American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Special Interest Groups

About Special Interest Group 1, Language Learning and Education

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Special Interest Group on Language Learning and Education to support children and adults with developmental language disorders and their families by:

  • providing clinicians and researchers with resources and education related to language development and disorders;
  • promoting excellence in evidence-based clinical practice with children and adults with developmental language disorders and their families;
  • promoting the development and dissemination of basic and applied research in language development and disorders;
  • advocating for professionals specializing in child language clinical practice and research.

Topics

Focus Area 1: Issues that Relate to Children and Adults Across the Age Ranges

  • Assessment and intervention for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, attention deficit, Fragile X syndrome, specific language impairment, early communication delays, developmental disabilities, English language learners, and phonological disorders
  • Research related to children and adults with language and phonological disorders
  • Cultural and linguistic diversity in language learning and effects on literacy learning
  • Policy and service delivery issues related to language learning and education
  • Collaboration and inter-professional education

Focus Area 2: Birth-to-Five Years Old

  • Early language learning and phonological development
  • Methods for identifying children at risk for language disorders
  • Early communicative development and emergent literacy
  • Eligibility and dismissal criteria for preschool children across service settings
  • Policy and service delivery issues for young children with developmental delays or atypical language learning

Focus Area 3: School-Age Children, Adolscents, and Adults

  • Literacy, learning strategies, and school success
  • Roles and responsibilities of SLPs in language and literacy learning
  • Support for transitioning into adult roles

Affiliate Benefits and SIG Programs

Perspectives on Language Learning and Education

Perspectives on Language Learning and Education is the SIG's online publication, published by ASHA with HighWire Press. Perspectives is published 4 times annually in January, March, July, and October. SIG 1's Perspectives issues are offered for self-study to earn CEUs. Perspectives on Language Learning and Education features:

  • News of SIG activities
  • The latest on research and clinical topics
  • Coverage of current professional, practice, and legislative and regulatory issues

Online Chats

SIGs sponsor live online chats. These events feature topic experts who answer questions from the audience. All ASHA and NSSLHA members may attend. Live online chats are not eligible for CEUs. Archived chats can be accessed online.

Continuing Education

  • The SIG sponsors a Short Course and a seminar at the annual ASHA Convention.
  • Perspectives contains continuing education articles. Readers may earn ASHA continuing education credit by completing self-study questions related to those articles. SIG affiliates may complete the self-study for a $5 processing fee.
  • Short Course: SIG affiliates are eligible for a 50% discount on select Short Courses at the ASHA Convention.

Networking

SIG affiliates have the opportunity to identify others with interest in language learning and education:

Representation Within ASHA

  • The SIG 1 Coordinator represents the Language Learning and Education Special Interest Group within the ASHA Board of Special Interest Group Coordinators.
  • The Coordinating Committee responds to ASHA requests for input regarding policy, guidelines, committees, and other issues.
  • Affiliates have the opportunity to provide input to the SIG leadership and ASHA.

Coordinating Committee

Members

SIG Coordinator: LaVae Hoffman, University of Virginia
Associate Coordinator: Lisa Hammett Price, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Perspectives Editor: Donna Boudreau, Portland State University
Erin Taylor, Special School District of St. Louis
Geralyn Timler, Miami University
Ex Officio: Susan Karr, Associate Director, Schools Services in Speech-Language Pathology, ASHA

Additional SIG Volunteers

Perspectives Associate Editor: Brenda Beverly, University of South Alabama
CE Content Manager: Erin Taylor-Stone, Special School District of St. Louis
Editorial Review Board

Staff Liaison for Communications

Tori Koulakjian, Editorial Assistant, ASHA

Board Liaisons

Donna Fisher Smiley, Vice President for Audiology Practice
Gail J. Richard, Vice President for Speech-Language Pathology Practice

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