Therapeutic Handling for the Critical Core

Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, serves as the Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor with James Madison University. Additionally, she is the acclaimed host of “First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional” a weekly Speech Therapy Podcast that addresses “all thangs” Pediatric Speech Therapy, and is presented by SpeechTherapyPD.com. Michelle authored, "Chasing the Swallow: Truth, Science, and Hope for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders". She is an accomplished lecturer; traveling across the nation delivering courses on best practices for the evaluation and treatment of the medically complex infant, toddlers, and children with respect to their pediatric oropharyngeal dysphagia, pediatric feeding disorder, as well as language acquisition within the framework of Early Intervention. She has served as the Treasurer for the Council of State Association Presidents (CSAP), is a Past President of the South Carolina Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (SCSHA), a graduate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Leadership Development Program (ASHA LDP), a recipient of the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Awareness Champion from Feeding Matters, a recipient of the Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement from the SCSHA, a recipient of the State Clinical Achievement Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Foundation, recognized as an ASHA Innovator in 2023, and ten-time recipient of ASHA’s ACE Award for continuing education.

Paul and his wife Jennifer are the owners of "PT the OT Therapy and Wellness" established in 2007. He provides home based early intervention OT services to kids throughout The Midlands. Paul grew up in Maine and after high school, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed Alaska! After serving a four-year tour with the military, he was encouraged to become an occupational therapist by his brother who was studying to be a physical therapist at the time. Paul earned his Bachelor of Science degree as an occupational therapist from the University of New England in 1995. Paul has 24 years of clinical expertise in a variety of settings using an array of therapeutic applications to include: Sensory Processing/Sensory Integration; NDT (Neuro-developmental Treatment); PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation); Rood Technique; manual therapies; ‘Wilbarger Protocol’, Brain Gym®, ILS(Integrative Listening System); RMTi (Rhythmic Movement Training); The Haller Method / Foundations for Clinical Neuroplasticity; therapeutic feeding and positioning; splinting; wheelchair assessments; assistive technologies and other Durable Medical Equipment; and occupational performance applications. Paul is a teacher/encourager at his core and is using his education as well as his passion as a consultant to help develop more of a sensory friendly preschool in the area. He also created and developed a sensory gym at a local pediatric therapy company. Currently, Paul's focus is centered on helping medically fragile children reach their highest functional potential.