EPISODE 243


[0:00:00] MD: All right, so today's episode is another heavy one. We're talking about assault and speech-language pathologists. Our guest, good Lord, y'all know I'm grateful for Kayla. She's been on here a couple of times. Her work is profound on so many levels. I've seen firsthand the lives that she has witnessed to. I've had current colleagues come up to me and talk about how impactful her presentations were and their time with her on their individual walks for self-care. This is a heavy topic, assault. I also have to say that I am grateful for that, of so far, Mr. Dawson of mine, because as I mentioned two couple episodes back when I was going through my trauma and I came out on the other side, it was my husband that I met during, I guess, the finding of my self-process.

I distinctly remember him dressing up head to toe in his motorcycle gear in the living room of his town home and teaching me Krav Maga self-defense so that I would be equipped to prevent future encounters because he knew what had happened in my old life. Mr. Dawson, I know you know that I'm grateful for you. But I know you copy. Thank you. Y'all, thank you for celebrating Gratitude 2023 with us.

[INTRODUCTION]

[0:01:47] MD: Hi, folks, and welcome to First Bite: Fed, Fun, and Functional. A speech therapy podcast sponsored by speechtherapypd.com. I am your host on this nerd venture, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, the All-Things PFDs SLP. I am a colleague in the trenches of home health, and early intervention right there with you. I run my own private practice, Heartwood Speech Therapy here in Columbia, South Carolina. I guest lecture nationwide on best practices for early intervention for medically complex children. First BiteÕs mission is short and sweet, to bring light, hope, knowledge, and joy to the pediatric clinician, parent, or advocate.

[0:02:34] EF: By way of a nerdy conversation, so there's plenty of laughter, too.

[0:02:38] MD: In this podcast, we cover everything from AAC to breastfeeding.

[0:02:43] EF: Ethics on how to run a private practice.

[0:02:45] MD: Pediatric dysphagia to clinical supervision.

[0:02:48] EF: And all other topics in the world of pediatric speech pathology. Our goal is to bring evidence-based practice straight to you by interviewing subject matter experts.

[0:02:58] MD: To break down the communication barriers, so that we can access the knowledge of their fields.

[0:03:03] EF: Or, as a close friend says, ÒTo build the bridge.Ó

[0:03:07] MD: By bringing other professionals and experts in our field together, we hope to spark advocacy, joy, and passion for continuing to grow and advance care for our little ones.

[0:03:18] EF: Every fourth episode, I join them. I'm Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, the Yankee by way of Rochester New York transplant who actually inspired this journey. I bring a different perspective, that of a new-ish clinician with experience in early intervention, pediatric acute care, and non-profit pediatric outpatient settings.

[0:03:39] MD: Sit back, relax, and watch out for all hearth growth and enjoy this geeky gig brought to you by speechtherapypd.com.

[DISCLOSURE]

[0:03:53] MD: Hey, this is Michelle Dawson, and I need to update my disclosure statements. My non-financial disclosures. I actively volunteer with Feeding Matters, the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders, NFOSD, the Dysphagia Outreach Project, and DOP. I am a former treasurer with the Council of State Association Presidents, CSAP, a past president of the South Carolina Speech Language and Hearing Association, SCSHA, and a current Board of Trustees member with the Communication Disorders Foundation of Virginia. I am a current member of ASHA, ASHA SIG13, SCSHA, the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia, SHAV, a member of the National Black Speech Language Hearing Association in NBASLH, and Dysphagia Research Society, DRS.

Additionally, I volunteer with ASHA as the topic chair for the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Planning Committee for the ASHA 2023 Convention in Boston, and I hope you make it out there.

My financial disclosures include receiving compensation for First Bite Podcast from speechtherapypd.com, as well as from additional webinars and for webinars associated with Understanding Dysphagia, which is also a podcast with speechtherapypd.com. I currently receive a salary from the University of South Carolina in my work as an adjunct professor and student services coordinator, and I receive royalties from the sale of my book, Chasing the Swallow: Truth, Science, and Hope for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, as well as compensation for the CEUs associated with it from speechtherapypd.com. Those are my current disclosure statements. Thanks, guys.

[0:05:51] EF: The views and opinions expressed in today's podcast do not reflect the organizations associated with the speakers and are their views and opinions solely.

[INTERVIEW]

[0:06:00] MD: Okay, everybody. Today, I'm already tearing up. Today's topic is heavy, but we have to go there. If you have tiny ears in the room, I mean, most of the time, First Bite is tiny ear-friendly, but today is not. Please, get the little ones out of earshot. I always do my disclaimers when it's a tricky topic. This could be triggering for you in unexpected ways, but it also Ð our goal is to make it very healing for you. There are our disclaimers.

Now, I'm going to give you the joyful backstory. Once upon a time, a naive young Michelle Dawson worked as the clinic coordinator at Francis Marion University, and she met the most vivacious, empowering woman of God in the Department of Counseling there. It was Student Services and Counseling. She was Deputy Director, I think, Kayla. You were Deputy Ð

[0:07:07] KD: Mm-hmm.

[0:07:08] MD:  Yes, Deputy Director there. Is none other than Kayla Duncan. This license, you're technically a licensed social worker, correct?

[0:07:17] KD: I was a professional counselor, so I don't do that anymore, but yes.

[0:07:20] MD: Yes, yes. But that's what she did. I went to her with a heavy heart and expressed concerns that I had grad students that were not set for success. They needed to be empowered and equipped, that they deserve to stand on solid ground, and to reach that point, they needed counseling, and they needed to know that counseling was available to them. Kayla joined me on that venture. For several semesters, we collaborated in creating student help and student support for caregivers, because we are caregivers. But how do we empower ourselves to then turn around and empower caregivers?

Kayla's been on the podcast, and we've talked about that, but she took on this new role when she left Francis Marion and went to Texas. Her path went on an amazing journey. She is now the Director of Communications and Outreach with Sexual Assault Resource Center, surrounding the Greater Texas A&M area. Here's the deal. I know several friends that have, and colleagues, actual speech-language pathologists, that have been survivors of sexual assault. I myself am a survivor of physical and verbal domestic abuse. I carry those traumas with me. They are part of my lived experiences. But so do some of the patients that we serve, so do our co-workers, and some of us so do ourselves. We're going to cover a lot of ground today, and we have Kayla and her joyful self to lead us on this. Hi, thank you so much for coming back.

[0:09:21] KD: Hi, no problem. Thank you for having me. That was such a sweet intro.

[0:09:27] MD: When I told the girls, I was like, ÒSo, we're going to do an episode on sexual assault.Ó They're like, ÒSo, we do pediatric speech therapy?Ó I was like, ÒTrust me, this has a place and it's important.Ó Tell us, how have you been? Take us from the top. You've had quite the adventure down in Texas, and is it hotter than Hades already?

[0:09:46] KD: It to me, usually Texas is usually hot. But right now, it feels like home. It feels like South Carolina right now. It's very humid, more so than normal. Everybody's like, it's so humid outside. I'm like, ÒEh, it feels like home.Ó I'm like, ÒIÕm used to it.Ó IÕm like, ÒEh, it just feels like a South Carolina morning, where it's sticky in your leg. Don't know what to do with yourself.Ó 

Yeah, I've been on a journey. I've been in Texas. November would be almost two years now. I live in Bryan College Station, so home with Texas A&M. That actually was why I moved to Texas. I took a job at Texas A&M, actually doing student conduct work. I was an investigator, so I was a person that you came and talked to when you were not following the rules, or if you're an agi, the core values, and different things like that.

Then serendipitously, this job came open, and a friend of mine was like, ÒHey, I know you don't counsel anymore, but I know you still use your skills and different things like that. I think you'll be perfect for this job.Ó I interviewed, fell in love with the position, and fell in love with the staff. We do amazing work here. We provide free and confidential services for all sexual assault survivors, ages 13 and up. We do that through individual group counseling, which is unlimited. We also do advocacy services. We have a 24-hour crisis hotline. We offer hospital, court, and police accompaniment for survivors. We also serve as secondary survivors, so family members, friends, all of that stuff, spouses, or partners.

Then, my department, we go out and we get to do community training, to raise awareness, education, go into schools, go to churches, businesses, different things like that, talking about what sexual violence is, what does that look like, how do we prevent it, how do we talk about it. It's been a journey, but it's been a really cool journey. It's like, I still Ð I do some direct client stuff because we Ð I still will go out and I will go out on accompaniments and do stuff, too. I'm not totally removed from that, but I don't counsel anymore, but it's still nice to be involved in making an impact in the world and helping people that need our help. I'm excited about the transition.

Of course, I will always miss Francis Marion. That will always be home because that's where I went twice. I still miss some of the work with you and other people that I got to meet there. I was actually talking to my old director. The other day we were texting. I still get to keep in touch with everyone. It's been a journey, but it's been a good journey.

[0:12:23] MD: Yes. As you're talking, and talking about the different places that you go and what I've seen on the news coming out of Texas. It's really triggering. Like, damn. I know they're going to add it, but like, whoo. I have so very many questions. One, my first thought is as a mom of males, as a mom of white males, my first go-to is if I say no, a lady only has to say no one time in all aspects of her life. I have been saying that to my children since they were two and three. They don't know what I'm prepping them for. But if mommy says no, how many times does mommy need to say no? Once. How many times does any lady, anybody need to say no? Once. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Sorry. They like and go that back.

You know what? That's a conversation that we're having in our household now and have been having for years, because of the assault and the violence that Mommy endured and Mommy's friends have endured. Which, sometimes I think we're better on our healing path and sometimes I'm like, ÒNo, I am not.Ó

[0:13:58] KD: Well, that's the thing. I always talk about healing journeys are more like a road. They're not straight. They can be straight for a period of time and be curvy one day. That's the beauty of healing is that it's never completely done, because we grow as people. We have different things that come up. We became a mom. Different things like that happen and they're going to grow and then there'll be different things that come up when they grow. With our relationships, they have twists and turns. That also affects our healing journey.

I think just being organic and being mindful like you are that that journey is continuous. I think that's something that we always try to make sure people know that it's not finite. That the journey is always going to be continuous. There might be a time where you like, ÒHey, I'm going to be in therapy right now.Ó But then, that could change a month from now, you're like, ÒHey, I might want to go back and start back sessions, or re-look at what I might need to do with myself so that I'm filling my cup and have what I need as a person to function the way that I need.Ó

[0:14:56] MD: Yes. Yes. Okay, so wearing the hats that I wear now, and folks, if you are in the role of a clinical supervisor, as a director within your graduate department, or undergraduate department, I am specifically speaking to you, especially if you're involved with NSSLHA, The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. There are opportunities within your programs to empower and equip our students and future colleagues to know about signs and symptoms of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and abuse and to empower and prevent. NSSLHA chapter meetings, and new student orientation, those are really good opportunities to set these up, right? If we were talking to our faculty and our professors and our supervisors, how would those trainings, what would they look like and what topics would be covered in there?

[0:16:17] KD: One thing I'll always advocate for, no matter where you are, because I know our listeners could be all over is to check with your community resources in your area that you serve. I think that's super important. You want to be plugged in because there might be a place similar to what we do. There should be. It might cover several counties, but finding out what, if you have a rape crisis center in your area, or somewhere near there that covers that, a lot of times you will see that it will be domestic violence and sexual assault.

Crisis centers that will be together, we're one of eight in Texas that are solely sexual assault crisis centers, so it could be either or. Just looking that up. If you want a list of that, you can always go to the rainn.org site to look those up as well.

[0:17:06] MD: What was the site?

[0:17:08] KD: RAINN. R-A-I-N-N.org. They'll have a list of different areas all over the country and resource centers that might be near where you live. You can put in your zip code, that kind of stuff. A lot of our resource centers, like us, will have outreach teams that can come out and provide the training for free and different things like that. A lot of times you do have state overhead as well. Like here in Texas, we have what's called TASA. They are an overarching branch for all of the centers. They provide online training and different things like that, too, for people. The state sometimes will have some of those over-heading things to look at.

Overall, the training can look different. I know for us, we have a bevy of different things that we offer. The basic one that we offer is just one about our services, like who we are, what we do, and how to get plugged in with us. We'll do that. One of the more in-depth ones that I really love to do for businesses is sexual harassment, talking about what that looks like. Then also, for a lot of student organizations, or professionals, also talking about, we call it sexual violence 101. Other places might call it something different. Just going into what is sexual violence, what does it mean to be a bystander? What are bystander interventions that can Ð those red flags, or different things like that, what do you do when someone does disclose to you? How does that whole process look like? What is rape culture? How does that play a role? What we look at and what as a human race, especially nationally, and internationally, how we look at sexual assault and why that matters, and how the conversations we have with people we love, or care about, or just regular conversations can add to that and how we can be in those conversations and advocate for survivors, versus victim blaming, or shaming, different things like that.

It doesn't have to be something huge. It can be a small intervention. We train on different things like that, as well as just overall healthy, unhealthy relationships, online safety, and different things like that impact people in some way. Just really equipping people to know what's going on and that even if you serve pediatrics, or different things like that, you have colleagues, you have parents, you have different people like that, that it's happening or has happened and it might not be healed, or they might be way more protective of their child than you're thinking that feels normal, or different things like that, but it might be because they're a survivor and they've never told anybody, or they've never healed that.

Allowing yourself to walk through the world and say, ÒHey, this has happened to people. People are survivors.Ó Usually, we say one in 33 men and one in six women. Sorry, one in four women nationally, and that's reported and it's highly underreported, right? We want to make sure that when we're walking through the world, there typically is a survivor in the room with you.

[0:20:14] MD: Yes.

[0:20:15] KD: How we speak and how we talk and the communication we have is important. We always want to be survivor-centric and trauma-informed.

[0:20:24] MD: Yes. We are, under our licenses and our certifications, mandatory reporters. What I have found is that when the hair on the back of your neck stands up and it doesn't feel right.

[0:20:42] KD: Mm-hmm.

[0:20:43] MD: I would say, the hair on my arms, but I shave them. I really do. I have this color. It's thick. It's as much hair as our Wookie, and so I shave them. Otherwise, it would stand up. Anyways. Oh, I said Wookie. He has passed. I will go adjust. When I feel that sensation creeping, crawling, normally my gut instincts that there is trauma in the home is correct. What I have found is that if we're in a safe space and I share about my walk, or if it comes up organically, naturally and authentically, the caregivers will in turn share what's going on.

I mean, we had a little one I served years ago that had hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and HIE. The physicians couldn't figure out why the baby was born with HIE, because there was no birth trauma. They just couldn't figure it out. Mom shared that she was thrown down a flight of the stairs near the end of her pregnancy. It was very traumatic, but we created a safe space for her to share her story, which then interned as a mandatory reporter, even though the assault wasn't directed at the child, the assault was directed at the mother, I'm still obligated to tell the team to tell the physician, because that individual was still in the home and in the picture and we all need safety awareness and that trickles over. I mean, we did all the necessary reporting as was legally indicated, but there it is. Backtrack, we made the mistake of letting the boys watch 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton, because she's phenomenal.

[0:22:39] KD: She is. That movie was groundbreaking and I think still is about what it talks about.

[0:22:46] MD: Yes. Yes. Okay. One, there's a couple of scenes in there that in retrospect, I was like, ÒOoh.Ó The boys were like, ÒThose are drugs and those are bad.Ó I was like, ÒYeah. Go.Ó I was like, it was the '80s Dolly Parton. Yeah. I'm like, ÒJust focus on Dolly.Ó Yes. Women empowerment in our house is really big. But there are certain things that were said and done that my children picked up on and they were like, ÒMom, you can't say that to a lady. Mom, you cannot say that.Ó I'm like, accurate information.

Could we tip toe through what the first part of your statement was when you talked about you do in services for on-the-site jobs, job training, because having awareness about what some of those comments are when we're working in the workforce, but also when we send students out into the workforce, what are our red flags there?

[0:23:48] KD: I always say, I usually look at sexual violence on a pyramid, when we talk about brave culture, different things like that. The bottom level that we typically look at first is degradation, and so that's like, walk a room talk. That is boys will be boys. Or, why was she wearing that? Or, why was she out that time of night? Or why did she drink or why Ð I mean, he's a nice guy. He wouldn't do anything like that. He comes from a good family. I think, I always tell people, we've all been in conversations where things like that have been said. I always go back to this really cool video that we talk about called James is Dead. You can you YouTube it, look at it.

I love it, because it talks about sexual assault, but through the lens of if the person was murdered. But when you watch it, itÕs comical, so it's okay if you laugh a little bit. I mean, it's like a cartoon. Basically, there's this friend who comes up to this other friend and he's like, ÒHey, man. Did you hear about James?Ó The person's like, ÒYeah. James died. That's so sad.Ó The person's like, ÒYeah, but he Ð I mean, he asked for it.Ó Goes down this whole thing, exactly how we talk about assault, right? Not how we talk about murder. We don't talk about murder survivors, murder victims in that way, or attempted murder survivors in that way, right? When we talk about sexual assault, people automatically ask what we call the why questions, which is against trauma informed, which is why were they there? Did they know that person? Why did they wear these things? That person that they're saying did that, I've known them for three years. They'd never do anything like that. Or they're so nice. They were straight A student. They would never do this.

[0:25:37] MD: Yes. But that we've all heard this. WeÕve all heard this.

[0:25:42] KD: Those types of comments, or even in the workplace, being aware of language and how people are expressing themselves amongst each other. There's nothing wrong with being close with your colleagues, or different things like that. One thing I'll always go back to, this is always going to be a conversation, and I love that you're having it with your boys early is consent, right? Consent does not just have to be when we talk about sexuality, or sex, or different things like that. It can be digital consent. I talk about that a lot online. Are you asking your friends if it's okay for you to take a photo of them if you're together and post it on Facebook?

[0:26:22] MD: And post it. Yes.

[0:26:24] KD: Or tag them, because everybody's not comfortable with that. You don't know. Someone might be in the witness protection program. You don't know. That kind of thing. You're like, ÒNope.Ó ÒWhy you posted that?Ó That kind of thing. Or with consent, like with children, I always talk about growing up, just some Southern and I'm pretty sure you can attest to it. I grew up with my family members like, ÒOh, give that person a hug. They know you since youÕre a baby.Ó I love both my grandmothers to death and I would give them all the sugar I could ever give, but they didn't necessarily asked. It was just like, we're going to hug. IÕm going to kiss your cheeks. That's just how we greet each other, but there was never consent, acts are given as far as physical touch. And so, being aware of that.

[0:27:11] MD: Yes. Okay. With folks, when we force hand over hand access on a child for touching a communication device, or we take their hands and force them to implement a strategy, whether that be a fine motor task, selection of an object or an action, that negates their ability for consent. We are training them that they do not have the ability to tell an adult, or a person in a position of authority no. Stop.

I know, all of us that went to grad school more than five years ago were trained probably on campus to do hand over hand with children on activities and tasks, especially children that have increased levels of physical need. We were taking away their consent. That and the assault statistics within the disabled community are higher. Sorry, you Ð

[0:28:14] KD: No. I mean, it's completely true, because a lot of times we've conditioned whether someone is disabled or not, or handicapable or not, we sometimes have conditioned children to not feel that they can give consent to touch, or to even maybe, like we said, photograph. How many people now, my photograph people, or different things like that and not ask consent for that.

Or, I even talk about consent being non-verbal, especially when we talk about assault, or different things like that, and just generally. If I'm naturally uncomfortable and I don't verbalize that I say no, I always tell people, if it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no. Meaning, if I am not giving you fully informed open communication, whether that's verbal or nonverbal, fully informed some type of expressed thing saying, ÒI am down for whatever we're doing,Ó I am not consenting. That means I can turn rigid. I might start having palpitations, or seem sweating, or seem very anxious, or nervous, I'm probably Ð I'm not consenting.

As a person, we need to talk more and not even just males, but also like anybody, any human about when we're interacting with other people, knowing nonverbal signs and cues, as well as verbal cues when we talk about consent and boundaries and knowing that what our boundaries are, and learning how to communicate that is so important. Also, what boundaries are, because unfortunately, a lot of us are not taught that, or might have a different type of boundary with someone.

I always talk about with kids and their bubbles, right? Adults, we have our own bubble, right? You have your personal space bubble, where you're like, don't come past this amount, or I feel like I'm going to have to react, right? We all have that. My bubble atmosphere might be way longer than yours. Yours might be very short. You might be like, I can come to talk to you and be right here. That's fine. Because that's comfortable for you, but that might not be comfortable for me. Vocalize and say, ÒHey, is it okay if I approach you a little closer? I wanted to tell you something that's a little bit more private.Ó Or just having those communication things, or cues that we have and just noticing that in every interaction, consent boundaries are always going to be fluid. They're always going to change.

Somebody right then could be like, ÒYou know what? I'm okay with what's happening.Ó But five seconds later and be like, ÒYou know what? I'm not okay with that anymore. I don't want to be in it.Ó We should respect that. I always go back with those cues, when you talk about professional, or being observing families, or different things like that and seeing the dynamic of how consent boundaries play a role, because those are always going to be underlying things that sometimes play a role. Then subconsciously, the rape culture thing that we have nationally and internationally, kind of what we use into that as well with those boy rooms, locker room things, or statements, or sometimes it comes with religiosity, different things like that as well, which all come from the arc of rape culture. Trying to break those barriers down and changing, or reframing those conversations, instead of engaging with them, or staying silent. Because when you stay silent, you're saying that you agree.

[0:31:39] MD: Yes. I just think back to your bubble and the boundaries and how the bubble and boundaries can be different between different individuals. That's something that when we're observing interactions in family members, or myself personally, I'm a hugger. My love language is touch. This is how I give. This is how I receive. It's so southern, right? I was, go hug this person, go and da, da, da. But that's my love language.

As I matured, I realized that it wasn't appropriate for me to go and hug some of the unknown males that my family members would introduce me to, because it made me uncomfortable. I didn't like how they looked at me, those kinds of things, right? That's something that it's okay to have different bubbles with different individuals. Saying that that's okay. I mean, I might be a close talker with my one of my girlfriends, Erin. But Erin, I love her, she's not a hugger, unless it's with my boys. She will give them bear hugs. If I go to hug her, it's like a pat. Erin, I know you're listening. I'm teasing you. But that's fine to have those Ð she goes, ÒIt's because I'm from Rochester.Ó YouÕre right. Yeah, itÕs that. Erin, you can't see it, but we're teasing you about your little side hugs. But yes. Oh.

[0:33:19] KD: Yeah. I think just respecting that. I think you made a really good comment of maturity and that also, remembering to step outside of yourself in those interactions and know that it's not only when weÕre interacting with other people, yes, we're thinking about what we need, but also, we need to make sure that we're thinking about what that other person might need. Sometimes if you're really not sure, it's okay to ask that. But like, ÒHey, is it okay if I sit at this chair that's closer to you, or would you like me to sit across from you?Ó

Even when we're going to a restaurant, right? If I'm going with my mom, sometimes I'll just sit beside her, because that's just how we are, that kind of thing. With friends or whatever, there are friends that will sit side by side and that's just how we are. We always have been that way and we have that understanding, but there might be a day that I'm like, ÒHey, do you mind just sitting across from me today?Ó I just would like a little bit more physical space, just for me. But it's okay to communicate that. It doesn't mean someone's not going to like you. It doesn't mean that that's mean.

Asserting your boundaries and asserting what's comfortable for you is so important. I think we want to give, especially, I'm going to speak from a feminine identity lens. Especially with that feminine identity, or female identified identity, sometimes we are conditioned that it's not okay to speak up with what we need, or what makes us feel safe, or different things like that, because that might cause friction, or we need to think about everybody else and not us. I'm giving you permission as a person, whether you're female-identified, or not. But to say, hey, what are my boundaries on that? What are my boundaries on touch, on even sexually, time, financially, or just these things that sometimes we don't really give certain thought to, until we're in the moment. But sometimes giving ourselves permission prior to that, or even in the workplace.

I think a good example is I'm an elder millennial, so I lack my social media. But it's still a boundary. I would say, social media boundary, digital boundaries, right? It's still a boundary for me that I don't necessarily send out friend requests to everybody I've ever worked with, or expect that for everybody I've ever worked with, because I might not feel a closeness to them for them to see that private side of my life, right? Then we go into different career things, like boundaries within supervisors, supervisees, or if you're teaching and what your boundaries are for that, some people might feel differently and be friends with the people they teach and different things like that. Other people are like, that's a personal boundary for me.

Just thinking about through those things, I think sometimes because sometimes people take those very personally, and it just might be a personal boundary for that person that this is a separate thing for me, like work life, personal life, or different things like that. I don't know why I thought about that, but that's just something that sometimes I think pops up, especially when we're talking about professionalism, or thinking about your workplace boundaries, or even lunch. If you're in our office area and you're like, ÒI prefer to eat by myself.Ó It doesn't mean that you're rude or anything. It's okay for you to call on and say, ÒI don't want to go to the potluck, or I don't want to go out,Ó and tell them that. ThatÕs okay. That's a boundary.

It's also okay if you change your mind one day and you're like, ÒHey, yeah. I'd love to go out to Ð IÕll go out with you guys for lunch for an hour, or whatever and do what you need to do.Ó That's fine. Because I mean, listen, unlimited breadsticks is all I'm saying.

[0:36:59] MD: IÕm missing Olive Garden. I'm thinking, I don't know the last Ð I do know, the last time we went to an Olive Garden by grandma passed because she loved Olive Garden. The only time we went to an Olive Garden was Ñ 

[0:37:10] KD: Unlimited breadsticks, is all I'm going to say. Especially if you get the unlimited super salad, or whatever you might want to do, just go in there and have you a nice little lunch. I will always be an advocate for Olive Garden. Just thinking about those things, too, in the workplace. Then also, touching all that stuff too, like you were saying with the hugging part. I'm a hugger as well. But at work, thinking about is that appropriate? Or with your clients, right? What's your boundary?

For me, there was a boundary, especially when I was counseling with physical touch with my clients, right? Because it's like, not only is there a power differential, but also, what is my boundary? What does it say if I'm not asserting that with that person, or am I helping them with boundaries, and is that a boundary violation for me? If they feel like they need touch, but I know that's a boundary for me, different things like that. Just keeping all of that in mind, because all of that plays a role. Because sometimes our intention does not mean harm, but that does not mean that we don't cause harm.

[0:38:24] MD: Yes. Yes. There's so much to unpack here. I mean, I start thinking about, I remember, because I am an older millennial. I'm 40 now. 40 fabulous.

[0:38:43] KD: Oh, love it.

[0:38:44] MD: Botox. Love it. Also, I really do love my Botox. I feel like, whatever. I remember a time and a place when inappropriate emails would get sent through company emails or jokes, and they were sexist. They were racist. They were misogynistic. Watching, thank you, 9 to 5, watching that change. Also, okay, there was a social experiment done years ago. I don't remember who did it. But they had a woman walking in an airport towards her gate or terminal, or whatever it's called. Then they also did it on a sidewalk. What they found is that men simply would not move out of the woman's way, the individual that identified as female. They anticipate and expect the female to move.

I've talked to our children about this, because we lived in downtown, Col the town. WeÕre always out on the sidewalk and doing that. Even with my children in tow, and hell, I'm talking itty-bitty wearing one of them, it was expected that I would physically move my body. I read The Feminine Mystique at 13, which is probably not the right age to read The Feminine Mystique, or maybe it is the right age to read The Feminine Mystique. I'm not quite sure. No. I will slam into them, if they don't move for me, especially if my hands are full. The boys will Ð they'll say something like, ÒMom, why didn't they move? Can't they see us coming?Ó Especially if we're walking on the right side of the sidewalk and they're on the right, like come on, people.

[0:40:37] KD: You see me.

[0:40:38] MD: You walk on the sidewalk like you drive a car. Yes, you can see me. I exist. I exist. Therefore, I am. We need to be kind, but that is also, in my mind, if you're an individual that's going to purposefully walk into me, and not move space, that's triggering and alarming for me how you act in other facets of your life.

[0:41:07] KD: I think that's a good example, because that goes back to some of the constructs we have as a society, as far as how we Ð the behaviors we assign, or expect from certain people gender-wise. Unfortunately, where there is an expectation like, okay, so if we're saying, let's talk about sex. If we're talking about a sexual encounter, who typically is responsible, for lack of a better word, if there's supposed to be some type of condom. Who's supposed to bring it?

[0:41:46] MD: The female should have them in stock. But I don't have a penis, so why should I keep it in stock?

[0:41:54] KD: Exactly, right? It's like, why should I Ð why are you looking at me like, I should have it, right? Of course, I could have other things that are specific for me, sure, whatever. But why is it an expectation that if there's going to be something that someone else is responsible for you engaging in sex, safe sex, you know what I mean? Just either way, it's good to have everybody have something. But why is it one's person's ideal job, right? Or when we talk about pregnancy, or unexpected pregnancy, one of the things you hear a lot of times is like, ÒWell, didn't she know better?Ó Did that other person know better, too?

[0:42:31] MD: Yes, it takes two Ð

[0:42:32] KD: It takes two. It still takes two, even if you go and get sperm, that's two people.

[0:42:37] MD: Yes.

[0:42:38] KD: It's not one. I can't self-make baby and do all this stuff. I can't do that. It's always going to be Ð

[0:42:44] MD: I am not a worm.

[0:42:45] KD: Right. I cannot do that. There's always going to be two people. It took two people to have an action and a behavior. Since we're on that note, even also in marriages, or relationships, talking about consent continually needing to be asked, because I don't know why Ð I mean, I know why it's based on the constructs and the different things that we have in society, but there is sometimes this thought that if we are in a partnership, whether that is a relationship, a marriage, all of these different things, that you're mine. You are to do what I need you to do for me to be fulfilled, which is controlling not love, red flag. That your body is not your own, because you're in a partnership.

Consent should still be happening in a marriage. It should be fluid. It should be continuously happening. Just because on Tuesday, it's a little video called Tea for Consent. But just because on Tuesday I offered somebody tea and they wanted it and we had a great time enjoying it, doesn't mean that I'm going to offer them tea on Wednesday and they're also going to want it. I could offer them tea on Wednesday and they say, ÒNo, I don't want tea.Ó Then five hours later, they're like, ÒHey, yeah. I'm okay with tea. Let's go.Ó Or then, I could have tea by myself, right?Ó I don't need somebody else to have tea.

The whole moral story there is, hey, I should still be asking for this, even if we're in a partnership. I should still be asking this person if they're comfortable with that. I should still be asking this person, is it okay if we try these things and even if we tried them the last time, I might not want to try them this time, right? Safety word violation, we're talking about that covert condom removal, how all of those are flags that someone is trying to control a narrative, or parts of interpersonal violence, behaviors that are not okay, right? Because everybody should be involved and fully informed on what is occurring in the incident, or in the interaction.

[0:44:44] MD: Yes. When I married my ex-husband on our honeymoon, he grabbed me by my ponytail and slammed my face into the cruise wall and said, ÒI own you. You are mine now.Ó Were there violent red flags beforehand? Yes. But never physically directed at me in that nature. As soon as we got married, it was a switch that I didn't see coming. I have analyzed and analyzed and analyzed where Ð what did I miss? I can't find it. I can't see it. That's very deeply personal and that's very, very raw. I say this, because I'm one in four of domestic abuse. If we don't change the narrative that this happens only to lower socioeconomic status, uneducated minority individuals in heterosexual relationships solely, if we don't change that narrative and stand up and say, no, it happens to all of us, then it's not going to change.

[0:46:02] KD: Correct. Then I think, also, one thing we talk about, too, in our trainings is there is no type of perpetrator. There is no one type of abuser. There is not. They're homogeneous. Sorry, heterogeneous. They can be anyone, any sex, any race, any socioeconomic status, they can be disabled, abled, any of it. It does not matter. I think as a society, it makes us feel good to try to assess and put a certain type of person in a box and say, well, that group, that group, they'll do those things, right? Because it makes us feel better to say, ÒOh, I know.Ó But no.

I mean, yes, there are still going to be people in white vans. That's not going to go away. There's still going to be people in the Walmart parking lot that are going to try to pull you into a van. I mean, that's just going to happen. Typically, it's just thatÕs life. But typically, when we talk about assaults, about 33% of assaults are always going to be acquaintances, or former, or current intimate partners.

[0:47:11] MD: Yes.

[0:47:12] KD: Only about 17.6% are complete strangers. The whole narrative of a stranger danger is gone. That never existed. More than likely, a perpetrator knows you in some sense. 

[0:47:28] MD: Isn't that terrifying?

[0:47:30] KD: It is, because what we think like, ÒOh, I know this person inside and out. They would never hurt me.Ó

[0:47:36] MD: You trust them.

[0:47:37] KD: Yeah. You trust them. But part of building a relationship with someone is having them drop those security flags, right? Sometimes I always say that in relationships, when you're first meeting someone, you're not meaning the real them. You're meaning their representative. I call them the representative.

[0:47:59] MD: ThatÕs great. I love that.

[0:48:01] KD: ItÕs the best version of them, right? Their most prized self. They're telling you all the great things about you, about them. The best things they've done. They're being the best things you need and all of those things, right? But the more and more you're with them, those -we cannot always have the representative on. The mask has to drop, because we have to start really being ourselves.

In our personal violence situations, like domestic violence, sexual assault, which can be hand in hand a lot of times, because it's about control, is those things start to fall. Whereas before, it was, I love bomb you. Everything is amazing. Then it goes from your mind, it goes to your mind, or it goes to maybe an incident of, ÒYou know, I know you usually have taco Tuesdays with your friends. But this time, can you stay home with me? I just really feel like we need to reconnect.Ó

[0:48:51] MD: It's insidious. It's insidious. It's like a cancer. It's tiny, micro-managements that just seep up. Then all of a sudden, you can't go anywhere or do anything without their knowledge, consent or, okay, we bought this new house. I cannot make this up. We bought our new house.

[0:49:14] KD: Nice.

[0:49:16] MD: And found out from our neighbor that they were going through divorce. Found out from our neighbor that the man was a sex addict. I mean, purportedly. She goes, ÒYou might want to check your house for cameras.Ó Okay. Why, when we checked the house for cameras, did my husband find a camera and painted over. Thank you, Jesus. Because we had the whole house painted in my closet, right? Oh, what the Ð Oh. This was not in the disclosure when you bought the house, because they're supposed to one, disclose these things. But two, oh, my God, what did that family endure? What happened behind closed doors? You know what I mean? My dad ended up coming and we saged and we blessed the house.

[0:50:03] KD: Okay. I was like, that's a lot.

[0:50:07] MD: We got the cameras Ð Christian handled Ð my husband handled the cameras. My daddy handled the staging. But I say this because this was an older, married, established couple that was residing here and tiny little things. All of a sudden, you're being camera-watched, bamboozled to make sure that you're what, on your P's and Q's?

[0:50:31] KD: I mean, and I think we forget to talk about voyeurism. Because that also is a form of control too, right? Whether it's a stranger, or whether it's happening in the homes. I know a lot of people sometimes use the guise of, ÒI want to feel safe in my home, blah, blah, blah.Ó You also don't need to have a camera in your closet. I can understand having it. I have a video doorbell camera, so I can see who's coming to my door and talking Ð I don't have to go to the door and tell somebody to go away, like that kind of thing.

But do you need to have 50 million cameras in your house? What is that saying? Also, like you said, disclosing that. I think those things are so important, because what boundaries are you saying in the house that were existing and what dynamics are there?

[0:51:11] MD: Yes. Then I have had students come to me and co-workers come to me and they said, ÒHey, I'm doing home health therapy,Ó and I saw a blinking red light at me out of a bookshelf, or a bookcase. I think they're filming me with the family. That's not safe. If you are going into a patient's house to do therapy, to do caregiver coaching, or to work with the family, you have to be notified if you're being filmed, or if you're on camera. That's our right. That's very, very Ð

[0:51:49] KD: ThatÕs digital consent.

[0:51:51] MD: Yes. That's very scary. You are not required according to our code of ethics to go somewhere where you do not feel safe. It is not patient abandonment. If you find out that you're being filmed and you decline to go back, that is your safety, first and foremost. Also, it needs to be relayed over to whoever sent the referral to you, whether it be a pediatrician or a PCP. The team has to know that the situation is occurring because of digital consent. Boy, that's how it gets. Yeah.

[0:52:28] KD: Yeah. Because I should know if you're filming me if I'm going into your private home. Yes, that's your home, but I should know. Anybody who comes to my house, I always say, ÒHey, yeah. I have a video doorbell. I don't keep the recording, or whatever, but it's just so I know who's at my house, or that kind of thing coming up to the door.Ó I don't have cameras in the inside. I just naturally give people that information. If I did have a camera inside, I would feel inclined to let people know that, because that might, someone might not feel comfortable in the house, or they might be like, ÒHey, I would prefer it if you turn the camera off in the inside, while I'm there,Ó or something like that. You should be giving people that fully informed, open communication. All of that should be given to them, so they can make an informed decision, about whether or not they want to in coming to our space.

[0:53:17] MD: Yes. Okay, this is funny, but my in-laws have a crazy person that moved in next door to them and they knew that they put cameras on the side of their house. My mother-in-law was like, ÒWe have to be notified when you're filming us,Ó because their yards jumped up together. They turn on this ridiculous voice. ÒYou are now being filmed. Literally, every time they open the back door, it goes, ÒYou are now being filmed.Ó They're like, ÒYou need to angle the camera, so that I know our property.Ó

My mother-in-law and I, we are sometimes the same woman and she goes, ÒYeah.Ó She goes, ÒI'm half tempted to go out there and moon them, because it'd be on my property.Ó I'm like, ÒOkay. WhyÕd I do that?Ó

[0:54:01] KD: Because itÕs like, what is the video, like yeah, aiming at your property part, because that's what you should mean.

[0:54:08] MD: Yeah. Well, they think Rosie's pooping in their bushes. Sorry, the beagle. Not my mother-in-law.

[0:54:13] KD: I figured it was a dog.

[0:54:17] MD: Yeah. Sorry, we just needed a good Rosie poop joke. Okay, continue. Sorry.

[0:54:22] KD: No, you're fine. Even stuff like that, I think having the openness, feeling empowered enough to have the open conversation of like, ÒHey, I feel like my boundaries are being pushed, or my limits are being pushed.Ó Then also, just continuously checking in. I think that's really important, too, is like, ÒHey, I want to check where we are.Ó With certain things, like, yes, you feel like there was a violation, or different things like that, saying that and just being aware of what your boundaries are and what is appropriate for you just as a person when we talk about that. 

Because at the end of the day, consent and boundaries are always going to be in the conversation when in the overarching conversation with sexual assault, sexual violence, domestic violence, any type of interpersonal based violence that is always going to be in the conversation. Being aware of that, not only personally, but also being very vigilant and conscious of other people's maybe lack of knowledge of their own boundaries, or different things like that, or asking them to communicate that with you.

Because some people really struggle with communicating how they feel and the things they need. Sometimes we have to open the door to that, being like, ÒHow can I support you in this area?Ó Or, ÒWhat do you mean for me right now?Ó Those types of things can really open the door. Just have an open conversation. We call it just trauma informed. Being empathetic, ask and open into questioning. Validating people when they do tell you something really hard, or that, hey, I might have been triggered, or different things like that, validating that and saying like, ÒThank you for trusting me with that information. I'm so honored that you were able to do that. How can I support you right now? What do you need?Ó

Then just knowing your resources. I always will harp that. Know what's in your community. Know what the resources in your community do. There are so many amazing resources in the communities that we live in, that people have no idea exist. There might be someone you know that could truly use that, but if we're not plugged in and know what people do and what these resources are, we can't empower other people to know, or go and seek their services, right?

Especially as professionals, I think it's so important for advocacy piece to know what it is in your community, for your families, for the pediatric patients that you see, what is there to help them not only with what you guys specialize in, but also emotionally, possibly financially, all the other parts that you might not do, but wrap around services that we know assist the family in being healthy. Because if the basic needs are not met, they cannot engage with you and what they need for their children.

[0:57:06] MD: Yes. MaslowÕs scale of hierarchical need. If we truly are embracing IDEA Part C, if we're serving as the service coordinator on that team. Kayla, under early intervention, depending on which state an individual could reside in, and they may be the service coordinator on the child's IFSP team, or they could be just the direct service delivery, OT, PT, or speech. But in numerous states, the service coordinator is also the licensed professional of the SLP, OT, or PT.

In that role as service coordinator, we have to know these resources. Because the primary recipient of those services is actually the caregiver. We need to know services, like a food bank, or somebody that's going to help you if you are stressed about electricity, or sexual assault, domestic abuse. Folks, if you're still struggling with why do I need to know about sexual assault and violence and awareness? Right here. These are the reasons why this is important to your job.

[0:58:25] KD: I'll piggyback on what you just said. These are important, because if we don't talk about them, they're still happening. The people you encounter, even if they're not a direct survivor, most of us know someone who was impacted by sexual violence, or interpersonal violence-based issues in their life on some point. We see the psycholytic occurrence that happens in families, if there is interpersonal violence in the home, whether that's assault, or abuse, or whether physical, mental, or emotional, all of that psycholytic, where sometimes typically, we see people being predisposed to possibly become a perpetrator from seeing those things in the home, and then also, interrupting community, growth, or different things like that in the community as well. Making sure that we're looking not only at this as, gosh, this really isn't my job, but it is.

This sexual assault and interpersonal violence is not a they thing. It's not an other thing. It's a we thing. Everybody is human. Everybody knows someone, whether you think you do or no, you know someone, whether they have disclosed to you or not, that has been through assault, sexual violence, interpersonal violence, domestic violence, anything like that in that realm. It's so important that we're making ourselves be knowledgeable and being aware and educated, because if someone comes to you and discloses, or you notice that there's some type of like that hair on the back of your neck that stands up with an interaction that's happening in the family, you need to know those red flags, because not only are you meant a reporter, but you're a human.

If you're noticing some things happen and you're like, ÒHey, how do I interject, or what's happening right now?Ó Allowing yourself to say, ÒHey, maybe that is a red flag,Ó and then getting continuously trained with people like us that come out and do outreach, or getting involved nationally, or different things like that and things that you see and advocating in your space for that training and continuous knowledge, because as professionals, we should be continuous and internal learners.

You do not know everything. I don't know everything. I'll never know everything. But guess what? I will always be open to learning, because I want to make sure that the people that I serve, the people I meet in my life, the people that I meet in the Walmart line, in the parking lot, or whatever, that if they have something to say and I see them struggling, I can be like, ÒYou know what? Just so you know, I know of this place. I'm just letting about it. What you want to do with that information is you.Ó I have no control over that, but I'm going to know that I empowered that person to make a choice. Whatever they choose to do is on them, but me being empowered enough to say, ÒI know these resources. I know these things happening and that I know that I can give them.Ó

Because what we know is that people are more likely to disclose to someone they feel safe with. That first disclosure is so important, because if we do not validate, let them know they're seen, theyÕre heard and that we believe them, a lot of survivors will not re-disclose, or they will hold that and not create a healing journey for themselves, because they're not being greeted in a trauma-informed way with the disclosure. We want to prepare ourselves for those things. Even when it's a child, right? Because sometimes, the adult that's sitting in front of you, oh, I think adults are just children with money.

Yeah, we are. We just have money, right? The adult that's sitting in front of you was once a child. I always say, we all carry some type of trauma with us. I like to think mine is like Louis Vuitton, nicely suede, light blue, maybe teal, like has will so I can move it really efficiently throughout the relationships that I have with that Platonic, or romantic familial. But we all have it and we bring it into every type of relationship that we have. But what is so important in that with our boundaries and education and awareness is not only being mindful of what your triggers are, but also being mindful of how that changes how you interact with other human beings. Really being cognizant of that.

Part of maturity and part of growing is realizing the effect that we do have on other people, and how that's so important for us to stay cognizant of that and take care of ourselves, emotional management. Whether that means you go and talk to a therapist, life coach, or whatever, or both that you might need to help with that, because we need to make sure, especially professionals, that if you are in this caregiving, healing journey with this family, that you are also going through that healing journey with yourself. Because how can you help someone if you're not taking care of yourself, too?

[1:03:25] MD: Yes. Yes. I got to be honest. You're part of my healing journey. I don't know if you know that.

[1:03:34] KD: Oh, I don't know that.

[1:03:35] MD: But you really are. Yes, because you are guiding and instilling, hopefully, through me and through our opportunities, what I wish the younger version of me had. Part of me healing is by being able to pay it forward. Because I know what I needed, but I didn't at the time know about, right? By setting our future for success through future generations, I cannot tell you how many young women you have impacted that I personally know, that have come to me afterwards and I'm going to keep their business private, because it's in the vault. It is absolutely amazing to see trauma prevented by initial self-care and healing. You know what I mean?

[1:04:47] KD: Yeah.

[1:04:49] MD: Yeah. For me personally, whenever we get together, on top of talking about now, Louis Vuitton baskets, inappropriate jokes and mud masking. I'm a fan of the mud mask, because of you. But it is awe-inspiring to watch you do what it is that you do, because you just have so much passion.

Also, when we were talking about sex earlier, all I could think about was my mom giving me the greatest advice ever. Technically, she's my stepmom. She said, ÒHoney, you have to love thyself first.Ó I was like, ÒI don't understand.Ó She goes, ÒGive it a little bit of time and you will.Ó

[1:05:27] KD: You will understand it. You know how many people struggle with that. Because sometimes we're not Ð that's okay, or to explore ourselves. That's a boundary, too, right?

[1:05:39] MD: Yes. Wait. Who was it? Oh, my God. It's going to come back to me. She's a speech pathologist that focuses on teenage communication devices. She was talking about consent vocabulary on communication devices. Oh, my God. I have her in my email. Oh, my gosh. I have to connect yÕall.

[1:06:02] KD: Yeah, I would love that.

[1:06:03] MD: Because the amount Ð Oh, my gosh. The coursework that y'all could put together for differently abled or disabled, because person first language, different persons with different language. But she was talking about how we have to empower the choice vocabulary on communication devices, because just because they may not be able to speak, they may still like, or not certain touches and request both. That my friend is the role of the speech-language pathologist is help in vocabulary selection. Huzzah. Love thyself.

[1:06:39] KD: Exactly. Completely. There should be no barrier, no matter like, if you said you're differently abled or whatever, everybody should have access to that vocabulary and feel empowered to have that conversation in whatever way they need to. The barrier shouldn't be a device, or shouldn't be not having a language. We all should be equipping ourselves and the people we love and the people we work with that language, that empowerment and overall knowledge of what this looks like when we talk about consent and boundaries and overall sexual violence that sometimes is perpetuated in our society, because we don't talk about it.

[1:07:18] MD: Yes. I don't mind talking about the things nobody doesn't want to talk about. I'm glad we get to do it together.

[1:07:26] KD: Me, too.

[1:07:30] MD: Okay. If somebody is listening right now and they Ð you had one final close out sentence to sit down, hold their hands, or not hold their hands with them and fill their cup, what would you say?

[1:07:46] KD: First thing I would say is like, would you like me to hold your hands, or would you not like me to hold your hands, if you're going to make a joke? Or would you like to? My final takeaway for anybody who's listening is to stay an eternal learner. Remind yourself that even if you're like, I don't know how this pertains to me. This is a universal issue, meaning that it universally impacts the family and the children that you work with, so it impacts you. You need to know what this is, the red flags, how to respond.

If you're like, ÒI have no idea how to do that,Ó please look at some national resources. I can share some of those with Michelle as well, footnotes, or anything like that that you guys might need. Also, every state has different entities within them to help with those situations. But it's important as humans that we continuously allow ourselves to be educated and that we need to move on this. We have to act. It is no longer the time of sitting back, being silent, or not saying anything. It is the time to stand up in what we talk about now for our campaign here at my center is shattering the silence of sexual assault, period. That is what we're here to do. No matter what you do, who you are, where you live, it is now the time to be in the light with survivors and bring them with us.

[1:09:13] MD: Okay. My brain is on fire on ideas. October is AAC Awareness Month, the Augmented Alternative Communication Month. I am thinking, how can we put joy and evidence into the world to shatter the silence of sexual assault through the use of AAC? Okay. Mm. Ma'am. Yes.

[1:09:41] KD: Thank you.

[1:09:42] MD: Thank you. Okay. Wait. What if somebody had love money? My grandma always calls it love money, or a little bit of mad money, a little money left over at the end of the month. If they want to donate somewhere, where would you recommend that they make a donation to?

[1:09:54] KD: The first thing I would say is looking at your local and regional communities. There's probably a nonprofit there, similar to us that does this type of work. I would say, plug into your community, because we need you. Even if you don't have love money, or mad money, if you have a heart and you're like, ÒI have time to volunteer and donating,Ó that is just as precious as money. If you can look into that volunteer opportunities, or help share your expertise with that entity, I know they will be glad to do that. Looking into those regional and local nonprofits around you and really plugging into your community, because those are the people that are serving the people that you see directly. Pouring into those nonprofits.

[1:10:36] MD: Yes. Excellent. Well, man, thank you.

[1:10:41] KD: Thank you.

[1:10:42] MD: Oh, my gosh. Kaya. Yes. Okay. Folks, if you have questions that are follow up and I'm sure that you will, please reach out to us, First Bite Podcast on Instagram, and First Bite Podcast on the land of the Facebooks. Be sure to reach out to your local community service providers. If you need help, the website that she mentioned earlier was rain RANN, R-A-N-N, as in noodles.org. Then I'll get some additions.

[1:11:18] KD: The R-A-I-N-N.org.

[1:11:21] MD: Oh, I missed it. Oh, thank you. Okay. I was wondering why it was called RAINN and not RAN. Okay. Then I'll get some extra websites from you and we'll have them in the show notes. Find it on speechtherapypd.com.

[END OF INTERVIEW]

[1:11:37] MD: Feeding Matters guides system-wide changes by uniting caregivers, professionals, and community partners under the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Alliance. What is this alliance? The alliance is an open-access collaborative community, focused on achieving strategic goals within three focus areas; education, advocacy, and research.

Who is the Alliance? It's you. The Alliance is open to any person passionate about improving care for children with pediatric feeding disorders. To date, 187 professionals, caregivers, and partners have joined the alliance. You can join today by visiting the Feeding Matters website at www.feedingmatters.org. Click on the PFD Alliance tab and sign up today. Change is possible when we work together.

[OUTRO]

[1:12:28] MD: That's a wrap folks. Once again, thank you for listening to First Bite: Fed, Fun and Functional. I'm your humble, but yet, sassy host, Michelle Dawson, the All-Things PFDs SLP.

This podcast is part of a course offered for continuing education through speechtherapypd.com. Please check out the website if you'd like to learn more about CEU opportunities for this episode, as well as the ones that are archived. As always, remember, feed your mind, feed your soul, be kind and feed those babies.

[END]
FBP 243		Transcript

	©Ê2023 First Bite Podcast	1