Who is Linda Hodgdon?

I have a passion for the power of communication. I guess my “speaking” career began in the third grade when I had the lead role in the Newton Elementary School Christmas program. I became a “writer” when I was elected the 4th grade news reporter for the Roscommon Herald. As a young adult I purchased a fancy camera that spurred a photography hobby. These separate pieces of my history eventually merged.

My college career prepared me to work with children who needed help with speech & language problems. But my real life experience working with students with autism spectrum disorders opened a whole new dimension of communication. Striving to understand the communication challenges and learning needs of students with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and other communication and behavior challenges has steered my professional accomplishments.

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I have worked with and consulted for many hundreds of students who experience the social, communication and behavior challenges commonly associated with autism. Facing the need to help these students gain effective communication skills led me to develop the use of visual strategies for supporting communication. (That camera inspired me!) I discovered that using visual strategies made a significant difference in how students were able to understand their environments. Visual strategies helped students participate successfully in school and home routines. One idea begat another begat another. . .

So my speaking and writing careers have blossomed since elementary school. Now my passion is sharing some important information that I know helps students and their families. My books have been spreading the visual strategies message to thousands of professionals and parents around the world. People love the practical information. I have flown more than a million miles sharing that visual strategies message and important information about the learning needs of students on the autism spectrum.

I love to hear the success stories. I regularly receive letters and phone calls and talk to people at conferences about the positive effect using visual strategies has had for individual students. That’s what keeps me going. Families are searching for solutions for their children’s challenges. I know I am sharing information that really makes a difference!

Have you attended one of my VISUAL STRATEGIES WORKSHOPS???

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Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Communication Specialist

Director, Cornerstone Communication Center
An organization that provides consultation, training, and professional development with the goal of improving communication