Let’s Give ‘Em Something to Talk About!
-
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY LECTURES
THE ABBOTT FAMILY STORY: Impacts of Unidentified Hearing Loss on Language, Literacy & Life
During this 60-90 minute presentation, I share the real and raw memories of how our family discovered and responded to our youngest child’s mysterious hearing loss. We discuss the signs, symptoms, and risk-factors that were overlooked and how unidentified postnatal hearing loss impacted her speech and language development. Students leave with a deeper appreciation of the financial and emotional toll an unexpected disability diagnosis can have on a family.
Uniquely written for both undergraduate and graduate student audiences, I discuss the key tenents of successful parent-professional partnerships. Students walk away understanding more about the prevalence, risk factors and signs of late onset hearing loss in children, recognizing the importance of holding space for families, and motivated to connect the content to their coursework and/or their career of choice.
-
SERVICE CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
My presentations to Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis Club groups (often at a breakfast, lunch or dinner meeting) are a memorable, informative and engaging experience. Members and guests walk away with a new understanding of pediatric hearing loss, the impact late-identification can have on child development, a deeper appreciation of the financial and emotional toll, and ideas on how their clubs might support community awareness and improved screening efforts.
Whether you are looking for a guest speaker for an early morning breakfast meeting in a rural town or a late evening gathering in a major city, I would love the chance to meet your members.
-
AUTHOR VISITS
My K-12 visits are designed to entertain, inform, and engage young students. Whether I am reading Padapillo to a class or a full auditorium, or talking about the writing and publishing process, I seek to create a lasting impression for everyone involved. Connecting my visit to a current classroom topic (like Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Hearing Health, or Creative Writing) or allowing the direction of the conversation to be student led, students and teachers always have amazing questions and insightful comments that lead to wonderful discoveries! Each and every author visit is unique and fun.
Looking for a surprise mystery reader? An hour in one classroom? A day at your school or afterschool program? An evening PTA program? Author visits are fully customized to the needs of the students.
-
PODCASTS & GUEST BLOGGING
As a former senior communications manager at the second largest bank in the US, I understand the impact that effective storytelling and relevant content can have on website traffic and audience engagement.
Whether you are a podcast host or blog editor, I thoroughly enjoy the collaborative experience of working with talented, creative minds. Looking to explore a topic or co-author a piece about parenting, advocacy, pediatric hearing loss, writing, publishing, career switching, you name it? Here are a few podcast and guest blog examples:
Hearing Tracker Podcast (June 2021)
The Listening Brain Podcast (May 2021)
-
CONFERENCES & SEMINARS
One of the most important aspects of conference and seminar planning is lining up memorable and dependable keynotes and guest speakers. As skilled professionals, we know how to connect our story or information with your event’s main themes. We know how to actively engage an audience so they leave inspired, entertained, educated, and motivated to support the primary mission and message of your event.
Whether you are looking for a keynote or plenary speaker for a conference or a guest to join or lead your meeting or webinar, I would love the opportunity to discuss your ideas and determine how I can inform and inspire your participants.
EXAMPLE: Hearing Loss Association of America Webinar (April 2022)