
65 episodes

Unbabbled The Parish School
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- Education
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5.0 • 41 Ratings
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Navigating the world of special education, communication delays and learning differences can be a challenge. Tune in twice a month to hear Stephanie Landis and Meredith Krimmel, two speech-language pathologists at The Parish School in Houston, Texas interview guests from parents to industry professionals with the goal of providing guidance, insight and hope to those touched by children who are differently wired. Each episode will cover a different topic related to education or child development. Whether you’re the parent or caregiver of a neurodiverse child who has autism, a speech-language delay or a learning disability, or you’re an educator who works with special needs children, this show is for you.
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Anjela Martinez and Jill Wood: Making Summer Reading Fun | Season 5, Episode 10
Summer is finally here! And while many kids have dreams of days spent at the pool, playing outside or having all day tv marathons, it is also the perfect time to kick back and relax with a good book! In this episode, Anjela Martinez from the Harris County Public Library Outreach Program and special co-host Parish School librarian, Jill Wood, share ways parents can support even their most reluctant readers over the summer. Throughout the episode Anjela and Jill discuss ways to promote reading for pleasure, tips for helping find your child books, and reassure us that audiobooks are reading too! Anjela also tells us about the many summer programs at the library to promote literacy- and you may be surprised to know that most of them do not involve reading!
Anjela Martinez is the Assistant Manager or Youth Services Programs, Partnerships and Outreach at the Harris County Public Library. In that role she works to promote literacy, develop library programs and build partnerships with other organizations, such as The Parish School. Jill Wood, MLIS, is the Director of Adventure play and Librarian at The Parish School.
Links:
Harris County Public Library Website
Harris County Public Library Summer Reading Program Sign-up
Houston Public Library
The Parish School Website
This episode of Unbabbled is sponsored by Soccer Shots Houston. Soccer Shots was founded in 1997 after recognizing a lack of quality soccer programs for children under 8 years old. Their program was formed under the guidance of childhood education specialists, professional soccer players and experienced and licensed soccer coaches. They use a developmentally appropriate curriculum, and the coaches place an emphasis on character development and skill building. To learn more about Soccer Shots visit their website at www.soccershots.com/houston.
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Dr. Michelle Beard: Part 2 - Accepting a Diagnosis | Season 5, Episode 9
When a child receives a diagnosis, it can impact the entire family and bring on a variety of emotions and responses from parents. In this episode, Dr. Michelle Beard returns to the podcast to discuss a child receiving a diagnosis from the parent and care giver perspective. She touches on a variety of emotions that parents commonly report, ways parents can work through their emotions, ideas for self-care that are actually feasible, and gives resources for families going through the evaluation process. Whether your child has been newly diagnosed or you have had a diagnosis for years, we hope the tips and validation Dr. Beard provides in this episode will resonate with you.
Dr. Michelle Beard, Ph.D, is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. She earned her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas, with a specialization in Counseling Psychology. She completed her doctoral internship in the Houston Independent School District, where she provided counseling and conducted assessments of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, and other psychological and behavior disorders. Dr. Beard has been in private practice in Houston, Texas since 2006 where she specializes in treating children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders. She divides her practice between treating people who suffer from anxiety-related issues and assessing children, adolescents, and adults for ADHD, learning disabilities, and other psychological concerns. She is passionate about assisting parents and students in better understanding the ways in which they learn and can achieve success.
Links:
Dr. Beard's Private Practice
The Parish School Website
Unbabbled on Instagram
The Parish School on Instagram
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Rachel Czar: What is Occupational Therapy? | Season 5, Episode 8
In this episode, pediatric Occupational Therapist Rachel Czar answers all our questions about the basics of occupational therapy (OT) including our most commonly asked question- what is OT? Throughout the episode Rachel discusses signs a child might benefit from OT and how to obtain an evaluation. She also discusses ways specific areas of difficulty may impact a child at school and at home, as well as skills an OT may address with a child. While the profession is broad, Rachel helps break it down for parents, caregivers and other professionals.
Rachel Czar, MS, OT, is a pediatric occupational therapist at The Carruth Center in Houston, Texas. She holds both a Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science from the University of Texas Health Science Center and is Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT) Certified. Prior to joining The Carruth Center, Rachel worked as a lead in a DIRFloortime® preschool group in Dallas. She also has experience working with children in outpatient clinics, home health and in schools. She has experience helping children with feeding issues and has Handwriting Without Tears® training. Rachel is passionate about helping children with autism and sensory processing disorder. She believes that a child’s occupation is to play.
The Parish School Website
Unbabbled on Instagram
The Parish School on Instagram
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Dr. Michelle Beard: Speaking to Children About Their Diagnosis | Season 5, Episode 7
In this episode we tackle a frequently asked question: “Should I tell my child about their diagnosis? And if so, how?”. When a child receives a diagnosis such as dyslexia, autism, ADHD, or a Language or Learning Disorder it can be difficult for parents to know how to discuss this with their child. According to our guest, Dr. Michelle Beard, there is no “one size fits all” answer. However, there are many factors parents and caregivers can take into consideration when thinking about how and when to discuss a diagnosis with their child. Throughout this episode Dr. Beard dives into these factors and gives tips on how to approach these tough conversations. While the episode does not provide a definitive answer, Dr. Beard does provide hope and guidance in making your own informed decision.
Dr. Michelle Beard, Ph.D, is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. She earned her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas, with a specialization in Counseling Psychology. She completed her doctoral internship in the Houston Independent School District, where she provided counseling and conducted assessments of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, and other psychological and behavior disorders. Dr. Beard has been in private practice in Houston, Texas since 2006 where she specializes in treating children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders. She divides her practice between treating people who suffer from anxiety-related issues and assessing children, adolescents, and adults for ADHD, learning disabilities, and other psychological concerns. She is passionate about assisting parents and students in better understanding the ways in which they learn and can achieve success.
Links:
Dr. Beard's Private Practice
The Parish School Website
Unbabbled on Instagram
The Parish School on Instagram
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Sharon Duval, CCC-SLP: DIR® Floortime Model of Therapy | Season 5, Episode 6
In this episode we discuss the DIR® Floortime model of therapy with Sharon Duval, CCC-SLP. DIR stands for the Developmental, Individual-differences, and Relationship-based model which highlights the power of relationships and emotional connections to fuel development. Throughout the episode Sharon discusses the underlying principles of DIR® Floortime how it may differ from traditional therapy, the population she works with, and why she is so passionate about this approach. Sharon also touches on a major misconception people have about child-led approaches like DIR® Floortime.
Sharon Duval is a Speech-Language Pathologist in private practice in Houston, Texas at The Duval’s Center for Speech and Sensory Motor Development which provides both speech- language and occupational therapy. She has been a speech-language pathologist for over 40 years working in a variety of settings including clinics and a private specialty school. For the past 35 years, she has specialized in working with individuals with neurological differences including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder. Sharon is certified in the DIR® Floortime Model after beginning her training in 2004 with Dr. Stanely Greenspan and Dr. Serena Wieder. Her therapy sessions include parents to help them learn the optimal caregiver patterns that support their child’s development.
The Parish School Website
Find Unbabbled on Instagram
This episode of Unbabbled is sponsored by Soccer Shots Houston. Soccer Shots was founded in 1997 after recognizing a lack of quality soccer programs for children under 8 years old. Their program was formed under the guidance of childhood education specialists, professional soccer players and experienced and licensed soccer coaches. They use a developmentally appropriate curriculum, and the coaches place an emphasis on character development and skill building. To learn more about Soccer Shots visit their website at www.soccershots.com/houston.
Support the show -
Wade Barrett: Exploring Inclusive Sports Programing | Season 5. Episode 5
Finding an activity outside of school that is developmentally appropriate and inclusive of neurodivergent children or children with speech and language difficulties can be a challenge for parents. While many of our kids may excel in physical activities, they may struggle to attend for long periods, follow multiple step instructions, or need repetition. Other children may have fine or gross motor difficulties which require extra instruction or accommodation. Finding a program with coaches that have the patience, passion, and knowledge to work with this population is often rare. Fortunately, Soccer Shots Houston offers programs for all students! In this episode we sit down with Wade Barrett, Executive Director of Soccer Shots Houston to discuss what makes their program special, why he is so passionate about meeting children where they are to support growth, and why teaching soccer is not their main mission! Wade also gives tips to parents on ways to advocate for your child when looking into other programs and tips for how to find a program that will work for your child and family.
Wade Barrett is a former professional soccer player; he spent 12 years playing for various clubs all over the world including the Houston Dynamo. Wade captained the Dynamo to back-to-back MLS Cup Championships in 2006 and 2007 and has also represented the Men’s National team on the pitch. After his playing career, Wade spent 7 years coaching for the Dynamo, most recently as the Head Coach. Wade joined the Soccer Shots team to share his passion for personal growth and soccer with children and youth kids.
Soccer Shots Houston is a sponsor of the Unbabbled podcast. We are proud of our partnership as their values, support of all children, and mission closely aligned with the The Parish School’s core values.
Links:
Soccer Shots Houston
The Parish School
Follow Unbabbled on Instagram
Support the show
Customer Reviews
Such a gem!!!
I’m only 20 min into the episode with Kimberly Harrison and I am at a loss of words how to describe how amazing this lady is. So much valuable information. Thank you so much for putting such valuable content out there 💕
Very informative
I would recommend this podcast to any educators or students who would want to learn more about special education, learning differences, or communication delays. This podcast is run bu two speech-language pathologists who interview guests that provide hope, guidance, and insight on topics related to child development or special education.
The episode I listened to was season 2, episode 1 “Autism Spectrum Disorder 101” there were two things that stuck out to me as being beneficial to know and understand. The first point were things to look out for his being red flags along with how to consult your concerns. If you see any of these things happening with the child and it is concerning to you one of the tips Dr. Guttentag gave is to document any specific actions that are concerning and take them to the pediatrician to discuss. The second point I thought was beneficial was what to expect during an evaluation. I thought this was important to address because a lot of parents get nervous when they are put in a situation that is unfamiliar to them. There’s many more questions and topics discussed about ASD in this podcast that are very informational and detailed that allow listeners to understand how to help and provide the best care for children with autism spectrum disorder.
I enjoyed this podcast because it gave me insight on what a parent may go through when having concerns about their child’s development. It really gives you a lot of information on where to start, where to go, who to talk to you, and what you can expect leading up to the diagnosis of autism.
At-Home Sensory-Based Play Activities with Julie Friedman
Rating: 4 stars
“At-Home Sensory-Based Play Activities with Julie Friedman” discusses the options for sensory play and how it can benefit children. She has a company where she creates play-doh kits for people of all ages, specifically geared toward children. Her company started off just for her daughter who needed more sensory stimulation and it blossomed into a way bigger company. I was interested in this episode in particular because I struggle with sensory issues as well and wanted to explore Julie’s examples of at-home sensory activities and how they help children. She discussed sensory toys that help her daughter and how to continue improving as they grow up, such as by incorporating objects they are currently interested in (for example, adding paw patrol toys into the child’s play-doh). They also talked about how sensory activities can help children AND adults, which I thought was really interesting because no matter how old you are, you can benefit from sensory play and stimulation. They mentioned using a zen sandbox during a meeting at work, so sensory play can be beneficial in almost all scenarios. I think this podcast could’ve been made better if they discussed more types of sensory activities other than play-doh, but I did enjoy hearing about her business and how many people it has helped. At the end of the episode, they asked her what advice she could give and she said to let kids be kids and not to take life too seriously. It’s important to let loose and let children explore how sensory play can benefit them. All in all, this podcast was very informational and I would definitely listen to more of their episodes.