Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at www.bethebrightest.com.
📌 Episode Summary: Dr. Dionna Latimer Hearn joins us for a powerful conversation about African American English (AAE), its role in educational equity, and what it truly means to respect the dialect. We explore how systemic bias shows up in schools, how educators and SLPs can shift from deficit-based frameworks to affirming practices, and how to better support Black students who are also neurodivergent or have communication differences.
👤 Guest Bio: Dr. Dionna Latimer Hearn is a scholar, consultant, and founder of React Initiative, Inc. With over 20 years of experience supporting culturally and linguistically diverse learners in the U.S., Japan, and France, she is a leading voice in centering AAE in educational equity work. Through her platform Respect the Dialect, Dr. Hearn empowers educators and speech-language pathologists to shift mindsets, dismantle bias, and adopt culturally and linguistically affirming practices.
🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:
What African American English (AAE) actually is—a rule-governed, consistent, and legitimate dialect
How systemic bias and deficit thinking impact AAE-speaking students
The difference between linguistic difference and disorder
Why traditional assessments often fail AAE speakers—and what to use instead
How to advocate for linguistic justice in schools and therapy spaces
The intersection of race, language, and disability in educational systems
How to support and affirm students through culturally sustaining instruction and assessment
Dr. Hearn’s “Respect the Dialect” movement and how you can get involved
📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Define African American English (AAE) and describe its linguistic features as a rule-governed dialect
✅ Recognize the impact of deficit thinking on AAE-speaking students
✅ Identify culturally sustaining assessment practices that reduce bias
✅ Apply principles of linguistic justice to your therapeutic and educational decisions
✅ Understand how race, language, and disability interact through an intersectional lens.
🔗 Learn more at: https://respectthedialect.org
📩 Follow Dr. Hearn: @respectthedialect
Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at www.bethebrightest.com.