There are only 430 dually certified SLP/BCBAs stretched out across 44 states and over the entire world. Sometimes referred to as “unicorns”, they have a unique perspective on the autism community because their specialty allows them to bridge the gap between the two therapy approaches. Even though SLPs and BCBAs use different words to describe the same problem, by collaborating they can bridge the care gap that children with autism may fall into. SLP/BCBA collaboration is essential to helping a child to reach their fullest potential.
The three guests on my panel today have a variety of experiences, but they all started out as SLPs before becoming BCBAs. Rose Griffin teaches a class on ethics at Kent State and shares some of her thoughts on the difficulties that SLPs and BCBAs have when they talk past each other. Even though using jargon is against the code of ethics for BCBAs, they still do it all the time, albeit unconsciously. Part of Rose’s mission is to explain jargon so that BCBAs and SLPs can understand each other.
SLPs and BCBAs have overlapping scopes of practice, but not always overlapping scopes of competence. Speech is a behavior, but it doesn’t mean that only the SLP can work on speech. However, if you’ve had a not-so-great interaction with a professional that you’re trying to collaborate with, it can potentially spoil all of your future encounters with anyone in that field. Kate Grandbois calls that “emotional poisoning”, and she gives some suggestions for how to improve those prickly interactions that might prevent collaboration.
For professionals, I think that their main goal should be to understand how they can help their clients. The waitlists are so long, and therapy can sometimes be split between OTs, SLPs, BCBAs, and other professionals. When SLPs and BCBAs collaborate and empower parents, children have a better chance of living their best life where they can independently make their wants and needs known.
Today’s Guests
Kate Grandbois is a dually certified SLP/BCBA with 13 years of clinical experience working in private practice, outpatient clinics, outpatient hospital settings, and consulting to private schools and legal teams. She specializes in augmentative alternative communication, autism and associated disorders, language development, and integrating AAC into the educational/vocational programming of persons with behavioral needs. Her private practice, Grandbois Therapy + Consulting, LLC, focuses on multidisciplinary treatment, collaboration, and mentorship. She is a writer and co-host of the SLP Nerdcast podcast (an ASHE CE Provider) and serves on the AAC Advisory Group for Massachusetts Advocates for Children. She has served as an advisory board member for the HP Hacking Autism Initiative, as an adjunct faculty at Northeastern University, and is the former president and co-founder of The Speech and Language Network, Inc.
Rose Griffin, M.A. CCC/SLP, BCBA, COBA, is a practicing speech-language pathologist and board-certified behavior analyst. Over the last twenty years, Rose has helped her students in the public school setting and clinical setting find their voice and become more independent communicators. Rose is an invited speaker, podcaster, product developer, and online course creator. Her mission is to help all students strengthen their speech and language skills. Rose’s podcast, Autism Outreach, provides helpful information that professionals and parents can use to help students become more effective communicators. Rose is also the co-founder of Supervision Academy.
Liz Willis, M.S., CCC-SLP/L, BCBA, is a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Morris County, NJ. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Pennsylvania State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Liz is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed to practice speech therapy in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Liz has extensive experience working with children with autism and other speech and language needs. She provides consultation to school teams, including teachers, speech therapists, staff, and other related service providers on the use of ABA strategies with children with autism. Liz’s biggest passion lies in working closely with parents and families to promote generalization and maximize progress for the children with whom she works. She uses a play-based, family-centered approach to her direct therapy, and also offers parent and caregiver training on a variety of topics within the areas of speech, language, behavior, and play.
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