Coffee Corner
I hope you all are settling into your week after the holiday weekend. Why is it that a 5-day week always seems so long after a 3-day weekend? The good news is that it’s Wednesday - halfway there!
This week, I’m starting a new blog series, Coffee Corner. I plan to use this little corner of the internet to share resources I’ve been enjoying as well as what I’ve been reading, listening to, buying, etc. So grab your cup of coffee and let’s chat! I have my iced oat milk latte in hand, so I’m ready to go!
What I’m reading
Dear Parents: Your Child with Autism Is Perfect: This article is beautifully written. Whether you are a parent of a child with autism or work with children with disabilities, this New York Times piece is a must read. Grab your box of tissue - it’s a tearjerker!
For Mothers of Black Children With Disabilities, Living with Twice the Fear: This article discusses the intersection of race and disability, particularly as it relates to access to services and interactions with the police. A really important read and a topic I need to continue to educate myself on.
New York City’s Biggest Decision: How to Safely Reopen Schools: It’s so interesting to read how NYC officials are determining if they will reopen this fall and how to go about doing so safely. There are many different opinions on the issue while so much is still unknown surrounding COVID-19.
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism: I finally received my copy of White Fragility in the mail and I can’t wait to get started!
What I’m listening to
Talking with Tech Podcast: Talking with Tech is my favorite Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) podcast. The hosts of the podcast, Rachel Madel and Chris Bugaj, are incredibly knowledgeable on topics related to AAC and always have thought-provoking conversations with experts from the field.
AAC in the Cloud: I was bummed to have missed the live version of AAC in the Cloud, which is an online conference covering topics related to AAC. However, I’m picking out a few recorded webinars from the conference to watch over the next couple of weeks. These presentations are free, so I can’t pass them up!
Talking to Kids Authentically About Race and Racism: PBS Kids hosted a live webinar on how to approach conversations on race and racism with kids. They had a great panel of experts who spoke on ways to teach our children to be anti-racists. You can use the link above to view the webinar and also comb through the resources they have available to support you as you navigate these conversations.
What I’m buying
For those who follow me on Instagram, I shared that I’m working to diversify my therapy library to be more inclusive of children of all races and ethnicities. Here are the books I recently ordered:
Resources I’m Loving
Simply Speaking SLT Digital Club: Brooke Dibley is a speech-language pathologist in New Zealand who creates amazing materials for teletherapy. She has so many virtual versions of games I typically use for in-person therapy sessions (e.g., Connect Four, Pop the Pig, etc.). All her materials are completely adaptable to meet the needs of your therapy kiddos. She recently created a subscription service, Simply Speaking SLT Digital Club, which provides you with access to all her materials. The subscription costs $199/year, though it is totally worth the investment. She does a great job regularly providing members with updated materials.
Little Renegades Classroom Resources: Blake Lown Beers is the founder of Little Renegades, which is a company that creates activities focused on mindfulness for children. I discovered Little Renegades through the Ellen Degeneres Show and love everything about their products. They recently released a free digital classroom version of their mindfulness exercises. Each digital card and exercises is tied to an animal (e.g., Fox Ears, Lady Bug Legs), which makes the activity so much more salient for the kids that I work with. I’ve really enjoyed incorporating these activities within my therapy sessions!