Tara Blizzard
Cary,NC
Summary
Former Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist pivoting into a Freelance Writing and Integrative Health Coaching career. Currently working as the publisher for Macaroni Kid in the Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. I create hyper local family friendly content that keeps the community informed of current local events and resources. I am also a certified Integrative Health Coach and Optimize Coach. Seeking freelance work in the area of child development, child psychology, parenting, life optimization and nutrition. I can provide technical research based writing, blog/social media content, SEO content, and open ended editorials.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Publisher
Macaroni Kid
Durham, NC
06.2022 - Current
- Utilized exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills to produce engaging and error-free content.
- Organized material to research and complete writing tasks.
- Wrote and edited high-quality content and visually impactful programs under deadline pressure with exciting, captivating and authentic approach.
- Completed thorough research into assigned topics.
- Write weekly newsletters highlighting local family friendly opportunities
- Write SEO content to drive traffic to site to increase ad revenue
Speech Language Pathologist
Care First Rehab/Aveanna Healthcare
Cary, North Carolina
09.2017 - Current
- Provide speech and language evaluations and treatments to pediatric patients in the home environment
- Provide contracted speech and language treatments through CDSA early intervention program for children with Autism and Language Delays
- Provide treatment to medically fragile children including passymuir valve trials, feeding therapy for G-tube fed children, and AAC implementation (switch access to voice output devices, go talk, PECS, Tobii Dynavox eye gaze, and simple communication boards)
- Provide treatment in homes/daycares for articulation/phonology impairments, stuttering, pragmatic language disorders, and expressive/receptive language impairments
- Serve as Lead SLP with responsiblities that include: orienting new staff, providing resources to new therapists, and mentoring staff on treatment approaches for specific disorders
Speech Language Pathologist
Club Staffing
Various Locations, NC
03.2016 - 06.2017
- Worked in various settings, including; schools, and skilled nursing homes to provide short term contract based therapy
- Provided exceptionally high quality evidence based therapy to patients maximizing outcomes
- Collaborated with teachers and caregivers to implement carryover and generalization of skills into home environment
- Mentored CFY Speech Pathologists at various locations regarding use of: LSVT principles for patients with Parkinson's Disease and other neurogenic speech disorders, use of the Lidcombe Program for Stuttering with the preschool age population, and educated staff at various schools in use of Story Grammar Marker to make significant gains in reading comprehension in special education classrooms
Speech Language Pathologist - Contract
Manchester Public Schools
Manchester, NH
10.2015 - 03.2016
- Provided speech and language treatment to preschool aged children in special needs classroom and Autism specific programs
- Collaborated with teachers to improve generalization of skills gained
- Advocated and educated teachers and families regarding rights related to use of AAC devices, implementation of AAC devices into the classroom, and transferring skills into the home via consistent and open communication with families
- Worked one on one with a nonverbal homebound student with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum on maximizing receptive and expressive language skills
- Implemented use of AAC device with extensive teaching to ABA therapists and the family regarding use of aided language input
Speech Language Pathologist- Contract
Nashua Public Schools
Nashua, NH
02.2015 - 06.2015
- Evaluated and treated speech, language disorders in school aged population
- Worked as the main Speech Pathologist for three intensive needs classrooms
- Treated children with complex emotional and medical needs
- Completed IEP's and team meetings to collaborate on student goals and progress
- Consulted with parents to ensure carry-over to home for targeted skills
- Educated special education staff on use of the program, Story Grammar Marker with use of visual aides to improve reading comprehension scores in all three intensive needs classrooms
Speech Language Pathologist
Westport Health Care Center
Westport, CT
09.2013 - 09.2014
- Evaluated and treated short-term and long-term care patients with dysphagia, speech, language and cognitive deficits
- Treatment provided for a variety of diagnoses, including; Aphasia, TBI, Dysarthria, Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington's Disease, and Dysphagia
- Educated staff of appropriate communication and swallow strategies to optimize patient outcomes and safety
- Provided consultation to educators and medical professionals, advising on communication strategies to better accommodate individuals with hearing and speech issues
Speech Language Pathologist
Wilton Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Wilton, CT
08.2010 - 09.2014
- Evaluated and treated short-term and long-term patients with swallowing, speech, language and cognitive deficits
- Educated staff on appropriate communication and swallow strategies to optimize patient outcomes
- Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings to meet patient goals, and give recommendations for patient care
- Completed paperwork required for all insurance providers in a timely manner
- Supervised and mentored a therapist in her Clinical Fellowship Year
Speech Language Pathologist
Wilton Public Schools
Wilton, Manchester, CT, NH
02.2012 - 07.2012
- Provided treatment for speech and language deficits in preschool aged children
- Provided treatment for multiple nonverbal children with treatments focusing on AAC use, including; PECS, LAMP, and Vantage Light
- Completed thorough and extensive triennial evaluations
Speech Language Pathologist
Kidz Play Pediatric Therapy
Manchester , NH
09.2009 - 06.2010
- Provided treatment for speech and language deficits in preschool aged children
- Managed a caseload of 65 children with duties ranging from attending IEP meetings, writing new IEP's, re-evaluations, direct therapy services, supervising a speech therapy assistant, and keeping up to date on data collection, and Medicaid reimbursement forms
- Consulted with classroom teachers to maximize generalization of learned skills
- Maximized functional communication skills for nonverbal children with Cerebral Palsy and Autism
- Implemented speech therapy with a variety of AAC devices including; Vantage Light, Dynavox, PECS and Go Talk 8
- Co-treated with occupational therapists to maximize therapy outcomes
Speech Language Pathologist
Pediatric Therapy Associates
Holly Springs, NC
07.2008 - 05.2009
- Provided assessment and treatment of speech, language and swallowing deficits in children in outpatient and early intervention settings
- Provided consultation and education for parents to stimulate speech and language growth at home for their children
- Utilized the Kaufman Method in the birth to three setting for children with suspected Apraxia of Speech with excellent outcomes
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Connecticut
01.2007 - 05.2008
ABA Therapist
Institute of Professional Practice
04.2006 - 09.2006
Education
M.A - Speech Language Pathology, Communication Sciences
University of Connecticut
B.A - Communication Disorders, Communication Sciences
University of Connecticut
Heroic Health Optimization Coach
Heroic Coach - Optimize.me
05.2020
Certified Integrative Health Coach
Institute of Integrative Nutrition
01.2019
Skills
- SEO optimization
- Blog/Social Media Content Creator
- Research based writing
- Chronic Disease Management via Integrative Health Coaching
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- AAC evaluation/implementation
- Expressive language delays
- Stuttering treatment in children/adults
- Lidcombe Program for early childhood stuttering
- Kaufman Approach to Apraxia
- LAMP approach to AAC
- Oral motor/feeding evaluation and treatment
- Oropharyngeal dysphagia treatment in adults
- Family/caregiver training and education
- Articulation/Phonology Impairments
- Story Grammar Marker
- Cognitive linguistic training post TBI and/or CVA
- Aphasia
- Mentorship for other professionals for evidenced based practice and documentation standards
- Administrative work including insurance approvals, managing denials, and conducting team meetings
Timeline
Publisher
Macaroni Kid
06.2022 - Current
Speech Language Pathologist
Care First Rehab/Aveanna Healthcare
09.2017 - Current
Speech Language Pathologist
Club Staffing
03.2016 - 06.2017
Speech Language Pathologist - Contract
Manchester Public Schools
10.2015 - 03.2016
Speech Language Pathologist- Contract
Nashua Public Schools
02.2015 - 06.2015
Speech Language Pathologist
Westport Health Care Center
09.2013 - 09.2014
Speech Language Pathologist
Wilton Public Schools
02.2012 - 07.2012
Speech Language Pathologist
Wilton Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
08.2010 - 09.2014
Speech Language Pathologist
Kidz Play Pediatric Therapy
09.2009 - 06.2010
Speech Language Pathologist
Pediatric Therapy Associates
07.2008 - 05.2009
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Connecticut
01.2007 - 05.2008
ABA Therapist
Institute of Professional Practice
04.2006 - 09.2006
M.A - Speech Language Pathology, Communication Sciences
University of Connecticut
B.A - Communication Disorders, Communication Sciences
University of Connecticut
Heroic Health Optimization Coach
Heroic Coach - Optimize.me
Certified Integrative Health Coach
Institute of Integrative Nutrition
References
REFERENCES
Available upon request
References
REFERENCES
Available upon request
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