A Sublime Time at ASHA 2013

SublimeSpeech — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 05:30:00 +0000

Chicago in November… there’s nothing quite like it! I definitely loved living there after grad school and definitely miss living there now! ASHA 2013 did not disappoint this year and the growing attendance and quality of sessions and exhibit hall have really encouraged me to attend in the future. I really enjoyed meeting so many of you as well! Here’s a quick recap and… a GIVEAWAY further down! Don’t miss out!

Sessions

I checked out so many sessions at ASHA this year. I was pleasantly surprised that there were tons of large rooms ready for us at McCormick Place and access to WiFi, plugs, chairs, and good sessions. I finally got to attend some Michelle Garcia Winner and Gloria Soto sessions which were on my ASHA bucket list.

I had some surprisingly great sessions including my Saturday morning session about students with severe disabilities and complex communication needs in the schools. And yes, despite those that didn’t know how to turn off the camera noises on their phones, most presenters put up with 50%> of the attendees photographing important slides like these:

Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall was as large and overwhelming as I remember it being. It was sort of like Disneyworld for SLPs thought. I will admit, some vendors seemed a bit disinterested but others that I spoke with were awesome! I visited with my CFY mentor and other friends at the EBS booth, chatted it up with Heidi at the PediaStaff booth (and got a sweet toobaloo), checked out new apps from Little Bee Speech, Expressive Solutions, Smarty Ears, and SO many more!

I also had the privilege to meet and work with the amazing YappGuru team. They are an insanely amazing group of people that are working to develop an amazing site that will be your go-to for app reviews for therapy and education! Here’s my YG swag that I’ve been sporting lately:

#SLPeeps

You know about the #SLPeeps right?!? If not, head to twitter and check it out. It’s an online community of SLPs networking and chatting via twitter. We talk about everything from research to our morning’s latte to therapy techniques and everything in-between! Well, at ASHA I finally got to meet some of these amazing folks! We even got to have a “Tweetup” time where many of us got to meet for the first time face-to-face with the #SLPeeps that we tweet with regularly! It was SO fun! Here’s a sweet picture that Tanya took during the tweetup… can you find me?

Chicago

Let’s not forget the amazing host city. It was a blast and the weather was fairly cooperative during most of the conference. We had a blast checking out the city on Saturday after sessions were over:

However… leaving on Sunday was a bit tricky. This was our view from the L on our way to Midway as the scary storms rolled in:

But do you remember those amazing #SLPeeps and YappGuru folks I was talking about? Well, we had some fun running into each other throughout the airport while we were stuck there on Sunday. It’s SO amazing to know and network with SLPs from across the country!

So… would I recommend the convention? Yes!

Would I recommend getting involved with #SLPeeps on twitter? DEFINITELY!

Now… for a little bit of fun! As a thank-you for all of you and to introduce you to some amazing resources available to you that I’ve mentioned in this post, I’m throwing a little giveaway! Now, jump in… tweet it up, “like” some new resources, network with some SLPeeps and more! You may be the lucky winner of a TpT Gift Certificate!!! Thanks for following!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

‘Twas the Night Before ASHA

SublimeSpeech — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 04:11:00 +0000

With ASHA just around the corner, I wanted to share this version of ‘Twas the Night Before ASHA with you. I hope you enjoy it!

‘Twas the night before ASHA, when all through Chi-town

Not a speech Path was stirring, not even downtown;

The nametags were hung by the lanyard with care,

In hopes that Thursday soon would be there;

The Speech Paths were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of CEUs danced in their heads;

And many in their hotels, next to their CTA map.

Had just settled down for a long Wednesday’s nap.

When out on the Mile there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the Bean with some new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a Session Program Book, and eight great #SLPeers.

With a little presenter, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be a trick.

No session could possibly be that ornate,

And if so, my Program Planner I should update.

Now, Artic! Then Swallowing! Now Mem’ry/Cognition!

On, Language! On Hearing! On Communication!

To the top of Willis Tower, to Lake Michigan’s shore,

Now dash away! Learn away! It won’t be a bore!

As SLPs that came to conventions before,

Each year they’ve gathered to learn and explore.

So down to McCormick Place the SLPs flew,

With their bags full of info and a few goodies too.

They spoke many words, but still managed to work,

They filled all their notes, and discussed each great perk,

And laying their finger atop their tablet screen,

And much information from the presenter they gleaned.

They would return to their workplace, to their teams give a shout,

And share their knowledge of all they learned about.

And we will hear them exclaim as they fly out of sight,

Happy ASHA to all, until next year, all right!

Who will be at ASHA this year?!? Can’t wait to learn and to meet so many of you! I will be tweeting and posting during and afterward to share the experiences and information with you. I hope you will check in and get some good information from the sessions I attend, booths I visit, and people I meet!

Sublime Speech

A Sublime Time at ASHA 2013

‘Twas the Night Before ASHA