Be Seen & Heard

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Summary

Having Our Say is dedicated to ensuring that every student, client and family feels Seen & Heard^®. Since 2019, our digital platforms have been dedicated to sharing resources and methods for SLPs, caregivers and other service providers to diversify their libraries. We curated a digital library with book recommendations and created professional development and digital lesson plans to help SLPs understand the importance of integrating diverse stories into their intervention. The digital library is free to access and many resources are available to clinicians for free as well.

In 2021, we created and co-sponsored "The Equity Series," a two day virtual learning experience dedicated to highlighting and addressing the often overlooked and misunderstood challenges of individuals from marginalized communities with communication difficulties. The annual conference is co-sponsored by SLP Toolkit and has tackled topics like microaggressions, intersections of neurodiversity, autism in girls, addressing barriers and creating equity for AAC users, supporting monolinguals who treat bilingual and multilingual communicators, creating a gender-inclusive library, diagnostic humility, understanding AAE, teaching pronouns, using dynamic assessments with CLD Populations and much more.

To date, Shontaye Glover Jones has reached nearly 20,000 attendees through her public speaking engagements and professional development experiences globally. In an effort to address the lack of diversity in children's literature, Shontaye has had two picture books published "Liam's First Cut, 2020" and "The Season of Yes!, 2022." Future plans include authoring additional books and curating more in-person and virtual learning experiences to create equitable spaces- because everyone should Be Seen & Heard^®!

For More Information

See the Having Our Say website or contact Shontaye Jones at havingoursay@gmail.com.

This initiative was submitted on December 16, 2024.