Cullowhee Conference on Communicative Disorders
32nd Annual
Cullowhee Conference on Communicative Disorders
Thursday, April 16, 2026 - 8:30am to 4:30pm (Optional lunch available)
Friday, April 17, 2026 - 8:30am to 12:15pm
蘑菇短视频Health and Human Sciences Building
Conference Registration Fee: $84.00
In-Person and Virtual Options Available
Optional boxed lunch available on Thursday ($15).
Registration closes March 31, 2026
The Cullowhee Conference on Communicative Disorders is an annual continuing education event for speech-language pathologists and related professionals hosted by the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at 蘑菇短视频. For more than 30 years, the Cullowhee Conference provides a place for SLPs to learn evidence-informed techniques for practice, gather insights and resources, and connect with other professionals from the region and beyond.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Presenter: Ciera Lorio, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Ciera Lorio, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Illinois State University. Her research focuses on family-centered, capacity-building approaches that promote meaningful language and literacy outcomes across clinical settings, including early intervention and school-based practice. She has extensive experience teaching and mentoring future clinicians and regularly presents on evidence-based coaching practices and interventions to support early language and literacy development.
Presentation:
Caregiver Coaching Across the Lifespan: Evidence-Based Strategies for Everyday SLP Practice: The growing emphasis on caregiver coaching across service delivery models highlights the need for speech鈥憀anguage pathologists to understand not only what coaching is, but how it can be applied meaningfully in everyday clinical practice. It is essential that both current and future professionals are familiar with the research supporting caregiver coaching and can use it as a practical framework to strengthen clinical decision making, enhance collaboration with families, and promote functional outcomes across the lifespan. This session emphasizes the role of coaching within family鈥� and person鈥慶entered practice, clarifies common misconceptions, and distinguishes coaching from other intervention approaches. Through discussion, video analysis, and guided application, participants will build the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate coaching ethically, effectively, and sustainably across diverse settings and populations.
Friday, April 17, 2026
Presenter: Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is the Director of The University of Texas at Austin鈥檚 Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research鈥� Atlanta Satellite, a clinical research institute dedicated to changing the world for people who stutter. She is an ASHA board-certified and state-licensed speech-language pathologist, ASHA Fellow, and nationally recognized expert in stuttering, with a focus on culturally diverse communities. Dr. Johnson conducts and presents peer-reviewed research at local, national, and international conferences and has authored and co-authored numerous scholarly publications. She is also a global leader in professional development related to diversity, equity, inclusion, implicit bias, and cultural responsiveness in clinical practice. Her professional service includes roles on the ASHA Board of Directors, as National Advisor to NSSLHA, and as Immediate Past Chair of the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing. She currently serves on the ASHA Board of Ethics and the NIH鈥揘IDCD Advisory Council.
Presentations:
Cracking the Code of Ethics: Purpose, Practice, and What You Need to Know: The foundation of clinical and professional decision making in audiology and speech-language pathology is grounded in ethics. This underscores the importance of understanding not only what ethics is, but how it is applied in everyday professional practice. It is essential that both current and future professionals are familiar with the purpose of the ASHA Code of Ethics and are able to use it as a practical framework to support sound clinical judgment, guide professional conduct, and navigate complex professional situations with confidence and integrity.
Supervision Through an Ethical Lens: What Every Audiologist and SLP Should Know: This session is designed for audiologists and speech-language pathologists who currently supervise鈥攐r plan to supervise鈥攕tudents, clinical fellows, or other professionals, as well as for those who are in supervisee roles. The presentation will examine key components of the ASHA Code of Ethics as they relate to supervision, highlight common ethical challenges that arise in supervisory relationships, and explore the shared responsibilities of supervisors and supervisees. Through applied discussion and a structured critical-thinking approach, participants will learn strategies for identifying, analyzing, and responding to ethical dilemmas in supervision. Attendees will leave with practical tools to strengthen ethical decision-making, promote professional growth, and foster ethical practice within the supervisory process.
Supports, Modifications, and/or Accommodations for Participants
All participants are welcome. For questions regarding access and accommodations, please contact 蘑菇短视频Educational Outreach at learn@wcu.edu or by phone at 828.227.7397.