Over the past few months, I've enjoyed connecting with other SLPs, grad students, and other private practice owners through the magical world of the interwebs.  This Gen-Xer is actually on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook (which, I'm told is for old people anyway.... so, there you go.).

​This week, Nora Anne from Strictly Speech is highlighting my practice on her blog.    
Go check it out here and follow her on Instagram @strictlyspeechblog!  

​Much to the delight of young girls everywhere, the American Girl: 2017 Girl of the Year was recently unveiled... Gabriela McBride. Other than being yet another adorable AG doll that my girls will no doubt be saving their $$ for, Gabriela just so happens to be a girl who stutters. Yes, that's right... this year's featured doll has a speech impediment!

Here is a brief summary of her first book:

"Gabriela has grown up surrounded by the arts—dance, painting, music, and theater. But poetry is becoming her art form of choice, for good reason: she struggles with stuttering and poetry helps her words flow more freely. Although Gabriela is a bit quiet, when she does speak, she is sharp, honest, and funny. But can she learn to harness the power of her words and her creativity to help save her beloved community arts center from being torn down?"

Here are more fun details about Gabriela, according to American Girl Doll News:

1. Gabriela will be the first Girl of the Year doll to have four books AND a craft book, entitled Express Yourself With GOTY 2017!
2. She has a pet cat named Maya
3. Book 1 is already available and was written by Teresa E. Harris, the author of Perfect Place, a Young Adult novel.
4. Book 2 will be released on March 28, 2017... also written by Teresa E. Harris.

Thank you, American Girl, for creating such a beautifully complex character and shining a light on a stuttering, (Click here if you'd like more information about stuttering.)

Will you be purchasing Gabriela?