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It was with considerable dismay that we speech-language pathologists and coordinators of community college speech-language pathology assistant programs here in California read the article in the January 21 issue of The ASHA Leader, "A Work in Progress: ASHA Focused Initiatives 2001-2003."
How better to "...increase the number of racial/ethnic minority members of ASHA" than through the national endorsement, advocacy and marketing of speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) programs? Many of our SLPA programs are already bringing much-needed and much-desired bilingual and multicultural individuals to the profession. Lack of parity between SLPs/SLPAs and their rehabilitation counterparts in occupational therapy and physical therapy aside, most of us are receiving weekly telephone calls from schools and hospitals regarding the need for bilingual, multicultural SLPAs ready to go to work.
How better to offset the Sisyphus-like, back-breaking caseload of the average public school SLP to determine the "...cases that can be adequately and appropriately served" than through the assistance of well-trained paraprofessionals such as SLPAs?
With the reality of managed care, demonstrated accountability, and human and fiscal resources stretched to the limits, perhaps ASHA needs to sharpen its focus to include speech-language pathology assistants as a vital and necessary resource and a vital aspect of our profession.
Rosemary Scott
Pasadena, CA
Rxscott@Paccd.cc.ca.us
Dorothy McJenkin
Laguna Hills, CA
Ellen Horvath
Westminster, CA
Donna Swanson-Perrelet
Encinitas, CA
Karen Mainess
Mentone, CA
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