Joanne Ravell Speech Language Pathologist

30/04/2026

28/04/2026

One of the things I wish my speech therapist did while I was growing up was to allow me to move and not restrict me to my seat, forcing me to maintain eye contact. Although I may not be autistic, with being apraxic, we can have troubles with eye contact due to the need for eye movement and movement in general to help say certain words and sounds, in my experience. Motor really helps motor with apraxia of speech. When I was not allowed to move at all, it would build up speech difficulties, leading to further feelings of frustration, anxiety attacks, and eventually causing me to emotionally shut down. As a child, of course, I didn’t understand this process as I do now as an adult. I simply knew that when I tried to move, my SLP would ask me to do things that were only “socially acceptable,” like tapping my hands or feet, which did not work for me. But from her observation, that was enough. This is why I emphasize the importance of focusing on the whole child and their needs. Remember, with apraxia of speech, motor skills help with speech and often other aspects of motor planning are affected. Also, remember that these types of practices that have been reinforced for centuries can actively do harm, even though a person might have the purest intentions. However, when we know better, we can do better.
With love,
- Jordan LeVan 💙

23/04/2026

Scroll down to “S” for speech therapists and vote for your favourite 😌 link in comments

23/04/2026

🩵I’ve been nominated for Best of Durban!
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
VOTE• VOTE • VOTE• VOTE •VOTE • VOTE

https://www.bestofsouthafrica.co.za/durban/bod-voting-category-medical/

17/04/2026

Why shouldn’t I worry about my child getting “lazy to talk” pointing to picture symbols or using AAC? (AAC- Augmentative and Alternative Communication). 💪🏻 Main reason - decades of research and AAC users who speak, have proven that it works. This is why ⬆️

17/04/2026

Whizz Kidz Teachers using their training like a bomb 💪🏻

11/04/2026

⭐️FREE kidz emotions song ❤️Emotional regulation and communication development go hand in hand! Real time reflection in the moment is essential to implement and use the vocabulary you have learnt in a song! 🖤🎶 follow, comment and DM me for the ⭐️FREE song and visuals! ⭐️Credit to Taylor Dee kidz tv for the OG song inspiration

11/04/2026

Yes! Yes! I have a lyric communication board with symbols for a song that helps our children to understand and learn these words and feelings in a fun way 🎵 and then in the moment, we have the foundation of vocabulary to draw from 🩵💪🏻 to associate with the real feeling. Follow and DM me for a free copy.

09/04/2026

🙌🏻Some Keyword signs! 💪🏻Multimodal AAC for the win

08/04/2026

🤔 Difficulty transitioning between home and school?? Symbols and visual supports are evidence based language development tools and they work INCREDIBLY well for communication skills, decreasing anxiety and executive function 💪🏼 But if the use of symbols is not similar at school and at home then it can be perceived as “uncomfortably different” which makes the transition to school so much harder 😭😭

However, if we use the visuals a little more at home and create a sameness and consistency between the two environments, then the anxiety decreases and they learn that using symbols is ok and safe, because it’s happening now at home too. (Communication skills will improve too!)

Consistency is KEY for decreasing anxiety. And picture symbols don’t change ‼️ They are the ultimate way to make consistency and sameness obvious for your Autistic or neurodivergent child.

27/03/2026

Today’s PRESENTER SPOTLIGHT 💡💡
The amazing Joanne Ravell Speech Language Pathologist

25/03/2026

What is the question? credit to for the video that I adapted for my autistic students 🙌🏻💪🏻