Phew, what a May, actually March-April-and May, it has been. I have seen fairy gardens and magic tricks, have been introduced to siblings/pets/favorite stuffies, have worked in blanket forts, and have gone for car rides all while sitting at my desk. I am grateful for technology and flexibility and being able to not miss a beat (and insurance is covering, and we are making just as much progress!). I am also grateful for my network of colleagues that I have been able to rally with and gain knowledge from and share resources with (special thanks to Holly Cook, Kim Reddig, Melissa Urbani, Nancy Kuhles,Rachael Walden). Right when I was settling in and learning how this new work feels and flows, it is time to shift energy to figuring out what transitioning back to the office is going to look like…with that is coming another learning curve and trying to figure out best safety practices for everyone. Teletherapy is working well for many of the clients (and can continue for those families it is best for), but there is nothing like in-person, face-to-face therapy that some kids just need. My fingers are crossed that the in-person high fives and chatter in the waiting room will return sooner than later. The biggest take away points for me this Better Hearing & Speech Month is that I was reminded how resilient and generous we are as a field (from free resources to free live trainings to countless answers to questions). I was also reminded of how resilient the kids and families we work with are in trying and adapting to new things even though they face struggles different from those people without disabilities. Last, my mind was opened to the value of teletherapy and how it can be utilized as a service delivery option in the future, maybe helping to better serve families who live in our rural areas....
Work From Home Spring 2020