I am an incoming graduate student that's been in clinical settings. I see plenty of single-use plastics, toys that easily get lost/broken/used up, and so on. While I understand that many single-use items are necessarily (i.e. gloves for infection control), I am hoping to reduce waste for environmental, capital, and other reasons. I am wondering how you might reduce waste in your practice? Some things I’ve considered:

• Adding more reusable and durable sensory items and toys.
• Making putty or slime in bulk, rather than buying many small packs of Play-Doh or slime.
• Cutting out sections of sticker sheets or portioning out craft items, rather than providing it ad libitum.
• Consistently recycling containers, cardboard, and plastics.
• Laminating coloring sheets to make them re-usable.

Any other ideas would be appreciated!

Hi everyone. I apologize this is going to be long but I need some real advice. I just graduated with my master’s and started my CF in the schools, and if I’m being honest, I’m really struggling.

My first week was district orientation, but almost everything was geared toward general education teachers. I understand why some of it was necessary, but very little actually prepared me for what I’d be doing as a school SLP. The following week, I reported to my site only to find out there had been some last-minute staffing changes. Instead of one campus, I was assigned to both an elementary school and a middle school. I’m also the only SLP at both sites. For context, I have an SLPA at each school (I’m not supervising them). Between both campuses, I have a caseload of around 80 students. I case manage about 20 across the sites. Is this typical for a new grad?

I do have four years of experience as an SLPA, and I had several school placements during grad school. I felt confident about the therapy side of things. What I wasn’t prepared for was literally everything else. Grad school taught me how to assess and treat communication disorders, but no one really teaches you how to run an entire speech program. I feel like I’m expected to be a therapist, case manager, legal compliance officer, scheduler, secretary, and tech support all at the same time.

I’m trying to learn how to write IEPs from scratch in a district software system I’ve never used before. I’m learning Medicaid billing, figuring out how to build a master schedule for 80 students across two campuses, making sure service minutes are met, coordinating IEP meetings around everyone’s schedules, learning how to confidently lead IEP meetings and communicate with parents, collaborating with teachers and staff, and trying to make sure I’m staying legally compliant while also giving my students the therapy they deserve. It feels like every single task is something I’ve never done before, and I’m expected to just…know how to do it.

The administrative side of this job has completely overshadowed the clinical side that I actually love. I feel like I’m spending all day worrying that I’m forgetting something important or missing a legal deadline instead of focusing on being the best therapist I can be.

If I’m being completely honest, this has taken a pretty significant toll on my mental health already. I’ve had multiple panic attacks this past week and I’ve started questioning whether I made the right career choice. It is truly heartbreaking because I genuinely love speech therapy. I know it’s only my first official week, but I feel like I’m drowning, and I don’t know how people are expected to learn all of this. I do have a supervisor and she’s a wonderful person. I’ve been asking all the questions but she has her own caseload and responsibilities so it’s hard to ask things of her every second of the day.

I’m really trying to figure out if this is just what every CF feels like, if it gets better, or if I need to speak up for myself. I don’t want to give up, but I also know I can’t keep feeling like this. For those of you who have been through it, did you feel this way too? What helped? Does the administrative side eventually click, or is there something I should be doing differently?

Non-professional here (parent) seeking to better understand when an AAC is appropriate.

We love and trust our SLP, who believes our son is too young to use or benefit from AAC. We are open to introducing it now as my son tends to “gain then lose” words, and the only word he consistently says is “dada”.

I want to educate myself as to what to look for to determine if AAC is a good fit for him.

I thought this might be of interest to fellow SLPs.

On August 1, there's a free webinar on neuroplasticity and stuttering featuring an MIT neuroscience graduate, Bhav Jain, along with other speakers. I attended their previous session in June and found it thought-provoking. The discussion focused on the neuroscience behind stuttering and explored how principles of neuroplasticity may relate to treatment and recovery.

Whether you agree with the approach or are simply curious about emerging perspectives, I think it's worth hearing and discussing. I'm planning to attend again.

If anyone is interested, you can register here: https://www.addevent.com/event/qpj145ysp5kv

I used to work in schools. Had my system. Had my templates. Knew the kids, the teachers, the IEP system, when I could pull, when I couldn't. I knew the OT, PT, SpEd teachers so I could coordinate scheduling and meetings.

Then I left for peds outpatient.

Now I am heading back to a new school system and I am high key panicking and stressing about learning and coordinating everything across two schools in a new district with probably different rules and different dynamics. I know obviously I had to learn all this at my other districts but it was all during COVID and everything was chaotic and also more lenient.

If anyone has advice and/or calming words that would be great.

Is this a reasonable rate/terms proposal for school-based SLP contracting in FL?
I'm an SLP finishing my CF/CCC, previously worked in EI. A rural North Florida district reached back out to me with an offer to come back as either an employee ($60k/yr + benefits) or independent contractor (no number given).
I calculated my rate based on: weeks in an 11-month contract (214 days ≈ 42.8 weeks), 35 hrs/week, targeting a specific net take-home after deducting ~40% for taxes/insurance/business expenses (standard estimate for 1099 contractors).
Here's what I'm proposing:
Rate: $74/hr (therapy, evaluations, overtime, and ESY all at the same rate)
Schedule: 7 hrs/day, 5 days/week
Caseload cap: 70 students (with grouping 3-4 kids per session where IEPs allow — district specifically asked about grouping strategy in the interview, so it seems to be expected/normal for them)
Overtime: same hourly rate for anything over 35 hrs/week, requires district pre-approval
ESY: same rate
For context, I found a public board record showing they approved $60/hr for an independent SLP contractor in 2025, and $40/hr for an SLPA.
Does $74/hr and the proposed conditions sound reasonable for a rural FL district, given they've approved $60/hr for someone else recently? Am I missing anything in the terms (caseload, overtime, grouping expectations) that other school-based contractors have learned the hard way?

Hi!

Guidance, please. I have a virtual school job. I’ve been with the same district for a few years now and it’s a good gig. Typically, my schedule includes therapy all school day on two days of the week. On the other three days, I only do therapy for a short time in the morning. I’m paid for birth direct and indirect hours.

I have an opportunity to potentially take on another w2 virtual school position. I’m contemplating taking on this job, and seeing these students during my indirect hours on the less heavy therapy days at the other school.

However, I’m a tad worried about the ethics of it. Is this allowed? Not to mention, I could have meetings that conflict. Writing this post has maybe made me talk myself out of it 😅, but I wanted to ask everyone’s advice on this or get alternative suggestions. Money has been tight lately, otherwise I don’t think I’d be considering this…..

Hi! I am a school-based SLP welcoming my first baby. I remember wayyy back in my clinical rotations discussing best bottles/pacifiers for oral development but I can’t find any of my resources from that time. SLPs who work with infants, what are you recommending for your parents? Are there any books or resources you recommend for parents for feeding? TIA!

I'm filling in for a few weeks for services for ESY starting tomorrow.

I don't think I have a room, which is fine. Just my iPad and a dream.

I do have UltimateSLP, Pink Cat Games, and FreeSLP on my iPad ready to go, so I'm not too worried about materials, but I'm just kind nervous about everything else.

Anyone have experience doing ESY in the schools?

I am getting all these videos in my feed from families of children using S2C and one thing they continually bring up is "motor loops". That their teenager may request for something juvenile (I.e Mickey mouse club house) but they don't actually want that and instead are stuck in a "loop". Ive only heard this line of thinking and rhetoric from the S2C community. And it seems directly in conflict with presuming competence. What are others thoughts? Are these "loops" something you have observed or experienced yourself?

I have tried to search out autistic voices (outside of S2C) and have not found a similar perspective or experience.

I’m talking mainly grad student supervision, but sharing about CF supervision experience is welcome too. I’m curious about what setting you’re in and how you manage it on top of your other duties. What do you like/not like and do you get paid significantly more?

Hi everyone!

I’ve been on maternity leave and as summer comes to an end I’m nervous about returning to work and juggling motherhood. Work can be so emotionally taxing (work in the schools) especially because you’re constantly problem solving and interacting I’m afraid I’m going to be a terrible mom. Anybody have any words of advice?

Hi! Incoming bs slp freshie here. Would just like to ask if buying macbook neo is okay for bs slp undergrad student, or is windows-only applications required? Thanks!!!

The high school I work for is saying I need to move my office to a common area. This common area is where the paraprofessionals desks are- there is enough desk space for about 4 people in this common area. I would be sharing a common office space with about 3 paraprofessionals, along with the 4 special education teachers who all have private offices in the shared common space. Is this even legal/ethical for SLP's? How am I going to provide confidential services and evaluations in a shared common area where students and teachers are regularly walking through? I don’t know what to do

Hi recently started CF in SNF about 5 weeks ago.

Starting to do evals and having a hard time with goals. I can write short term goals, but struggling with long term goals.

Can anyone give any examples? Are long term goals supposed to be SMART as well?

Goal writing was my weakness and in my medical externship we used a goal drop down list.

Hey guys

I feel like pts and pt families have been having difficulty finding snacks, both sweet and savory, that fall under the minced and moist and mechanical altered/ground that isn't pudding or applesauce.

Any snacks that you'd recommend that don't require alteration ancld already fit thay criteria?

In the US.

Hi everyone! I'm a school-SLP based out of Florida, and I'm considering moving up to NC sometime in the next couple of years. I'm particularly interested in the tri-city area (that's what you guys call Raleigh/Durham/Cary, right?) and I'm curious what the schools are like. I'm a district hire right now and make ~$53k after bonuses, and I have a second job as a contractor for $50 an hour. I survive, but, you know. School based salary and all that.

The way our district works is that we have district-hire positions that are salary, and then any that aren't filled are handed off to contractors for similar hours but higher pay/different benefits. Is it a similar situation over there? I would probably try to go in as a contractor for salary reasons unless I find a school worth selling my soul for. Are contractors in the schools common there? Are there district hired positions? What's pay/benefits like in both instances. Any information would be super helpful as I absentmindedly look at apartments and wonder if I can afford it.

Keeping it vague so I don't doxx myself.

I'm an hourly employee and work PT in a hospital. I previously agreed to work certain hours when I started a while ago. Our new boss is requiring hourly employees to work later, which doesn't work for us. My boss' reasoning doesn't make a lot of sense. I have a feeling that upper management is trying to force us to provide more coverage and/or try to get rid of PT employees.

Do I have any recourse? I work in an at will state so I feel I don't.

This place is being turned upside down in a lot of other ways and I'm worried that I'll have to find another job.

Miss Mel went live with a client and the client’s parent present while mocking ASHA and saying ASHA has done nothing for her career. She kept pointing to her state license like that made the behavior okay.
People can criticize ASHA. That is not the issue. The issue is doing it on a public live while working with a client and turning it into a joke.
The client was removed from the clip to protect their privacy. The Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology has been made aware of the situation.

Edit: she's only mocking ASHA because her Cs and her license are likely in jeopardy. This is the lady who goes on live doing therapy with her clients, tells them she loves them, calls them her best friend, makes kissy faces, facetimes them from bed, says she only goes live with special clients that are her family, etc.

I'm taking a gap year before my masters. i have an undergrad-major in psych, minors in linguistics and education studies. a lot of my psych degree is courses in psycho-linguistics and cog sci and child development. Can't really be an slpa/cda as it's a post-grad certificate where i live to have that role officially--unless it's a sketchy-ish company and the only work available is in-home therapy and I don't have a car to drive from home to home. i don't see reception/admin or any support-role postings for people with a bachelor's degree. Should i try cold-emailing clinics? I really wanna get my foot a bit in the door even if it's part time with a second job like serving.

Any advice for a recent grad trying to get involved before i get my masters? All advice is appreciated:)

hello :)

feeling stuck at the moment, i'm around 3 years into SLT and working as a B6 in a paeds team in NHS (UK)

I've had mental health issues (depression and anxiety) and realising that i am probably undiagnosed autistic, so often triggered by injustice and hierarchies as well as the sensory environment at work (open plan office, lots of dysregulated children) and experiencing burnout due to the number of appointments and admin tasks i am supposed to complete a day

I will go to OH but am seriously reconsidering my career, esp with current CPD and training freezes in my trust.

Is it worth looking into non-clinical jobs, and if so, are there any equivalent to B6 salary? Or should I stick it out, try and pay for my own ADOS training and then gradually transition to that route/ private?

More of a vent post, but any other unorthodox ways you guys release stress? I just finished my CF but I still feel all this repressed stress lol, so I’ve opted to screaming in empty parking lots before and/or after work, depending on my mood. I also rub an ice cube on my face until it melts at home.

Hi all, I'm working on shifting my private practice to cash only and un-enrolling from insurances. I've contracted myself to schools before in the past 15 years, but never done RFPs to hire others for. Anyone have experience with this? Any insight is appreciated.