Professional Development for Teams
Serving Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners.
Practical, evidence-informed training helps school
teams reduce misidentification risk.
Strengthen responsive screening, assessment, and
planning for diverse learners.
Who These Trainings Are For
School-based SLPs, special education teams, district leaders, multilingual support teams, school
psychologists and related service staff.
If you serve culturally and linguistically diverse learners and want evidence-informed training to support equitable practice,
these trainings are designed for your team.
If you serve culturally and linguistically diverse learners and want evidence-informed training to support equitable practice, these trainings are designed for your team.
Why This Matters
A test score alone is not enough. Misidentification remains a risk when culturally and linguistically diverse learners are
evaluated without culturally and linguistically responsive practices.
These trainings help teams build more informed, equitable practices for screening, assessment, and service planning.
Common Challenges We Help Address
Distinguishing language difference from possible disorder can be challenging in culturally and linguistically diverse settings.
We help teams improve screening and referral decisions, and strengthen culturally and linguistically responsive
assessment.
Additional support includes building clearer service pathways and writing more appropriate goals, recommendations, and
support plans.
Featured Professional Development Topics
Featured Professional Development Topics
Available in 60-minute, 90-minute, 2-hour, 3-hour, and 6-hour formats, virtual or in person
Available in 60-minute, 90-minute, 2-hour, 3-hour, and 6-hour formats, virtual or in person
Effective Strategies
For Screening CLD Learners
Dynamic Assessment
Of Narrative Language for CLD Learners
Developing Culturally Responsive
Goals & Objectives for CLD Learners
Applied Sociolinguistics in Practice
Dialects & Storytelling in CLD Learners
Integrated Dynamic Assessment for CLD Learners
Word Learning, Grammar & Narrative Language
Developing Culturally Responsive
Goals & Objectives for CLD Learners
Applied Sociolinguistics in Practice
Dialects & Storytelling in CLD Learners
Integrated Dynamic Assessment for CLD Learners
Word Learning, Grammar & Narrative Language
Formats include virtual live workshops, in-person training, keynote or conference sessions, team consultation, and
customized district professional development.
Select the format that best fits your school team’s goals and schedule.
Previous Talks and Presentations
Previous Talks and Presentations
Justice For Our Children: Dismantling the K-> Prison Pipeline for Neurodivergent Latine Children
La Cocina 2024
Speech-Language Assessments: A Culturally Responsive Approach for Young, Diverse Families
Kempe Center 2025
What Others Say
Recent feedback
"This was informative and a very creative way to think of culturally sensitive goals for servicing students from bi/multilingual backgrounds who have a disorder."
Speech-Language Pathologist
"I really enjoyed how relevant and applicable this content was. Maria does an awesome job of fitting in all of this content neatly without getting off topic. Dense and condensed. Love it."
Speech-Language Pathologist
"Maria is an excellent presenter and highly skilled at DA."
Speech-Language Pathologist
"This was informative and a very creative way to think of culturally sensitive goals for servicing students from bi/multilingual backgrounds who have a disorder."
Speech-Language Pathologist
"I really enjoyed how relevant and applicable this content was. Maria does an awesome job of fitting in all of this content neatly without getting off topic. Dense and condensed. Love it."
Speech-Language Pathologist
"Maria is an excellent presenter and highly skilled at DA."
Speech-Language Pathologist
Maria Chisolm, M.S., CCC-SLP
Maria is a bilingual speech-language pathologist, adjunct professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and founder of Layers Consulting. As a practicing clinician and private practice owner, she provides comprehensive speech-language evaluations for culturally and linguistically diverse clients and partners closely with families and teams.
A frequent speaker at national, state, and regional conferences, Maria translates research into practical clinical strategies. Through Layers Consulting, she champions equity in practice and builds clinicians’ confidence with culturally responsive assessment and intervention for CLD learners.
Her workshops and professional development sessions are known for clear frameworks, case scenarios, and usable tools that help teams make sound, learner-centered decisions.
Maria is a bilingual speech-language pathologist, adjunct professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and founder of Layers Consulting. As a practicing clinician and private practice owner, she provides comprehensive speech-language evaluations for culturally and linguistically diverse clients and partners closely with families and teams.
A frequent speaker at national, state, and regional conferences, Maria translates research into practical clinical strategies. Through Layers Consulting, she champions equity in practice and builds clinicians’ confidence with culturally responsive assessment and intervention for CLD learners.
Her workshops and professional development sessions are known for clear frameworks, case scenarios, and usable tools that help teams make sound, learner-centered decisions.
Need a Training That Fits?
Reach out to discuss audience, format, and topic options.
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