Duffin, Speech-Language Services

Recognize anybody in the school district’s post on National Speech Language Pathologists Appreciation Day (Monday, May 18th)?

I haven’t seen these at any parks around Denver yet so if you know of one, share please!

This is why inclusion matters 🩵These playground communication boards make communication accessible to non-speakers & AAC users while they’re playing outside. 🛝🌤️Sometimes AAC users are unable to use their devices on playgrounds due to weather or glare from the sun. These boards help give them a voice. 🫶 (Roosevelt Park Playground in Blackstone, MA📍is a fully-fenced, inclusive playground for children of all abilities) #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autismadvocate #nonspeaking #aac

Opioids and Impact on Speech Development: What You Need to Know As opioid misuse continues to rise, its impact on communication and swallowing becomes a critical area for clinical focus.

🙌🏽

Disney has introduced an accessibility-led animation format through a Disney+ release, reinterpreting selected songs from Encanto, Frozen 2, and Moana 2 in American Sign Language (ASL). The initiative represents a shift in how accessibility is approached within animated content, moving beyond traditional add-ons such as subtitles or on-screen interpreters. Rather than layering translation over existing scenes, the studio reconstructed portions of the original animation so that characters themselves perform the songs using ASL. This required detailed attention to hand shapes, timing, facial expressions, and full-body movement, ensuring that each performance aligns with the linguistic structure and emotional nuance of ASL as a complete visual language. The project was developed in collaboration with Deaf performers, consultants, and sign language experts, who contributed to both the accuracy and expressiveness of the adaptations. Their involvement helped shape the performances not as direct translations of lyrics, but as interpretations that preserve meaning, rhythm, and intent within the framework of ASL. By treating sign language as an integral storytelling medium rather than a supplementary accessibility layer, the initiative reflects a broader shift toward inclusive design within the creative process. It positions ASL as both a narrative and performative element in mainstream animation, expanding how stories can be experienced by Deaf and hearing audiences alike.

I’m not crying, you’re crying 🥹

🎢 A dad in Texas couldn’t find a theme park his daughter could enjoy. So he built one himself. Gordon Hartman’s daughter, Morgan, has special needs. Every time they visited a park, she was left out. No rides she could safely join. No spaces designed for her. So he sold his construction company and built Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio. Opened in 2010, it became the world’s first ultra-accessible amusement park. Every ride, every playground, designed for everyone. Today, families fly from across the world just to experience it. Follow @income.ivy for more. #business #entrepreneurship #inspiration #accessibility #inclusivedesign

I received my first paycheck from Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS)!!!!

This is the start to a beautiful subcontracting relationship. If you didn’t know (or maybe I didn’t post it), but I went through the process of becoming a Medicaid provider so that could contract with RMHS and provide Early Intervention (EI) to children birth to 3 years old. This entire process started years ago, but it feels sooooo good to finally reap the benefits of all my hard work and continued hard work as it has been a giant learning curve for me. I am still learning how to bill different insurances, which is super scary as I am a one-man-band here. Tooting my own horn today 🎺

Just wanted to share this milestone in my professional life. Thank you for listening and supporting me be a better more accessible Speech-Language Pathologist.

Baby just became an AAC user. 💛 He recognized it immediately. No explanation needed. That’s joy.�That’s identity.�That’s representation. @thebutterflypig — you made something really special. ✨ #speechtherapy #preschoolslp #slpsofinstagram

Huh I’m curious what you all think. Leave a comment below.👇🏼

Let’s talk about a controversial topic: cursing and AAC. 🤬 Before anyone panics, no, I am not advocating that we load up a 5-year-old’s talker with profanities. But as practitioners, parents, and advocates, we need to have a very real conversation about teenagers (and adults!) Teenagers curse. They use slang. They express frustration, anger, and even excitement in ways that aren’t always “polite.” It’s a completely normal part of adolescent development and peer connection. Think about it this way: If a speaking teenager curses in the middle of class, do we put tape over their mouth? Absolutely not. There might be a natural consequence or a conversation about “time and place,” but we don’t physically remove their ability to speak. When we refuse to program age-appropriate language, including swear words or slang, into an AAC device for a teen, we are essentially doing just that. We are restricting their voice. Giving an AAC user a folder with these words isn’t about encouraging disrespect. It’s about autonomy. It’s about giving them the exact same access to the full spectrum of language that their speaking peers naturally have. They deserve the right to express themselves fully, and the opportunity to learn how and when to use those words, just like anyone else. Big shoutout to @kaishawna_music for chatting about this with me.