moore describes the journey of her two sons, Ben and Nick, as they navigated life with childhood apraxia of speech and how they have grown into the incredible young adults of today. At the end, she also shared the link to a special poem that helped her put things into perspective from time to time. Be inspired – read their story and the poem today! We promise you will read it again and again!

https://www.apraxia-kids.org/the-journey-of-two-a-poem-of-perspective/

Apraxia Kids is committed to providing quality, accurate information which is available from a variety of sources. Evidence-based practice is information that is supported by research showing its effectiveness. Research is necessary to give clinicians guidance about what are best practices for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in order to make the best decisions for each child with CAS.

With the assistance of our Professional Advisory Council, information that is posted on our website is reviewed initially and over time for its appropriateness and accuracy. Apraxia Kids is committed to updating and adding new content to support our families and professional community to pursue evidence-based practice.

Learn more here: https://www.apraxia-kids.org/research-2/why-is-research-necessary/

A brain injury can happen in an instant, which is why it's important to take precautions when you can. Wearing a helmet while riding a bike or scooter can reduce the likelihood of brain injuries by 65 percent to 88 percent, and risk of severe brain injury by 75 percent if you get into an accident. Learn more about the importance of wearing a helmet here: https://bit.ly/3yVeV8W

Emotional & Mental Health Learn about the importance of maintaining your emotional & mental health after receiving a Parkinson's diagnosis.

Join FCPS Special Education families for a Reserved Screening of Inside Out 2 on Monday June 17, 2024 at Warehouse Cinemas. Show times are 12:00 and 5:00! Tickets can be purchased at the links below or save on booking fees and purchase tickets in person at Warehouse Cinemas.
* For Frederick County Public Schools Special Education families only.

12:00 Show Ticket Link: https://frederick.warehousecinemas.com/checkout/showing/inside-out-2/1109524

5:00 Show Ticket Link: https://frederick.warehousecinemas.com/checkout/showing/inside-out-2/1109605

Please welcome our summer graduate SLP intern Elizabeth.
Here is her bio:

Elizabeth is a second-year graduate student and attends Calvin University in
Grand Rapids, Michigan. Last year, Elizabeth spent two semesters providing
services to children and adults through Calvin's Speech and Hearing Clinic.
She gained experience treating children with phonological disorders and
mixed expressive and receptive language disorders. Additionally, Elizabeth
gained experience treating aphasia in the adult population. Earlier this
spring, she completed her first externship rotation with the Montgomery
County School system. She is currently working on completing the Lee
Silverman Voice Treatment certification (LSVT LOUD), which is an evidence-
based treatment approach for individuals living with Parkinson's disease and
other neurological conditions.
Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from
West Liberty University, WV in 2002. She is a registered dental hygienist and
spent 22 years working in the pediatric setting. In 2019, Elizabeth earned a
certification in Orofacial Myology and has provided myofunctional therapy
services to clients over the past four years.
Elizabeth grew up in Frederick and now lives in Montgomery County, MD with
her husband Greg, stepdaughter Cora (20) and two sons Ryan (11) and Luke
(8). She enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, running and cycling and
spending time with her family.

Facial Masking The stiffness and slowness that impacts walking can have more subtle impacts, such as reduced facial expression.

Apraxia Kids supports parents and professionals in understanding and raising awareness for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Upon hearing the diagnosis for the first time, the amount of information can be overwhelming. Our "New to Apraxia" page will help answer some of the questions you may have.

Start your journey here: www.apraxia-kids.org/new-to-apraxia/

Donna Cramer told us what she wishes people knew about brain injury while sharing the stories about their brain injury journeys. Hear Donna’s story and share your own here: https://bit.ly/3vwBLxy

Brain injuries can lead to feelings of isolation among survivors, but sharing your brain injury experience can help others navigating their journey not feel so alone. Whether you're looking to share a story of your own or maintain connection with other survivors, check out our personal stories page to read our collection of survivor stories or submit your own: https://bit.ly/3IuOgRi

Please welcome our summer intern, Savannah, from Loyola University. Here is her bio:

Hi! My name is Savannah Larkin, and I am a current graduate student at Loyola University Maryland studying Speech-Language Pathology. I grew up in Carroll County Maryland. I attained my BS in Communication Science Disorders at Bloomsburg University. Here I also had the opportunity to minor in American Sign Language and Health Communication. In my free time, I love to be outdoors, hang out with friends and family, and exercise. A little more about me, I grew up in Finksburg, MD, and went to Westminster High School. Throughout my high school career, I was involved in a variety of clubs and sports. I was also given the opportunity to work with a school SLP through the Westminster Early Education program. Following this, I graduated from Bloomsburg University in three years. I continued to be involved in my school through a variety of clubs and community service opportunities. Lastly, I will share my passion for traveling. Thus far I have traveled to Cancun, Barcelona, Florence, and the Dominican Republic. Overall, I am excited to start my position at Frederick!

Join us next Friday, June 7 at 12:00 p.m. ET for a live event on brain injury as an invisible disability. During the event, BIAA's Director of Consumer Services, Greg Ayotte, will be joined by Brain Injury Survivor Council members Angela Leigh Tucker, Kelly Lang, Stacia Bissell, and Darcy Keith to discuss the realities of living with an invisible disability. They will also share their tips and strategies for dealing with the challenges that come with living with an invisible disability. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.

Young Children Learning Multiple Languages: Parent FAQs ​Approximately 20% of children in the United States speak a language other than English at home, with Spanish as the most common non-English language. 

ITS MOVIE TIME!!! Join FCPS Family Support Services - Partners for Success, Frederick County Developmental Center, and Warehouse Cinemas Frederick, MD in the viewing of the NEW The Little Mermaid movie on Monday, July 17th at 10am! This is a FREE event! Tickets will go fast so sign up!
Link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wGG6Bo1L3TaBnCV2bdQktO_2SVwAF2Dm/view?usp=sharing

Limit 4 tickets per family. Only for FCPS special education and infants and toddlers program families.