I chatted with the one and only Clay Hadden—known online as Mister Clay! Clay is a speech-language pathologist and popular YouTube creator who combines music, visuals, and engaging language activities for kids. He’s also just released his first children’s book, ‘I Hear Nature', and we dive into that in this interview. Keep reading to learn about Clay’s journey, his thoughts on video modeling, and his latest projects!
Clay's Background
Tara: Clay, welcome! I'm so excited to share all the fun and engaging resources you have for young kids.
Clay: Thanks so much for having me, Tara!
Tara: You’re one of the few male speech-language pathologists out there, especially in pediatrics. Can you share a bit about your background?
Clay: Definitely! Originally, I started in pre-med, but after a few weeks, I realized the doctor lifestyle wasn’t for me. I was drawn more toward a helping profession, which led me to speech therapy. I went to Winthrop University, took some speech therapy classes, and was hooked! Later, I went to UNC Chapel Hill for grad school, and even though I initially didn’t want to work with kids, a few practicum experiences changed my mind.
Pandemic Pivot
Tara: That’s such an interesting journey. And then you got into working with neurodiverse kids! How did that start?
Clay: It was actually a bit unplanned. My first job after grad school was at a hospital, where I was supposed to split my time between inpatient and outpatient cases. But the therapist who worked with neurodiverse kids left, and suddenly, I was filling her role. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Working with kids turned out to be fun and rewarding!
Tara: And now you’re running your own practice, Ready, Set, Talk. How did the idea of creating YouTube videos come about?
Clay: During the pandemic, we weren’t able to get approved for virtual therapy right away, so I started making videos to send to clients as a way of modeling AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). A few families asked me to post the videos on YouTube so their kids could easily access them, and it just grew from there. It wasn’t planned, but it became a really meaningful project!
Video Modeling and A New Book
Tara: I love that the YouTube channel was born out of necessity! So now you have over 14,000 subscribers, which is amazing. You also recently published a children’s book—can you tell us about it?
Clay: Sure! The book is the result of a collaboration with Nine Wise Publishing, and it started as a kids’ song I wrote with my friend Jim. The publishers helped us develop it into a board book with fun, interactive flaps and onomatopoeic sounds that young kids really enjoy. At the beginning of all the Nine Wise books, they have tips on how to engage the particular book that you're holding with your kid. So, it’s designed to engage kids at different levels—whether they’re just starting with symbolic words or are a little older and more verbal.
Tara: It’s such a cute book! I can see how well it could work with younger, non-speaking kids. So, for readers interested in trying out the book, where can they find it?
Clay: ‘I Hear Nature' is available through Nine Wise Publishing, which focuses on working with educators and therapists to create resources that make a difference for kids.
Gestalt Language Processors and Video Modeling
Tara: I’ve also heard you mention using book videos for kids who are gestalt language processors. Could you explain how that works?
Clay: Sure! Many kids who are gestalt language processors are big fans of videos, especially YouTube videos of people reading popular children’s books. I often use these videos in therapy to provide a familiar and consistent visual. It’s not about trying to change a kid or push them to engage with certain books or characters—it’s about using what’s meaningful and motivating to them to build language skills.
Tara: And I imagine that having videos of familiar books provides some comfort and continuity for the kids?
Clay: Exactly! For instance, some kids love the book “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” but they prefer to watch it on YouTube because they’re used to that particular voice or reading style. I use those videos in sessions, often pairing them with the physical book. It’s a great way to add an extra layer of support and familiarity.
Tara: I love that. I think that's such a great message for parents and educators who might feel intimidated by music. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it doesn’t have to be complex. Just introducing rhythm, even tapping along with a pen, can be enough to engage a child.
How Music and Rhythm Engage Kids in Therapy
Clay: Absolutely. It’s all about breaking down those barriers and realizing that music can be a tool, not just for engagement, but for connection and learning as well. Kids respond to rhythm and melody because it's so embedded in our neural processing. It can help with language, memory, and even regulating emotions.
Building connections is key. In the past, the focus was on trying to get neurodiverse kids to think and enjoy like us. But over the years, we’ve learned the value of meeting them where they are. Now, I use book videos to connect with kids based on their interests. We’ll sit together, maybe watching the same three-second clip from Pete the Cat on repeat, sharing that joy. Moments like these—when a child looks over at me, recognizing a familiar line—create a real human connection and open the door to even more interaction. It’s why I love using videos of books in therapy.
The Role of Video Modeling in Supporting Neurodiverse Learners
Tara: Absolutely. I love how this connects to video modeling—not to make kids more neurotypical, but to honor their neurotype while building life skills. Over our careers, we've shifted from trying to “fill gaps” to focusing on supporting their unique strengths. This shift has come with the neurodiversity movement and listening to autistic adults. It’s a learning curve for us all, and for some, this might be the first step on that journey.
Clay: For the kids I work with, relationships are everything—and families value this too. Think of your best teachers; they’re the ones who connected with you personally, who offered that extra encouragement. It’s never about changing a child but fostering learning through shared enjoyment and connection. I use video models not to “fix” them, but to offer a low-stress way to take in new information. Building trust first is essential—I never jump in with instructions; instead, I create a safe space, then introduce the videos when they're ready.
Visual Supports and Video Modeling
Tara: I love using video modeling, especially for tough transitions, like going from the playground to the bus. For example, I created a point-of-view video with a little Batman figure walking to the bus, and it really helped one child stay engaged and comfortable. Visual supports can work similarly, and we can even introduce new play ideas based on their interests. If it clicks, great! If not, we simply move on.
Clay: I have a minimally verbal child who loves emojis. A regular apple picture doesn’t interest him, but an apple emoji grabs his attention immediately. So, I made a video with an emoji apple floating next to me, saying “apple,” then “pineapple,” and so on. This approach clicked—he now brings objects to us to learn their names, using this interaction style. Video modeling allowed him to learn in a way that feels natural and empowering, and his language skills have really taken off!
Tara: Video modeling created a predictable routine for him, which he then used in real life by holding up objects to communicate, “I want to know what this is.” It’s a powerful way to encourage multimodal communication!
Empowering Kids to Connect and Learn
Clay: The best part of our job is explaining how meaningful these moments are! When he holds up an object and wants to know its name, he’s actively seeking new information. This isn’t about training or compliance—it’s about empowering him with a way to explore and understand his world. That’s huge!
Tara: Exactly, and he’s the one initiating! That’s the powerful part—it’s true communication.
I also discovered how effective video modeling can be by accident. We had a student who wasn’t tracing letters at school, but his mom said he was doing it at home. So, I asked her to send a video of her process, including the materials she used (whiteboard vs. paper). Instead of directing him myself, I showed him the video with the same materials—and he traced every letter. It wasn’t about his ability but about understanding how to generalize the skill across settings.
Clay: One powerful aspect of video modeling is using the whole environment as a cue. For example, before a trip, I research the hotel or the rides, like when my son and I visited Carowinds, and he was nervous about the roller coasters. Knowing what to expect is a great tool for many people, and video modeling taps into that. By showing a video of the activity, setting everything up, and letting the child explore, they often don’t need me. It's not about changing them, it’s about expanding their experiences, like using a new way to play with blocks. Sometimes they reject it, but other times they embrace it and transfer the skill to other activities.
Using Music and Familiarity to Foster Literacy and Connection
Tara: I've seen that with play-based visual supports to broaden kids' horizons and introduce new things they might enjoy. It's about discovering what clicks while being okay with moving on from what doesn’t interest them. The same approach applies to both visuals and video modeling.
Clay: Video modeling helps introduce books to kids who are hesitant, especially hyperlexic kids who can read but struggle with the idea of sitting down with a book. Videos engage them first, leading to a natural interest in reading. Over time, they connect the video content to the book, eventually memorizing and enjoying it on their own. It’s a joyful, non-forced way to foster literacy.
Using Music to Engage Kids
Tara: Yeah, well said. And speaking of videos your YouTube channel is popular among special education teachers, SLPs, and parents. How have you seen music help students over the years?
Clay: Music can be a powerful tool for engaging kids. Even something simple, like tapping a beat with a cup and pen, can help build connections. Kids love repetitive activities, and using music, like favorite songs, creates joy and strengthens relationships. For language development, nursery rhymes and songs help teach phrases and concepts. I often modify songs, like changing lyrics to include dinosaurs or other interests, which helps kids engage and learn that language can be flexible. Not every kid likes changes, but it's worth trying, especially with kids who enjoy things like the alphabet song. Music is a great way to engage children and make learning fun.
Tara: Yeah, definitely. I encourage everybody to check out your YouTube channel because you have a lot of variety there.
Listen to the podcast: Episode 95
Connect with Clay:
I Hear Nature (Clay’s new children’s book)
Related Topics:
If you use visual supports in your classroom or home, you are going to want to sign up for this free Visual Supports Starter Set ASAP! Click here to have one sent to your inbox. Also, be sure to read more about visual supports and how they can help autistic children here.
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