The Ideology of 'Good' Languaging with Maria Rosa Brea-Spahn

Guest: Maria Rosa Brea-Spahn, PhD, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/the-ideology-of-good-languaging-refocusing-the-lens-of-the-

In this episode, host Carolyn Dolby introduces Dr. Maria Rosa Brea-Spahn, a renowned speech-language pathologist and university teacher-scholar. Together, they delve into The Ideology of Good Languaging, exploring the intersections of multilingualism, disability, and standardized linguistic ideologies in school-based speech language pathology (SLP) practices. Dr. Brea-Spahn shares her personal journey from the Dominican Republic to becoming an influential figure in the field, emphasizing the dynamic, inclusive, and diverse nature of 'languaging.' The episode offers insights into critical perspectives on linguistic hierarchies and the transformative power of embracing varied forms of communication.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:19 Guest Introduction: Dr. Maria Rosa Brea-Spahn

01:12 Host Disclosures and Reminders

02:00 Maria Rosa's Journey to Speech Language Pathology

03:25 Multilingual Family Background

06:07 Discovering American Sign Language

07:40 Transition to Speech Language Pathology

10:27 Critical Reflections on Bilingualism

12:59 Introduction to Translanguaging

23:07 Defining Languaging

32:42 Understanding Language as Identity

33:06 Complex Communication Needs

34:04 Languaging and Standardization

35:40 Challenging Language Hierarchies

37:26 The Impact of Language on Identity

41:09 Healing Language Wounds

41:55 The Role of Speech Language Pathologists

48:00 The Power of Children's Books

54:39 Critical Thinking in Language Education

01:00:49 Final Thoughts and Reflections

About the Guest:

Dr. Brea-Spahn is a Spanish, Espanglish, and English communicator, speech-language pathologist, and university teacher-scholar whose work has been centered at the intersection of multilingualism and disability. Her classroom and community collaborations focus on researching the impact of standardized linguistic ideologies in speech-language practices, sustaining variability in languaging in the classroom, and co-envisioning a path for linguistic liberation through art.

Mentioned in this episode:

Register for the 2026 Autism Conference