College of Education

Education

• Ed.D. Leadership for Educational Equity, Early Childhood Education - University of Colorado, Denver
• M.S. Communication Science and Disorders - Florida State University
• B.A. Speech and Hearing Science - University of California, Santa Barbara

Biography

Leslie Blome was a practicing speech-language pathologist for 25 years before joining the faculty at Eastern Michigan University. Her work in higher education is an extension of her career-long emphasis on autism and early childhood education. She  values the opportunity to mentor adult learners and connect them with the tools and resources they need to learn and to nurture their own interests as they prepare to enter the field.

Interests and Expertise

Research Interests

• Early Identification of Autism
• Early Communication Development and Early Childhood Education
• Strategies for Supporting Regulation in Autism
• Interprofessional Education, Research, and Practice

Courses

• CSD 342 - Language Disorders in Children
• CSD 343W - Clinical Methods in Speech-Language Pathology, Writing Intensive
• CSD 506 - Communication Development in Autism Spectrum Disorder
• CSD 607 - Early Intervention for Speech and Language Impaired Children
• CSD 694 – Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology

Publications and Presentations

Selected Publications

• Blome L. & Steed, E. (2024, October). Physician assistant autism training: A qualitative study. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. doi: 10.1080/1034912X.2024.2411271
• Blome, L. & Sivahop, J. (2024, July). Autism identification and referral: How best to equip physician assistant students for successful practice. Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 35(3), 297-303. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000612
• Blome, L. (2021, May). Book Review of The Early Advantage: Early Childhood Systems That Lead by Example by Sharon Lynn Kagan (Ed.). Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, 16(1), 72-75.
• Blome, L. with Zelle, M. (2018). Practical strategies for supporting emotional regulation in students with autism: Enhancing engagement and learning in the classroom. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Selected Presentations

• Blome, L. & Klick, S. (2024). An Interprofessional Education (IPE) Opportunity for SLP and ECE Students: Co-creating Visual Supports for Preschoolers. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention [in-person], Seattle, Washington.
• Blome, L. (2024). Physician Assistant Training: A Path to Earlier Identification of Autism. Poster presentation at the Conference on Research Innovations in Early Intervention, San Diego, California.

• Blome, L. (2022). Physician Assistant Students’ Retention and Application of Autism Knowledge During Pediatric Clinical Rotations. Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention [Virtual], New Orleans, Louisiana.

• Blome, L. & Zelle, M. (2019). 5 Effective Strategies for Students with Autism: Promoting Regulation for Early Learners in Inclusive Classrooms. Presentation at Courage to Risk: A Collaborative Conference for Special Education, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

• Blome, L. & Zelle, M. (2019). 5 Effective Strategies for Students with Autism: Promoting Regulation for Early Learners in Inclusive Classrooms. Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Boston, Massachusetts.

•  Blome, L. (2016). Engaging Children with Autism Using Highly Motivating Joint Action Routines. Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• Blome, L. & Zelle, M. (2016). Autism in the Preschool Classroom: Cognitive/Language Strategies for Supporting Emotional Regulation. Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• Blome, L. & Zelle, M. (2016). Autism in the Preschool Classroom: Cognitive/Language Strategies for Supporting Emotional Regulation. Presentation at the Autism Society of America National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana.

• Blome, L. & Zelle, M. (2015). Autism in the Preschool Classroom: Cognitive/Language Strategies for Supporting Regulation. Presentation at the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado.

• Rydell, P. J., Treharne, S., & Blome, L. (2013). Creating a Conversational Framework for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Chicago, Illinois.