Mentorship is at the heart of our professional development at Easterseals Central Illinois. We proudly collaborate with several programs to host clinical interns as they complete their degree requirements. This semester, we welcomed Allison Norris to our team as she completed her studies at Illinois State University.
Originally from Coal City, IL, Allison did her undergrad at Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville before joining the Speech-Language Pathology program at Illinois State. Allison always knew she wanted to work with kids, and when her mother suggested Speech-Language Pathology, it just made sense. “I love getting to work more one-on-one or in small groups; it allows me to build great personal relationships with clients and their families,” shared Allison.
Allison has always wanted to work in a school setting. She will achieve that goal in the fall of 2023 when she begins her career with the Special Education Association of Peoria County (SEAPCO) and the Farmington School District. “I have really enjoyed my time at Easterseals. The speech team has a positive environment; I see them supporting each other all the time. They have supported me through the intervention and evaluation process,” shared Allison.
Her time at Easterseals helped open her eyes to possibilities for Speech-Language Pathologists outside of the school setting. Although her heart is guiding her to the schools, she shared how impactful her time in a clinical setting has been.
“I have been given so much support while being allowed to try things out on my own. I have been able to learn from my mistakes while never feeling alone. Easterseals gave me a chance to become my own clinician, not just a copy of someone else.”
Allison Norris, Clinical Intern with Easterseals Central Illinois, Spring 2023
When asked to highlight some of the skills she learned from her time with Easterseals, Allison had one that stood out to her; “I have learned to build trusting relationships with the client, to make sure they feel safe and respected.” She also shared she feels more confident talking to parents, providing a wide variety of interventions, and building relationships with other providers.
“There have been so many good moments. I have had a limited amount of time here, but it has been so great to hear parents share where their child started- and then see them in therapy meeting those milestones,” shared Allison. One of her greatest moments at Easterseals was working with a child for months on creating an /r/ sound and seeing (or hearing) it click one day.
“It is important to keep goals realistic. A parent wants their child completely understood by others, but we need to break that down into smaller goals,” Allison said. “We walk parents through the whole picture so they understand the path.”
We have no doubt Allison will impact so many lives during her career. We are so grateful for her time with us at Easterseals. If you are looking for a clinical internship or job shadow opportunity, give us a call at (309)686-1177 or email AGottwald@eastersealsci.com
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