“All forms of communication are equal.” That’s the central takeaway University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) graduate student Jadyn Weckwerth gained from her fall clinical experience at the Masonic Children’s Clinic for Communication Disorders — and a message she will carry into her professional career.
Weckwerth credits Jillian Little, the speech-language pathologist (SLP) who supervised her experience at the center, for driving home this important insight. “I think that sometimes verbal communication is seen as an end goal,” says Weckwerth. “Jillian taught me that there is no hierarchy with verbal communication at the top.”
Weckwerth’s experience at the center provided her with a vivid illustration of multimodal communication. Under Little’s guidance, she helped children navigate a wide range of communication disorders, from neurological motor disorders that affect speech production to phonological disorders that result in dropped consonants and swapped sounds to challenges with the social aspects of communication.
Through this work, she learned that there are many ways to convey messages, whether it's sign language, written words, or alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). These tools allow users to generate speech or piece together words through touch-based devices or eye-tracking technology.
Classroom to clinic
For students in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders who are training to be SLPs, these placements are formative. When classroom theories meet practical application, abstract concepts transform into professional readiness. This journey begins at the on-campus Robert F. Pierce (RFP) Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, where licensed therapists guide graduate interns in serving clients of all ages.
“The professors in the department provide good feedback and support that assists with personal and professional development,” says Weckwerth. “They create the room to grow and learn from the experience within the RFP clinic, which supports confidence for community placements.”
The power of play
Weckwerth found the child-led approach to therapy at the Masonic Children's Clinic, which harnesses the power of play to build confidence and communication skills, particularly rewarding. She learned how powerful this method could be through her work with the Buddy Group, a neuroaffirming peer therapy group. Beyond emphasizing language and emotional regulation, the group models positive social interactions between children, many of whom are on the autism spectrum.
In the group, Weckwerth provided support as needed while children led role-play activities, such as “flower shop.” She explains that playing out scenarios where children can emulate workers and shoppers helps them better understand the nuances of social interactions, such as how to negotiate taking turns or accept a peer's ideas.
“This can be difficult for children. It’s harder for kids to describe what they want in a setting where excitement is high, so we add cues and prompts to support that type of communication,” says Weckwerth.
An alternative model
Exposure to the nonprofit model at the Masonic Children’s Clinic has been eye-opening for Weckwerth. Its structure provides the flexibility to offer services that insurance typically won't cover, such as group speech and occupational therapy — a value she saw firsthand through the Buddy Group.
She also points out that children have only one or two therapy sessions a week, which makes parent and caregiver education vital. “We can only do so much. But we can model strategies for parents to implement at home to help with sensory regulation.”
Weckwerth graduates in May and has already secured a position as a speech-language pathologist at Essentia Health in Moose Lake. She’ll be working with a range of patients, from pediatric to adult. The foundation she gained from the Masonic Children’s Clinic will guide her. “This placement has shaped my career and impacted who I will be as a clinician,” she says.