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Kian McBurnie is a Speech Language Therapist from Long Island, NY (SLP-CCC, PROMPT Certified). She graduated in 2012 and has experience with students 3-21 years old across settings such as homecare, a school for the Deaf, and various school districts. She is PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Phonetic Motor Targets) Certified and passionate about all things motor.
Kian’s Instagram: @mrsmcspeechie
Kian’s Teachers Pay Teachers Store
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
We had the pleasure of virtually meeting Kian McBurney—an incredibly thoughtful and experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) from Long Island, New York. With certifications in PROMPT therapy and a passion for sensory-informed care, Kian brings a wealth of insight and authenticity to the world of pediatric speech therapy.
Kian’s story is deeply personal. As a child, only her sister could understand her.
She spent years in speech therapy and vividly remembers her early challenges. Now, with degrees from CW Post (now LIU) and more than a decade of experience, she’s on the other side—empowering children to find their voice, just like she did.
“I put up a picture of me in speech as a child, and when kids find out it’s me, they kind of feel better… like, I’m a success story.”
Early in her career, Kian worked at a school for the Deaf—an experience she describes as “baptism by fire.” With a background in American Sign Language (ASL) and a deep respect for Deaf culture, she focused on total communication and language development.
This experience shaped how she sees therapy today: holistic, communication-centered, and inclusive of all learning styles.
One of Kian’s standout specialties is PROMPT—an acronym forPrompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. This hands-on therapy uses tactile-kinesthetic cues on the face (never in the mouth) to guide children toward more effective speech movements.
PROMPT Highlights:
Helps reshape oral motor patterns.
Targets speech, language, and even social-emotional communication.
Uses a hierarchy of support from full tactile cues to minimal guidance.
Requires intensive training and certification.
“PROMPT is not just about sounds—it’s about the whole child: social, emotional, and linguistic readiness.”
Kian naturally integrates sensory integration into her sessions, especially for children with high energy, poor core stability, or sensory processing challenges.
Her Go-To Sensory Tools:
Heavy work (e.g., pushing door frames).
Wiggle cushions for sensory seekers.
Bubble Mountain to promote breath control and calm.
Visual and proprioceptive input before and during sessions.
She calls thispostural pre-tuning, a term used in PROMPT to describe setting the body and nervous system up for success before communication begins.
“You can’t prompt a moving target. Kids need to feel secure and regulated before they can make progress.”
Although Kian defers to her OT sister for an in-depth explanation, she’s very aware of the vagus nerve’s role in regulation. “Whatever happens at the hips affects the lips,” she quips, highlighting the connection between posture, breath, and oral-motor control.
In Kian’s sessions, therapy is never dry. She incorporates:
Curriculum-based games like escape rooms for math or history.
Child-led themes (e.g., Harry Potter, Star Wars).
Soft clay activities to explore fine motor and sound production.
Play-based routines for carryover at home.
“If it looks like work, they won’t want to do it. But if it’s fun, they’ll engage—and that’s when real progress happens.”
Working in a public school comes with its hurdles—especially during COVID. Between masking challenges and group therapy logistics, Ian has learned to adapt quickly.
Still, she relies on:
Clear face shields for articulation modeling.
Predictable routines for executive functioning skills.
Peer interaction to build social-emotional competence.
Kian is manifesting this next big step—mentoring others and expanding her impact in the SLP community.
Though traditionally in the OT realm, Ian is excited to pursue formal sensory training to strengthen her already-integrated approach.
Kian’s advice for parents, therapists, and educators?
“Don’t be afraid of being bad at something new. Embrace it. That’s where the growth is.”
This mindset has powered her journey—from struggling child to confident clinician, and now to a resource for others.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.
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