Congratulations to Cari Thiele, MSc. SLP(C), for graduating from the Apraxia Kids Intensive Training Institute (Apraxia Boot Camp)!

Cari is the co-founder of Pathways Learning Centre, a multi-disciplinary centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, that offers an inclusive preschool to support children with communication delays, as well as a wide variety of assessment and intervention opportunities for clients of all ages and needs. Cari completed her masters of Speech-Language Pathology in 2009, and has worked with the school and preschool-aged clients since that time. She has a clinical interest in speech sound disorders and fluency.

Cari offers services in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Apraxia Kids: What are the top 3 things you learned from this training experience?
Cari: Varying feedback is so important! We do not just reinforce productions, but systematically change the frequency, type and timing of feedback that we give children. When we give feedback and reinforcement in a very intentional and planned way, we can help the learning process happen more quickly and efficiently for children! “Perfect practice makes perfect!” In Boot Camp we learned the many parameters that support practice. Clinicians need to carefully plan and adjust them constantly within and across sessions to support a child in “perfect” practice! Working through research to implement the evidence-based practice can be very difficult, but is so worthwhile! When practitioners know the best methods, we can really help families find the process of diagnosis and therapy, to help their children as much as possible!

Apraxia Kids: How did the Boot Camp experience change or expand your network of colleagues/friends?
Cari: Working with such skilled clinicians from across North America was humbling, yet incredibly powerful! Being in groups to analyze case studies and implement learning was such a strong learning opportunity! I am very excited for the community that Apraxia Kids provides even following Boot Camp – what a way to create a community of strong clinicians dedicated to helping kids with Apraxia!

Apraxia Kids: How have you implemented the knowledge you gained at Boot Camp?
Cari: Boot Camp changed my sessions immediately! Every time I plan and analyze a therapy session now, I continue to learn so much. There is so much to implement following Boot Camp – not only the information from Boot Camp itself, but from the perspective gained, through which we can now approach research. I have become a better clinician, and am motivated to continue the growth!

Apraxia Kids: What is an example of how you have been able to (or plan to) use your expertise as a local resource/support for other professionals and/or families since attending the intensive training?
Cari: I have had great discussions about practice with SLPs both within my clinic, and within the community about components of therapy! By adding skills from planning to collaborative intervention planning, everyone’s experience improves (both for clinicians and clients)!

Apraxia Kids: What would you say to someone considering applying to Boot Camp next round?
Cari: Go for it! And trust in yourself through the process, even when it seems like the mountain of learning may be too steep. You will have so much support from a team of mentors and fellow Boot Campers, and you will be happy that you decided to do it!