Riley Cantrell

Graduate clinician dedicated to helping students develop and maintain communication skills for consistent academic and personal success. Through individualized and collaborative treatment approaches, strive to equip students with the tools needed to foster meaningful communication and academic growth. By providing individualized treatment approaches tailored to the specific needs of each student, ensures that reception of the most effective and comprehensive communication instruction. Collaborate with teachers, parents, and other professionals to ensure that students have access to the resources necessary for success both in and out of the classroom. Experienced in teaching one-on-one and group lessons using a variety of teaching strategies to meet the needs of different types of learners. Flexibility and multimedia integration to maximize lesson engagement are inherent to both in-person and online instruction.

• Aug 2015 - May 2018: Student Volunteer at HeadStart Dallas
• May 2019 - Aug 2019: Student Volunteer at Dallas Children's Hospital
• Jan 2021 - Jun 2021: Student Volunteer at KidSpeak Speech & Language Therapy
• Dec 2022: Student Ambassador for KU Speech-Language Pathology Department

• Student Representative for Kansas Speech Language Hearing Association (KSHA)
• President of KU’s Advancement for Minority Students in Communication Sciences and Disorders (AMSCSD) program
• Student trainee for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment and Related Disabilities (LEND)

Graduate Researcher

• Developed a comprehensive research proposal outlining the objectives, scope, and methodology of the Master's thesis project
• Conducted an in-depth review of relevant literature to establish the theoretical framework and contextualize the research within the field
• Partnered closely with the thesis committee to receive feedback, revisions, and guidance throughout the research process
• Managed all aspects of the research project, including setting timelines, coordinating data collection, and overseeing the research process to meet project milestones
• Analyzed research data using advanced statistical techniques, software (e.g., SALT), to draw meaningful conclusions

Undergraduate Researcher

• Conducted undergraduate research at Louisiana State University through the McNair Scholars Program.
• Compared African American English-speaking children’s word-initial /l/ pattern to those of Mainstream American English-speaking children, goal is to add knowledge about this dialect to the field of speech-language pathology in order to eliminate misdiagnosis and test bias. Analyzed data produced by both African American English-speaking children and Mainstream American English-speaking children. Categorized data based on accuracy and error patterns.
• Presented at the 2022 National Black Associate of Speech-Language and Heating conference.
• Presented at LSU 2022 Discover Day

Clinical Practicum Experience, Fall 2022

• Cleft Palate Team and Disability Discrimination (DDS) Evaluation Team Member: Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive language assessments for clients. Conducted assessments, including the administration of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamental-5, language sampling, and communication observation. Prepared detailed assessment reports encompassing results, diagnoses, and personalized recommendations.
• Graduate Clinician, Horizon Academy: Assessed client needs and developed tailored treatment plans. Monitored client progress, making necessary adjustments to therapy plans. Delivered individualized therapy, either one-on-one, in small groups, or within classroom settings, to address specific client requirement

Clinical Practicum Experience, Spring 2023

• Graduate Clinician, Developing Inclusion through Communication and Engagement (DICE) Team: Led therapy sessions for a diverse clientele, including pediatric clients aged four to five and an adult client. Gained valuable experience in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) treatment and assessment. Effectively addressed the unique and complex communication needs of clients within the DICE team, contributing to their improved communication skills and overall development.

Clinical Practicum Experience, Summer 2023

• Graduate Clinical Practicum Experience, Childhood Autism Referral and Evaluation (CARE) Team: Collaborated within a multidisciplinary team to evaluate children, adolescents, and select young adults with developmental concerns. Employed diverse assessment methods, including direct testing, neurologic examinations, parent rating scales, self-report rating scales, parent interviews/developmental histories, and teacher reports, to collect comprehensive data from multiple sources. Worked collectively to assess the appropriateness of diagnoses and formulate personalized recommendations, providing informative feedback to families. Prepared detailed assessment reports accessible to families via MyChart or upon request from the Health Information Management office to aid in addressing developmental concerns effectively.
• Graduate Clinical Practicum Experience, Pediatric Speech and Language Clinic: Contributed significantly to a dedicated clinic specializing in the assessment and treatment of speech and language disorders in children. Played a key role in evaluating and providing recommendations for augmentative and alternative communication devices to support children, especially those with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), in achieving improved communication outcomes. Collaborated within a co-clinician to conduct thorough assessments, create tailored treatment plans, and deliver interventions aimed at enhancing children's speech and language abilities, addressing the unique challenges associated with CAS and other disorders, and fostering improved communication skills for young clients.