Becka Harker, Ph.D., has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for over 25 years. She has worked with pediatrics in both outpatient clinics and in schools. She recently got her Ph.D. in special education at Kent State University (Ohio). Her dissertation topic was determining the effects of a vocabulary intervention on the comprehension skills of students with language learning disorders.

Harker’s research interests include improving outcomes for students with language-based learning disorders (developmental language disorders, speech and language impairments, specific learning disabilities in reading). She is also interested in service delivery and caseload management strategies for school-based SLPs.

Education

Ph.D. in Special Education, Kent State University

M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Case Western Reserve University

Publications

Harker, B. (2022, January/February). Can we break from 30-minute group therapy sessions in schools? The ASHA Leader, 27 (1), 34-36. 

Wiley, A. & Harker, B. (2022). Veil of tiers or Happy Tiers? Revitalizing special education in an age of multi-tiered systems of support. In J.M. Kaufmann (Ed.), Revitalizing Special Education. Emerald Publishing. 

Stevenson, N.A., Chen, C., Harker, B., Al-Smadi, F., & Alanazi, H. (2024). Empowering students through effective performance feedback: The FACTS   framework. Teaching Exceptional Children.

Media

Mets, M. (Host) (2022, June 7-28). Service delivery and caseload management (#122-125) [Audio Podcast Episodes]. In SLP Now Podcast. https://blog.slpnow.com/category/podcast/ 

Presentations

Harker, B. (2024, July 18) Vocabulary interventions for students with language disorders [Webinar]. Speechpathology.com. 

Harker, B. (2023, October 16-17). Vocabulary interventions for students with language disorders. OSSPEAC Conference. Elyria, Ohio, United States. 

Harker, B. (2023, October 2). Vocabulary: A tier 1 tutorial. Austintown Local School District Professional development workshop for teachers. Austintown, Ohio, United States. 

Harker, B. (2023, September 22). Scheduling Considerations for Caseload Management [online]. Kentucky Educational Development Corporation SLP Cadre Professional Development.  

Harker, B. (2023, August 7). Scheduling Considerations for Caseload Management [Online]. OSSPEAC Community of Practice Professional Development.  

Harker, B. (2018, October 20-23). Functional strategies for treating childhood apraxia of speech. OSSPEAC Conference. Columbus, Ohio, United States. 

Posters

Harker, B. (2024, April 4). Effects of Vocabulary Intervention of  Comprehension for 3^rd Graders with LLD [Poster Presentation]. Badar-Kauffman Conference, Kent, Ohio, United States. 

Harker, B. (2023, July 26- August 7). Vocabulary strategies for school-based SLP. [Online Poster Presentation]. ASHA Schools Connect. 

Harker, B. (2023, March 23). Effects of rich vocabulary intervention on comprehension for students with LLD [Poster Presentation] Badar-Kauffman Conference, Kent, Ohio, United States. 

Harker, B. (2021, July 14-26). Reimagining school-based SLP services by embracing RTI [Poster Presentation]. ASHA Schools Connect, online. 

Harker, B. & Wiley, A. (2022, March 24). Predicting emotional disturbance identification rates by political ideology [Poster Presentation]. Badar-Kauffman Conference, Kent, Ohio, United States. 

In Process

Harker, B. & Stevenson, N. (in process). Systematic review of the effects of vocabulary intervention on comprehension in elementary-aged students. Language, Hearing, and Speech Services in Schools.