# At the Core of our Work

Our Values

Here in the BPL we hold certain values contant and at the core of our research program.

Black Lives Matter
No Human is Illegal
Land Back
Trans Lives Matter
We live and work within liberation frameworks that aim to support the most affected at the intersectionality of oppressions with the hope of helping all of society.

## About

I am Leah Fabiano, PhD, principal investigator of The Bilingual Phonology Lab at the University of Pittsburgh. I lead a collaborative research community focused on bilingual speech and language, with particular attention to children and families whose needs are often overlooked. Through rigorous scholarship, mentorship, and meaningful partnerships, I help develop knowledge that can strengthen assessment and intervention while preparing the next generation of researchers and clinicians to serve multilingual communities.

## Services

- [Bilingual Research](https://getbilingual-fablab.com/services/bilingual-speech-research.md): I conduct research on bilingual speech and language development.
- [Speech Assessment Studies](https://getbilingual-fablab.com/services/bilingual-speech-assessment.md): I study speech sound impairments in bilingual children.
- [Graduate Mentorship](https://getbilingual-fablab.com/services/graduate-research-mentorship.md): I mentor students in bilingual communication sciences research.
- **The Bilingual Child, LLC**: I provide bilingual speech and phonology support for children.

## FAQ

### What is bilingual phonology?

Bilingual phonology examines how people who use two or more languages learn, organize, and produce speech sounds. It considers the sound systems of each language and how they may interact during communication development.

### How can language differences be distinguished from speech sound difficulties?

A language difference reflects the normal influence of a person's languages, while a speech sound difficulty may affect communication beyond expected patterns. Careful assessment considers both languages, cultural context, development, and the individual's communication needs.

### Why is it important to consider both languages in an evaluation?

Looking at both languages provides a more complete understanding of a bilingual person's communication skills. It helps professionals avoid mistaking typical cross-language patterns for a disorder and supports more appropriate recommendations.

### Who can benefit from bilingual speech and language research?

Research in this area can inform families, educators, speech-language professionals, and researchers who support bilingual children and adults. It contributes to more equitable assessment practices and better understanding of communication across languages.

### How can families support bilingual communication development?

Families can continue using the languages that feel natural and meaningful in everyday interactions, while creating opportunities for conversation, storytelling, reading, and play. A qualified speech-language professional can help address concerns while respecting the person's full linguistic and cultural background.

## Contact

- Address: Pittsburgh, PA, USA