Susan D. Dixon

Susan D. Dixon

Susan D. Dixon is a speech and language pathologist supporting elementary-aged children in the Monroe County Community School Corporation in Indiana. She also works for the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University Bloomington, where she is involved in research, writing, and training. Her workshop topics have included behavior as communication; mindful relationship-based practice; integrating therapy into everyday routines, activities, and environments; universally designing early education settings to positively impact language and literacy development; and the social and emotional development of preschool-aged children. Throughout her professional career, Sue has maintained a private practice serving the communication needs of infants, toddlers, and their families, as well as elementary students and adults at home and in vocational settings.

Sue began her career working in a large institution for individuals with significant developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. This experience led her to engage what became a seminal question in her work: How do behaviors function communicatively? Her written work and trainings focus on creating supportive and positive relationships by relying on collaboration among concerned groups to provide diverse individuals opportunities to achieve success.

She is coauthor of Adapting Curriculum and Instruction in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings. Sue has also written articles for Young Exceptional Children and Young Children.

She has a bachelor of science in communication disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master of arts in speech and language pathology from Western Illinois University.

Presentation titles by Susan D. Dixon

• When Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Understanding the Challenging Behaviors of Young Children and Students With Disabilities
• Integrating Therapy Into Daily Routines in Early Education
• Universally Designing Early Education Settings to Foster Literacy and Language Development