Voice and Communication Services for the Gender Diverse Community

Support for gender-diverse clients is a growing sub-specialty within Speech Language Pathology. This presentation aims to provide a framework for assessing, goal-setting, and intervening in partnership with clients across the gender spectrum. Case studies will be discussed with a focus on person-centered goal setting that looks beyond the gender binary.

Evan Kennedy, MScA CCC-SLP, is a Speech Language Pathologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where he serves as an Associate in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. He specializes in evaluation and care of the voice across the lifespan, and has special interests in professional voice management, and gender-diverse voice and communication services. Evan serves as a content expert for the American Board of Voice and Upper Airway Disorders, with whom he works to establish the national practice standards for voice-specialized speech pathologists. He provides training and 1:1 mentorship to graduate students as well as an international community of clinicians looking to further specialize their skills in voice assessment and care. Evan holds a master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from McGill University. He is presently completing his master's of Biostatistics in Clinical Research Methods at the Mailman School of Public Health at CUIMC.

Holly Reckers, MS CCC-SLP, currently serves as an Associate in Clinical Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of voice, swallowing, and upper airway disorders across the lifespan. She has presented and published on the topic of vocal hygiene and training of collegiate and professional singers. She also teaches at Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Holly holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in voice performance/opera. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati. She completed her clinical fellowship at Lakeshore Ear, Nose, and Throat Professional Voice Center in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Holly continues to professionally perform in several styles including opera, oratorio, musical theater, choral, folk, and contemporary musical genres. She is a certified provider of Lee Silverman Voice Training (LSVT), SPEAK OUT!®, and myofascial release/laryngeal massage techniques.

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