An interview with Jill Kuzma, M.A.

Ms. Kuzma: I became attracted to the field of speech-language in a rather surprising and belated fashion. I was finishing my final semester as a theater/communications major at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities when I met a student who was finishing her degree in communicative disorders. As we sat in a crowded lecture hall for a senior statistics course together, I learned about the world of speech and language. Deciding it was too late to change my major (as I was one semester away from graduation), I graduated with my B.A. in communications/theater and promptly started a communicative disorders master’s program at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. It took me longer than my fellow graduate school classmates to graduate, but I worked my way through in just over three years. I was attracted to the field of autism specifically during my CFY year working in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic. Nearly all of my clients were on the autism spectrum. Never having had a course in autism, I was lost as a clinician, but fell in love with the kids that first year. I have embraced these students and families for the past 13 years now.

Ms. Kuzma: I really feel that clinicians struggle with figuring out their role as a team member serving social and emotional needs. I think clinicians recognize our expertise in the area of pragmatic language, which is essentially the social language component that is a hallmark characteristic of individuals on the autism spectrum. The challenge for educational clinicians is balancing related service time for social/emotional needs with the other team members and meeting the needs of high caseloads of students that qualify for speech and language services traditionally given the state criteria. The challenge for clinicians working in the medical or private sector may be determining how to service social language needs without the benefit of a natural peer group that schools have.

Ms. Kuzma: Foremost, the launch of my website two years ago (http://jillkuzma.wordpress.com) has brought forth so many opportunities to meet educators and clinicians across the country and hear their stories. The growing popularity of the website has afforded many opportunities to travel and speak to audiences, especially across Minnesota, to coach clinicians and educators on how to teach social/emotional skills. Secondly, I was fortunate to be able to complete a mentorship with Michelle Garcia Winner two years ago at her clinic in California. Michelle Garcia Winner is truly the pioneer and leading author/researcher in social cognitive interventions. I have learned immeasurable amounts from her books and workshops and in my subsequent contact with her.

Ms. Kuzma: Spend as much time as you can observing other professionals—most notably those outside of speech-language. I learned so much from the occupational and physical therapists I worked with during my CFY year. Further, as an educational SLP, I have learned so much from other special education teachers and general education staff. Much of what a new clinician will use on a daily basis is not necessarily learned in graduate school or even through practicum experiences. Most of what you need to know is learned through collaboration with others, experience, and trial and error. Be excited to observe, try new things, and learn from your students and clients.