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This is the fifth in a pilot series of occasional ASHA Executive Director Update postings. Many thanks to those of you who provided feedback regarding the previous updates (2-27-04: Overview of ASHA’s National Office; 4-06-04: ASHA’s Action Center; 5-20-04: ASHA Web Cluster; 8-21-04: ASHA’s Audiology Practices Unit) or suggestions for future ED updates.
This update focuses on the ASHA Speech-Language Pathology Practices Unit.
The SLP Practices Unit provides a variety of services and resources, including:
- state-of-the art information and consultation on SLP policy, practice, and service delivery across clinical settings;
- tracking current issues and trends in speech-language pathology practice and developing timely resource material to assist members;
- contributing to the development of policy documents, educational programs, and products related to communication development and disorders across the age span;
- representing ASHA on behalf of the profession to various external audiences and decision-makers.
The SLP Pactices Unit has 8 FTE staff who are organized into 3 teams: Clinical Issues, Health Care Services, and School Services.
The Health Care Services Team supports and advocates for SLPs in health care settings and responds to requests for information about topics such as:
- dementia
- end of life issues and dysphagia evidence-based practice documentation
- dysphagia—assessment, treatment, scope of practice , efficacy of treatment techniques
- software programs for treatment of speech and language disorders, and for report writing and administrative needsevidence-based practice
- professional practice issues (scope of practice, productivity, competencies)
- reimbursement
- telepractice
The mission of the School Services Team is to promote the interests of and provide best practice information and support for SLPs in school settings regarding policy, practice, and delivery of services for school-age children and youth, by addressing concerns such as:
- following federal mandates (e.g., IDEA and No Child Left Behind)
- paperwork demands
- reimbursement
- roles and responsibilities in literacy
- salary supplements for SLPs
- service delivery models
- workload/caseload
The Clinical Issues Team provides information, consultation, and support to members, consumers, and others about current issues and trends in SLP practice across clinical settings in topic areas such as:
- articulation/phonology/apraxia of speech
- assessment and treatment of fluency and voice disorders
- early intervention
- language development and disorders
- private practice
- training and supervising speech-language pathology assistants
The Exectutive Board established new speech-language pathology committees in 2004 on: autism spectrum disorders, dementia, and early intervention. Staff from the SLP Practices Unit serve as ex officios to assist the committees to develop practice policy documents on these topics. Others documents in process focus on apraxia, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, and a revision of the Ppreferred Ppractice Patterns. Recently developed or updated SLP policy documents address AAC, business practices, cognitive-communication, collaboration with clinical neurophysiologists, FEES and videofluoroscopic swallowing studies, iteracy, Medicare reimbursement for speech generating devices, severe disabilities, supervising speech-language pathology assistants, telepractice, work in the neonatal intensive care unit, and workload/caseload. Current SLP practice policy documents are available in the ASHA Online Desk Reference.
To learn more about the staff in the Speech-Language Pathology Practices Unit, please visit our staff page on the ASHA web site.
The staff also prepares SLP updates every two months to keep you informed about speech-language pathology trends and activities.
National Office Staff Update
The following individuals are new to the ASHA staff:
- Jerome Abellano – PC Support Specialist - IS
- Penny Burke – Administrative Assistant – ASHF
- Tanya Brunnelson – Administrative Assistant – GRPP
- Leslie Katz – Director, Brand Management - Marketing
- Lori Petr – Action Center Specialist
- Lemmietta McNeilly – Chief Staff Officer for Speech-Language Pathology
- Walter Williams III – Action Center Specialist
Several staff have relocated or left ASHA for other opportunities:
- Ellen Caswell – Writer/Editor
- D’Ann Hotten – Administrative Assistant
- Kevin Larkin – Programmer/Analyst
- Elizabeth Moore – Certification Case Manager
Recent ASHA National Office/Staff Awards:
- "Keep an Eye on Your Ears" received the 2004 Winner’s Circle Award competition sponsored by the IABC, District 3 of the International Association of Business Communicators.
- The ASHA and NSSLHA web sites received APEX Awards of Excellence.
Next Executive Director Updates—the other ASHA Practices Unit: Multicultural Affairs
Feedback please!!! Please let me know if such information is of interest to you and what other topics or information you’d like to see included in future Executive Director Updates.
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