Humpty Dumpty Takes ASHA 2011
I've blogged about many of the
presenters, their platforms, programs, ideas, and sessions that I was privileged
to meet, greet, and learn from at ASHA 2011. I scampered up and down the aisles
of the exhibit hall seeking new ideas, books, electronics, and freebies. I
reminisced with seasoned SLP friends and I felt renewed to converse with new
graduates from all over the globe. ASHA is a county of its own and we, the SLPs
and AUDs, are its citizens. Ah, but wait: there is one more -- it's Humpty
Dumpty and he was there!
You have met my Humpty Dumpy (Mr.
H.D.) in former Autism Spectrum Blogs. The premise of this little man in his
plaid suit is to get off your wall and live. He has been my speech therapy
companion for some time now. So if anybody deserved to go to ASHA, it was Mr.
H.D.
My speech
therapy assistant - Humpty Dumpty
What a "Humpty
Dumpty" can do for you in therapy:
- Every SLP
should have a familiar companion for children to identify
- This companion
should be in your speech therapy room/office
- This
companion can be a third party in the communication circle (I've had
children talk to Mr. H.D. and for him)
- This
companion can assist because there is no communication stress/angst (Mr.
H.D. never asks questions)
- This
companion is interactive (he is big enough for the child to hold and
manipulate)
- This
companion can be used for greetings and salutations (I often remind the
child to greet Mr. H.D. and tell him good bye)
- This
companion can be used for description (describe the companion and bring in
other stuffed animals or have the child bring one of their own for
comparisons)
- Use the
companion for role playing, vocal comparisons, emotions
- Dress up
your companion with various hats or holding different objects (let the
child observe on his/her own what is happening in the companion's life
- Place the companion
in various positions -- lying down (how does he feel -- tired). I have a
set of wings for my Mr. H.D so that he can fly
The
ideas and reasons for a speech companion are endless.
Speech
companion ideas:
- Raggedy Ann and Andy
- Teddy Bear
- Dog
- Cat
- Clown (look for something
with an expressive face)
On the Road with
Humpty Dumpty:
My Humpty Dumpty has his own
business cards to hand out. He was a popular little man at ASHA and everyone he
met embraced his exuberance for life and wanted their picture taken with
him.
Humpty was very
tired after ASHA
"Speech pathologists make good things
happen and so does Humpty Dumpty."