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Amyz.theslp Connected Page

ADHD SLP teaching parents and SLPs about the connection between executive function, gestalt language processing, and AAC.
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Creator of Foundational Skills First: the only course out there on executive function & gestalt language processing!

05/19/2026

Comment GLINT if you want to try this for FREE for 30 days - no strings attached & ill send my affiliate link! ⤵️

As an SLP who has experienced burnout and experienced actual health challenges because of it, I am so grateful for tools like Glint AI that can be used for such good!

SLPs, educators, and so many other professionals deserve to spend time focusing on what matters most: the children they serve.

You can use Glint AI to save you HOURS making visual supports, visual schedules, social stories, communication boards, and more!

Comment GLINT down below for my affiliate link for a FREE 30 day trial! No strings attached! ⤵️

05/18/2026

👀 Anybody else with me on this?

I have found that we have the highest expectations for new AAC users and when they don’t show us they “get it,” we immediately assume the worst.

👉 “they’re just not getting it”
👉 “they’re not using it right”
👉 “they’re not really communicating with it”

Remember, when we believe an AAC user can’t…that’s true. And when we believe that they are capable of learning, that’s also true.

But the way you perceive them & their abilities is what going to be a part of how everyone else responds to them.

So, we can’t expect AAC users to “master” their AAC device in weeks, months or even years. This is a long time. I mean - think of people who use spoken language. They are constantly refining their language and even as they are getting advanced degrees.

AAC users deserve people who believe in their abilities and people who understand the role we play in their success 💖

👉 share this with a friend who needs to hear this message

📌 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘕𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥.

05/17/2026

Okay. Obviously that’s a joke because I’ll always talk about it.

Two strategies that show up constantly in AAC therapy are errorless learning and edible reinforcers, but here are things to consider.

👉 Errorless learning removes the space for exploration. AAC is not about getting the right answer. It’s about spontaneous, self-directed, messy communication. When we prompt before a child even has a chance to try, we’re not teaching communication. We’re teaching compliance.

I also want to highlight that there is a time and place for explicit instruction, but errorless learning? In my clinical opinion & based on lived experiences of AAC users, errorless learning is not it.

👉 Edible reinforcers can complicate a child’s relationship with food. For kids with feeding challenges or ARFID, pairing food with communication tasks can add layers of complexity we didn’t intend. Even for kids without a known feeding history, using food as a reward can start to work against the internal hunger and fullness cues their body is learning to regulate. That’s not a small thing.

…And when food is always the motivator, where does intrinsic motivation come from?

We want kids to reach for their device because communication feels good and meaningful to them. Not because something edible is waiting on the other side.

If any of this is making you rethink some things, that’s okay. We’re always learning. Share with a friend who needs to see this message 👉

📌 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘕𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥.

05/15/2026

“How do I write AAC speech therapy goals for new AAC users?”

Well, I’ve got some handouts to get you started and they’re completely free for you!

Comment EMERGING down below and I’ll send the link! ⬇️

05/14/2026

These lived experiences are exactly the reason why I will always talk about executive function…because no one else has. 💖

Every client is so unique & are there other factors that could impact progress? Absolutely.

But if a parent of an autistic gestalt language processor tells me that they have never been taught about the influence of executive function on language development, social communication, or emotional regulation then it has to be assessed and can’t be dismissed.

👉 how is a child processing information in an environment?
👉 are they taking in too much / too little information?
👉 do they attend to what others are sharing with them?
…and there’s so much more. But these are foundational questions I ask myself as a starting point.

Comment “PDPODCAST” down below for the link! ⬇️

05/13/2026

Comment GLINT for a completely free 30 day trial to try this out!

SLPs shouldn’t be spending hours a week creating visual supports for their speech therapy sessions for their clients.

I love Glint created by .chat because it has truly saved me hours a week when I am creating things for my clients. I even am able to create activities to use on their platform during my sessions with my clients right in front of me. 🤯

If you’re ready to try this out yourself, comment GLINT down below for my affiliate link! ⬇️

05/12/2026

Encouraging self-reflection is the thing that will actually allow autistic and ADHD students to notice the choices they are making.

When we call choices “good” or “bad,” we’re teaching them it’s not okay to make mistakes. I also recognize there are some things that can be very dangerous & inherently bad - but I’m talking about things like getting up in the middle of class, interrupting others, etc.

Do we want them doing that? No, but do we need to shame them for it? Also no. 😊

But self-reflection encourages kids to…
✔️observe their own actions
✔️ think about their choices (and not just to answer the question. To really notice how they’re getting to the decision)
✔️ adjust their behaviors as they become more aware

If there’s ONE thing I would love for SLPs, teachers & other professionals who are supporting autistic or ADHD students it’s this: if we consciously implemented EF supports with these minor language shifts, they would go a long way. And it would actually make everyone’s life easier.

👉 share this with a friend who needs to see this today!

📌 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘕𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥.

05/11/2026

This is the longest carousel post I’ve ever made and I think it deserves the space here. 💖

I will never claim that executive function is the thing that will magically fix everything.

But I will die on this hill: if a professional has never truly assessed executive function and the response a family received was something like “they’re not really ready for it,” that tells me there is likely a gap in understanding about what executive function actually is. Because the kids who get that response are often the ones who need that support the most.

It is no different than getting kids access to AAC as early as possible. It is no different than exposing autistic kids to literacy.

We do not make families wait for those things. We presume competence that kids can learn and we start to support them in the ways they need support from us.

Parents deserve to have all of the information. Not just “this is what’s best for GLPs” conversation that I’ve had more times than I can count. Parents deserve the full picture, so they can make the most informed decision possible for their child.

That is why I keep talking about this and will continue to talk about it. 💖

…Because there are many families and professionals that share the information resonates, so I know there are people out there who need this. They finally have words to describe what’s happening and what they experience matters, too.

If you want to start learning, comment FINCH and I’ll send you the link to my blog. It’s small for now, but I can’t wait for it to continue to grow to continue to spread awareness. 💖

📌 This post is for educational purposes only and does not replace therapy or medical advice. No guarantees are made. Please seek professional support if needed.

05/08/2026

If you missed the first video, I linked the reel so you can get the tea. 🤪

Though, the “tea” is unfortunately just more adults making an assumptions of what a child is capable of without reflecting on how we shape an AAC user’s communication. 😞

I know AAC can feel so overwhelming and hard, especially when there just isn’t sufficient training out there.

But here’s the thing: can you imagine how a child must feel when people don’t believe that they are capable?

➡️ When a baby babbles & says nonsense, we pair meaning to it. When an AAC user is using “nonsense” words, we think they don’t get it.
➡️When a toddler using spoken language says the wrong thing, we ask if they mean something else if it doesn’t match their words and teach them. When an AAC user doesn’t select the right word, they must not get it.
➡️ When a toddler using spoken language says the same word 500 times in 30 seconds it’s just them being a toddler, but an AAC user doing the same? That must mean they don’t understand their AAC device.

AAC assessments should not only be done if a child “responds” to AAC. Children respond to what is meaningful and people who make it meaningful for them. I’m not saying it’s easy work, but I am saying we are quick to blame AAC users instead of us taking a moment to reflect.

👉 share this with someone who needs to see this! & if you have any other thoughts, comment down below!

📌 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘕𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥.

05/07/2026

I still can’t believe people are saying things like this. Do we not realize that when we believe things won’t work…they won’t work?

But if we can take a step back to look at what we’re doing and taking some responsibility of the role we play, we might be able to actually help that child succeed.

I truly almost never make black and white statements, but this is absolutely a hill I will die on. Every single child deserves access to AAC & when it’s not working, it’s not their fault it’s not working.

That’s for us to become curious about what might need to be adjusted & modified for being successful. 💖

👉 share this post with a friend who needs to see this!

📌 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘕𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥.

05/06/2026

💀 I’m not sure why, I STILLL see practices like these being encouraged.

Food is never something that a child should have to earn and forcing an interaction like this just becomes transactional.

Modeling AAC during mealtimes or snack times is something be mindful of. We want to ensure we are maintaining a positive relationship with food through low pressure modeling.

👉 share this with a friend who needs to see this message!

📌 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘕𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥.

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Paramus, NJ
07652-07653

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https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/speech-therapy-connections, https://amyztheslp.com/blog/

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