In a First Bite first, host Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, sits down with Joshua A. Shah, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist, filmmaker, and the creative force behind the upcoming film Initiation.
Initiation is a fictional narrative inspired by lived experiences related to stuttering and communication differences, raising critical questions about how disability is portrayed on screen and online. Representation matters, and when it is handled without care, there are real ethical consequences.
In this conversation, Joshua and Michelle explore the responsibilities that come with representing communication differences accurately and compassionately. They discuss why these portrayals matter when SLPs and other professionals talk about disability on social media, and how language, storytelling, and visibility shape public understanding.
Together, they examine the connection between communication and power, including how representation can influence whose voices are valued, amplified, or marginalized. Tune in now for a thoughtful, timely conversation, and stay tuned for the film that sparked it.
Initiation is a fictional narrative inspired by lived experiences related to stuttering and communication differences, raising critical questions about how disability is portrayed on screen and online. Representation matters, and when it is handled without care, there are real ethical consequences.
In this conversation, Joshua and Michelle explore the responsibilities that come with representing communication differences accurately and compassionately. They discuss why these portrayals matter when SLPs and other professionals talk about disability on social media, and how language, storytelling, and visibility shape public understanding.
Together, they examine the connection between communication and power, including how representation can influence whose voices are valued, amplified, or marginalized. Tune in now for a thoughtful, timely conversation, and stay tuned for the film that sparked it.
