Hi friends!

I had one of you email me asking for advice about starting your own blog.  Here is a little advice.

• Know your topic and style beforehand.
• Blog regularly or you'll lose readers
• Keep your posts short enough that busy people will read them
• Throw in a little personal touch and connection- not just strictly business and SLP stuff - a little personal flavor keeps people connected to the blog.
• Look at and comment on others' blogs and they will do the same for you.
• Keep your posts relevant and helpful/functional.
• Label your posts at the bottom so people will find your blog when Google searching.
• Get followers- through give-aways that require following, and networking with other blogs, and of course having a following button somewhere on the blog. 
• Tweet posts or put them on facebook to get more traffic.
• Encourage comments.
• Keep the blog looking clean and attractive.

Also, my blog buddy Kim posted a FABULOUS post about this same topic- I highly recommend it for any of you who are interested:  click here. 

~K

Back from the sabbatical!

Hi blog reading friends!  It's Kristin here.  I have taken a long break and really thought I had posted my very last post.  I thought Bob was done to (we really haven't seen eachother or talked for a long time.  You know how new babies can turn someone's life upside-down and all.)  But some of you have been so encouraging lately, and you made me want to get back into it a bit.  I think Bob might even start blogging a little mroe here and there as well (hint hint, Bob!).  :)

Let me know if you're still reading this blog!  My plan is to try to post twice a week, so check in with me here and there and know of course that we LOVE comments.  Questions, post requests and ideas, feelings, stories- anything!

Here are some of my up-coming posts to give you something to look forward to:

• BRS-S - Should you look into getting Board Recognition as a Swallowing Specialist?
• My Most frequently-used apps for cognitive therapy.
• Tips for starting your own blog.
• Working on cognition for patients with dementia (by request from one of our fabulous readers).

See you soon!

Kristin

My bad

I'm sitting in a training about resources for SLPs on the web and I see my blog as one of the "home grown" resources. Instantly I feel a ping of guilt for having neglected my blog for so long. This year has been fun and very busy, but I want to get back into sharing therapy ideas, reviewing apps, and so forth.

So, please... don't go any where

Of course I might be hanging out on pinterest or twitter.

have a good one

~bob

Apps and online resources for OT's and SLP's

Kristin here.

I found this cool site with awesome tools for Occupational therapists, and many of them also apply to SLPs.

http://mastersinoccupationaltherapy.org/2011/40-best-online-tools-for-occupational-therapists/

it includes a hearing test app, AAC apps. etc.

Also, if any of you are interested in a job in the school system working with teens just 4-5 hours a week, very flexible hours, let me know!  (SLC, Utah area ~3300 South.)  I can get you more info- my friend is looking to hire.

~Kristin

College for students with disabilities

Check out this nice list I found- the best colleges for students with disabilities:

http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2011/09/21/20-incredible-colleges-for-special-needs-students/

Here's one about the best colleges for kids with autism. 

http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2011/05/25/10-impressive-special-college-programs-for-students-with-autism/

I'm getting excited for ASHA.  I am excited for my short course about swallow exercises and their efficacy, and some AAC classes, etc., etc.  I still don't have a place to stay, but am looking into the ASHA Roommate forum.  I found some promising leads.  I'm REALLY excited to check out San Diego and enjoy the warm, beautiful weather.  Anyone have advice about San Diego sites (or ASHA for that matter)? 

XOXO
~K

Cool SLP Resources for adults

Hey all, look at some of this cool stuff I found (thanks to some of my awesome collegues).

365 ESL short sories with activities:
http://www.eslyes.com/
These stories each come with comprehension questions, vocab activities and other games and tasks perfect ALSO for those of us who work with adults with neurological trauma.  Sweet.

Apps for SLPs who work with adults:
http://www.tactustherapy.com/other.html
I love finding new iPad apps and making sure I have the latest and greatest stuff to do with my patients.  Here's a fun list for SLPs. 

And have you heard about Pinterest.com?  My cute SLP cousin just told me about its awesome application for SLPs.  More on that later...

I'm also excited about the free Passey-Muir Webinars in a couple weeks.  Check them out here...  Free CEUs that can be done over lunch!  I'm all for it.  And they provide really good information in my experience.  (Passey-Muir does not pay me to advertise!)  :)

Hope you have a more fun caseload than I do right now.  I'm feeling the blahs.  I have a few patients who can't stay awake for a second, and a few who don't respond, even when awake.  Sigh...

Anyone have a good pick-me-up for SLPs in burn-out phase?

XOXO

~K

Autism Tweeters for SLPs and Moms

Kristin here.

If you work with people/children with Autism, I want to share some awesome resourses.  Here are a bunch of SLPs, Special Ed teachers and Moms who tweet autism-related stuff all the time.  (If you don't understand what I just wrote, you need to sign up for a Twitter account, make an SLP-ish name for your username, and start adding people on these lists to your contacts (it's called "following their tweets").  Then as you sign into your twitter account each day (or week, or month...), you'll have a network of people with related interests, sharing info, swapping stories, asking and answering questions, etc.  It's a great tool!

Here is that autism list I mentioned:

http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2011/08/24/60-essential-twitter-feeds-for-following-autism-education/)

Happy Tweeting.
Kristin