Academic Affairs
- Added "Teaching Tools" to the ASHA Web pages for faculty, researchers and PhD students. Developed by members for audiology and speech-language pathology faculty, the new section features articles, resources, and information on academic and clinical teaching, pedagogy, and teaching with technology.
- Developed "Quality Indicators for Integration of Clinical Practice and Research: Program Self-Assessment," a Web-based resource for academic and clinical faculty to evaluate successful blending of theory, research and practice. Sections include general curriculum considerations, coursework, faculty preparation, students, and clinical practicum.
- Launched "Mentoring Academic Research Careers" (MARC), the ASHA Gathering Place's newest online mentoring program, established as part of the Focused Initiative on the PhD shortage. MARC targets new faculty, PhD students and post-doctoral scholars; those interested may enroll at the start of the academic year.
- The Higher Education Data System (HES) is a Web-based system for surveys and data collection pertaining to academic programs in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). In 2006, many of the primary functional and administrative technical specifications were completed in preparation for the Spring 2007 launch of the system.
- EdFind, an online search engine, is a component of the Higher Education Data System (HES) and replaces the online Guide to Graduate Education. In 2006, the final technical specifications were developed for the master's- and doctoral-level search functions. The launch of EdFind is anticipated for Spring 2007.
ASHFoundation
- Raised more than $500,000 for the annual program from individuals, corporations, service organizations, and special event fundraisers (golf benefit, conference fundraisers, Convention raffle, and live auction); reached nearly $2 million (cumulative) for the "Dreams and Possibilities" campaign to fund high-priority research and doctoral scholarship initiatives.
- Selected 53 individuals from more than 400 applicants to receive grants, scholarships, and recognition awards of $1,500-$10,000 each, and recognized them at the annual Founders Breakfast of almost 300 attendees; these included the fourth year of the New Century Scholars Program, which awarded 10 grants of $10,000 each in support of teacher-investigator careers.
- Instituted a study-section model of research grant review, in which senior reviewers mentored less-experienced reviewers in techniques of grant evaluation.
- At Convention, sponsored a special session, "Foundations for Career Development," with former grant recipients sharing research success factors; and premiered a video tribute honoring the Foundation's "60 Years of Giving."
- Received a special anniversary gift of $600,000 from ASHA to support future projects in evidenced-based research and practice; honored 35 representatives from the corporate community who supported Foundation philanthropy in 2006; and involved more than 100 volunteers to assist Foundation trustees and staff with fundraising and annual award review and selection.
Audiology Practices
- Working groups completed two documents, now available in the online reference library: "Preferred Practice Patterns for Audiology" [PDF] and "Roles, Knowledge, and Skills: Audiologists Providing Clinical Services to Infants and Young Children Birth to 5 Years of Age"
- Published Audiology Connections [PDF], an annual "year in review" that highlights the audiology-related activities accomplished by national office staff, distributed to all CCC-As and graduate programs in audiology; and four issues of Access Audiology, all archived on the audiology/audiologist Web site.
- Represented ASHA at meetings of national coalitions and public and private agencies: HHS Working Group on Hearing Loss in Children; representatives of the 19 federal agencies interested in closing the service gaps for infants and young children with hearing loss; National Council for Quality Assurance; American Auditory Society; AAA; National Academy of Future Doctors of Audiology; AG Bell; EHDI; National Cued Speech Association; National Youth Fellowship Students; NHCA; Association of Rehabilitative Audiology; AARP.
- Served as organizational contributor, exhibitor, and presenter at the first scientific conference focused on the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss in children, which featured national and international participants as well as NIOSH, NHCA, NIDCD, DRF, ASA, and AAA.
- Updated consumer information packets available from the Action Center; created new books of ASHA resources on adult aural rehabilitation and pediatric audiology; worked with Division 6 on the development of the new "Let's Talk Audiology: Contemporary Issues in Disorders and Treatment," a collection of patient education newsletters that can be personalized and printed for distribution on topics including ototoxicity, genetic hearing loss and counseling, bone-anchored hearing aids, and otosclerosis.
Certification Administration
- Received 4,969 applications for certification and awarded 6,419 certifications (this total includes individuals who had applied earlier but did not complete requirements until 2006).
- Began work on the audiology practice analysis; required every 5-7 years, the analysis will be used, in part, to validate (and, if necessary, update) the standards for clinical certification in audiology.
- Completed the transition to the new, 2005 Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology for all applicants for initial or reinstatement of certification in speech-language pathology.
- Instituted a "case manager" system in which applicants for clinical certification are assigned to a certification staff member who serves as their "case manager" as they proceed through the certification process. This system allows applicants to work one-on-one with an individual who has access to and familiarity with their certification file.
- The Certification Maintenance Program completed its fourth year for audiologists and its first full year for speech-language pathologists. All certificate-holders will be engaged in the maintenance program once it is fully implemented; they will be required to submit a Statement of Compliance every three years upon completion of 30 hours of professional development.
Continuing Education (CE)
- Maintained CE Registry cumulative transcripts for 159,383 individuals
- Awarded more than 109,000 ASHA CEUs and issued more than 8,000 CE Registry transcripts
- Reviewed and registered 12,816 courses for ASHA CEUs offered by 491 ASHA CE providers
- Issued more than 3,400 Awards for Continuing Education (ACE)
- Answered more than 12,000 technical assistance calls and 5,500 emails
Convention and Meetings
- Annual Convention was held November 16-18 in Miami Beach, Florida, with 9,501 attendees and exhibitors.
- More than 1,500 Convention program sessions were presented; 5,100 attendees received CEUs for sessions they attended.
- The Convention featured an Exhibit Hall with 491 booths, a large Career Fair, and a Graduate Information area.
- Approximately 4,000 people attended the Convention General Opening Session featuring James Earl Jones; 3,200 people attended the Awards Ceremony.
Credentialing
- Continued the design and development of the Higher Education Data System (HES), in collaboration with the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. This online, on-demand, customized higher education data system integrates data from seven survey and reporting instruments regularly completed and used by communication sciences and disorders programs.
- Completed a widespread peer review of the Standards for Accreditation of Graduate Education Programs in audiology and speech-language pathology [PDF], and revised the standards for implementation in 2008
- Received continued recognition from the U.S. Department of Education for the CAA, the only recognized accreditor for the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology
- Initiated implementation of the Credentialing Communications Plan to promote the value and benefits of ASHA accreditation and certification.
Government Relations and Public Policy
- Worked with Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop an exception process as a temporary alternative to the Medicare therapy caps.
- Positioned ASHA's National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) as the most appropriate speech-language pathology services outcomes reporting tool to document functional progress for the Medicare therapy cap exceptions process. Reports from CMS and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recommend NOMS use.
- Successfully lobbied to prevent a CMS-proposed 5.1% cut in the Medicare fee schedule, set to take effect Jan. 1, 2007.
- Conducted a CMS-approved survey and presented findings to the American Medical Association's coding processes on establishing the "professional work" component for SLPs and audiologists in the Medicare fee schedule formula.
- Introduced a new CPT code for auditory brainstem implant programming, and convinced CMS to increase hospital outpatient payment rates for central auditory function and tinnitus assessment by nearly 300%. (ASHA has introduced 25 new codes over the last five years.)
- Helped three states secure annual salary bonuses—ranging from $1,750 to $5,000—for school-based SLPs holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). These bonuses total $12 million annually.
Health Care and Clinical Issues
- With funding from the Focused Initiative on Personnel Issues, produced a new recruitment brochure, "Reward Yourself with a Career in Health Care" [PDF]; developed a recruitment/retention packet for health care; placed articles about speech-language pathology in other professional publications; and met with the executive boards of 10 state speech-language hearing associations.
- Approved new documents on autism, assessment of memory disorders, and learning disabilities in young children, and developed documents that will be submitted for approval in early 2007 on apraxia of speech in children, dysphagia in schools, early intervention, and the SLP scope of practice.
- The sold-out ASHA Health Care 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee, featured two-day concurrent programs on early intervention, medically fragile patients with dysphagia, and neurogenic disorders.
- Developed DVD and brochure about SLP telepractice; online Directory of Speech-Language Pathology Assessment Instruments for members; book for parents and caregivers, Talking on the Go: Everyday Activities to Enhance Speech and Language Development.
- Developed new topics and resources on the speech-language pathology "members-only" Web site, including JCAHO's standards on the use of barium in videofluoroscopic swallowing studies, cross-training in the delivery of swallowing and feeding disorders, radiation safety for the SLP, and universal precautions/patient safety.
Marketing
- Inaugurated ASHA's new online store, with enhanced search methods, groupings of product by topic categories, and simple one-time-only log-in onto ASHA's Web site.
- Launched ASHA's four scholarly journals on Stanford University's Highwire Press, enabling libraries, institutions, and nonmembers to purchase print/online or online-only annual subscriptions to JSLHR, LSHSS, AJA and AJSLP. Journal archives from 1980 on can also be purchased for a one-time fee.
- See "New Products" section for 2006 additions to ASHA's many consumer education, logo, and other merchandise.
Membership
- Developed and presented the "Breathe Center" at Convention, which focused on the health risks associated with stress and techniques to cope with stress in a healthy way. Approximately 1,500 Convention visitors rested their feet on automated foot massage machines, received chair massages, and/or attended classes on stress management, including aromatherapy solutions and chair yoga. The 800 visitors who completed a short evaluation of the program expressed enthusiasm for the Center, and indicated their desire for additional health-related programs at Convention.
- Implemented the new and improved New Member Welcome program, which puts a "face" on ASHA. Each new member now receives a personalized welcome e-mail from the ASHA executive director, photos of Action Center staff, and photos of the professional practices staff specific to each new member's profession. The e-mail is followed by a mailed new member welcome kit that includes the appropriate (audiology or speech-language pathology version) "Connections for a Lifetime," a booklet about ASHA's history and member services program.
- Redesigned the Student Web pages to include revised and updated career recruitment information. The new pages target prospective CSD students from high school through master's-level programs.
Multicultural Affairs
- Launched the third cycle of the Student to Empowered Professional (STEP) one-on-one mentoring program, matching 157 CSD students with professionals in the discipline.
- Helped to transition the online mentoring portal, the ASHA Gathering Place, to ASHA's Web site in the continuing effort to provide online resources for all students and mentors seeking tools, information, and inspiration.
- Coordinated a membership forums Web event, "Mentoring 101," to allow experienced mentors to share successes in mentoring.
- Funded five grant proposals that support the continued infusion of multiculturalism into clinical, educational, and professional programs through the 2006-2007 Grant Program for Projects on Multicultural Activities: "Barriers Influencing Minority Clients' Access to Speech Pathology and Audiology Services," Nidhi Mahendra, California State University East Bay; "Clinical Decision Making with Linguistically Diverse Learners: A National Web-Based Training Program." Kathryn Kohnert and Leslie Glaze, University of Minnesota; "Early High School Mentoring = Future Audiologists and SLPs," Sonia Manuel-Dupont, Utah State University; "Enhancing Language and Literacy Skills with Linguistically Diverse Learners," Carla Wood Jackson, Florida State University; "Training for Research and Academic Careers in Communication Sciences and Disorders (TRACCS)," Raquel Anderson and Theresa Burnett, Indiana University Bloomington.
- Launched the "Got it? Get it!" Web pages, designed to help ASHA and NSSLHA members further their cultural competence.
NSSLHA
- Raised $34,000 in donations from local NSSLHA chapters for the NSSLHA Scholarship Fund.
- Published the evidence-based practice special topics issue of CICSD, which included six student-authored articles.
- Recruited 23 programs from 11 states to participate in CSD career awareness month activities. A total of 650 students received materials and exposure to the professions.
- Awarded a total of $2,500 in McKinley regional project grant funds and NSSLHA community service grant funds to local NSSLHA chapters. Grant funds were used to implement professional development activities, conference attendance, and to support technical equipment for organizations serving individuals with communication disorders.
Professional Development
- Offered ASHA's first entirely online "virtual" conference, "The Aging Patient: New Perspectives in Audiology Service Delivery." Conference participants rated overall satisfaction with the event at 4.73 on a 5-point scale.
- Sponsored 57 new CEU activities (live and self-study), including "Ototoxocity, Audiologic Monitoring, and Otoprotection;" "Response to Intervention: An Alternative to Special Education;" and "SLP Services in End-of-Life Care: Ethical, Clinical, and Legal Considerations."
- Schools 2006, ASHA's annual conference for school-based speech-language pathologists, recorded a record 800 registrations. The theme of the conference, which took place July 14-16 in Phoenix, was "Intervention: What Works."
- ASHA Health Care 2006, held April 1-2 in Nashville, sold out and doubled its 2005 attendance. Three programming tracks were offered: adult medical/rehab, early intervention, and medically fragile adults with dysphagia.
- Overall, ASHA Professional Development recorded 13,999 program completions in 2006 (excluding the ASHA Convention).
Publications
- The ASHA Leader began 2006 with a new design and additional features, and has received very positive feedback from the membership. More than 200 members and staff contributed feature and news articles to the Leader during the year. The Leader also won an award for excellence in feature writing from the Society of Association Publications.
- In March, all four ASHA journals were moved to a new hosting platform, Stanford University's HighWire Press. The new platform allows users to expand their search to Medline and any other journals on HighWire. Additional features include Table of Contents e-mail alerts, tracking research by author or subject area, and much more.
- ASHA's Online Career Center grew in popularity with both employers and job-seekers, earning more than a half-million dollars in non-dues revenue. Career recruitment ads in The ASHA Leader garnered more than $600,000 to support the publication.
Public Relations
- Worked with hundreds of reporters to raise awareness about speech-language pathology and to position ASHA SLPs as the premier source of information on speech and language issues. In 2006, ASHA has successful contacts with The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and Parents Magazine. During Better Hearing and Speech Month, an article that provided guidelines for assisting young children with speech and language development appeared in papers with combined circulations of nearly a million.
- Launched a public education campaign, "America: Tuned In Today...But Tuned Out Tomorrow?" which reached tens of millions globally via a media outreach that positioned ASHA and its members as international leaders and resource in the area of noise-induced hearing loss. A March press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, unveiled unprecedented survey findings on how the use of popular technology may be harming the nation's hearing; the event received global coverage in more than 1,000 news stories from CNN, Fox, MSNBC, BBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, CBC, National Public Radio, Telemundo, Univision, Cox Communications, Hearst Broadcasting, Agence France, USA Today, AP, Bloomberg, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times. The story aired 815 times, on 386 stations, in 155 national media markets.
- As part of the "Tuned In Today" campaign, commissioned Zogby International to poll usage habits of U.S. Hispanic teens and adults and adults in Puerto Rico and Mexico; the results, released at a November press event in Miami, received tremendous broadcast, print, radio, and internet news coverage nationally and internationally. More than 360 articles appeared in Hispanic print publications and wire services; 61 national publications also featured the story. ASHA broadcast news stories have aired 373 times, on 80 stations, in 44 markets, a virtual complete saturation of the Hispanic media audience.
- Developed www.listentoyourbuds.org, a unique bilingual interactive Web site for children, parents, and educators that provides games, screensavers, and other fun ways for kids to learn how to listen to personal audio technology safely. The site has been featured and promoted by Yahoo.com, BloggingBaby.com, URLwire.com, HealthHearing.com, Applelinks.com, Teacherweb.com and others. As part of the campaign, a "Listen To Your Buds" educational poster was developed; 10,000 were distributed, including more than 700 at ASHA's 2006 Schools Conference.
- Developed sample press releases, fact sheets, resolutions, screen saver, e-card, public service announcements, and proclamations used by more than 100,000 members during Better Hearing and Speech Month.
- Oversaw the growth of ProSearch, ASHA's online directory of audiology and speech-language pathology programs. Nearly 10,000 ASHA members and programs are participating in ProSearch.
School Services
- Hosted the ninth annual Schools Conference with a theme of "Intervention: What Works." The conference achieved an all-time high attendance of 1,000, with a full complement of vendors; doubled the number of poster presentations; and featured leading researchers and practitioners in the field.
- Worked on several strategies under the 2006 Focused Initiative on Personnel Issues in Healthcare and Education, including: developed action plans with targeted states; updated and revised ASHA's Web-based recruitment/retention resource packet; broadened efforts of the National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services.
- Collaborated on the analysis of the IDEA 2004 final regulations; developed articles and information on IDEA for The ASHA Leader and the ASHA IDEA Action Center Web site; updated and revised ASHA's IDEA resources, which will be available in 2007.
- Expanded Web-based resources on ASHA's Schools Web page; published Access Schools, the bimonthly e-newsletter addressing specific needs of school-based SLPs and highlighting upcoming events and current trends. Subscribers to the e-newsletter total more than 10,000.
- Engaged in liaison activities with the US Department of Education and key national associations (e.g., National Association of State Directors of Special Education, International Reading Association, National Education Association) regarding implementation of No Child Left Behind and IDEA 2004, particularly related to early intervention services and response to intervention.
Science and Research
- Developed a system of levels of evidence and critical appraisal specific to the unique needs of audiology and speech-language pathology.
- Revamped requirements for ASHA policy and practice documents to make them less consensus-driven and more scientifically based.
- Conducted the biennial Audiology and Schools Surveys, which garnered almost 5,000 member responses that provided the basis for updated reports on caseload, salary, workforce, and practice trends; and more than 30 Web-based evaluations and surveys on a variety of topics, which elicited responses from more than 17,000 members.
- Through a grant from the Association of American Medical Colleges, developed draft policy document outlining publication practices relative to the responsible conduct of research.
- Hosted the sixteenth annual research symposium, "Issues of Development and Plasticity of the Auditory System," cosponsored by the National Institutes of Health; and the fourth annual "Lessons for Success" conference for new and mid-level scientists, co-sponsored by NIH and the ASHFoundation, which focused on grant preparation and funding, developing and managing competitive research programs, and developing professional competencies.
Speech-Language Pathology Practices
- Published 20 journal articles or book chapters for various publications, including Topics in Language Disorders, Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology, Home Healthcare Nurse, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Seminars in Speech and Language, and Caring.
- Gave at least 30 presentations at various state association meetings and national conferences, including ASHA, Council for Exceptional Children, U.S. Public Health Service, Leading Best Practice in Language and Literacy, and the National Association for State Directors of Special Education.
- Responded to more than 4,000 requests for information from professionals and consumers about a wide range of school and health-related topics, including service delivery models, IDEA '04, NCLB, response to intervention, admission/discharge criteria, personnel shortages, workload, contracting, supervision, private practice, videofluoroscopy, swallowing treatment, assessment and treatment of language and voice disorders, telepractice, documentation, cross-training, and support personnel.
- Represented ASHA to more than 50 related organizations, including the American Telemedicine Association, CARF, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations, National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services, Fair Access Coalition on Testing, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Education.
- Reorganized the "For the Public" section of the ASHA Web site, including redesign of current speech, language, and swallowing pages and reformatting of information in a more Web-friendly and health-literate style.
New Products
- ASHA merchandise and gifts—a variety of new and updated logo products, including apparel and business accessories, all designed to help members show their ASHA affiliation
a) "Express It" t-shirt and mug with the slogan, "My World Equals my Ability to Express It—Communicate" provide SLPs and audiologists with merchandise that represents the goals and outcomes of their daily work.
b) Carabineer pens, sold in packs of 3, are practical for audiologists and SLPs who are always on the go; they make great motivational gifts for children, too.
c) Silver Leeds pen with blue accent and the ASHA logo.
d) Updated denim shirt and white t-shirt.
- Consumer Education
a) "How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?" slide wheels in English and Spanish, developed from the popular brochure of the same title. The user looks for the child's age, and the corresponding speech, language, and hearing milestones appear in a window. Priced individually and in quantities for giveaways.
b) Talking on the Go, by Dorothy Dougherty and Diane Paul. This product debuted at Convention and is now available. The authors have provided more than 320 speech, language, literacy, and listening activities parents and caregivers can do with children throughout the day.
c) "Waking Up to the Sounds of Life" and "Language Exerts Hidden Power Like the Moon on the Tides"—two unique, artistic 22"x34" posters, designed exclusively for ASHA by artist Nancy Gibson-Nash, depict the powerful force of language and sound in our lives. The artist has created colorful, bright collages that reinforce the power of sound, communication, language and literacy.
d) "Speech-Language Pathologists: Helping People Communicate" brochure
e) New Client Education Kit for Parents and Caregivers: A colorful tote bag filled with some of ASHA's most popular products, including "Beyond Baby Talk;" "How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?" brochures and poster; "Speech, Language, and Hearing Milestones: Birth to Age 5" DVD; and "Getting Ready for Reading and Writing" brochures and poster.
f) Bilingual audiology clipboard features a bilingual version of the diagram of the ear on one side and hearing aids on the reverse side.
- IDEA Products–under revision to reflect the new regulations; will be ready available in 2007.
- Books–Picture books for children and reference books for caregivers about people with communication disorders encourage conversations and educate about the various communication disorders affecting more than 46 million Americans. New publications are continually added.
- Other publishers' products–ASHA members receive an exclusive 10% discount off the retail price on speech and hearing resources from AGS/Pearson Assessments, Harcourt Assessment, Super Duper Publications and Thinking University Publications, Thomson Delmar, AUDiTEC, Hear Again, Inc., and Pro-Ed.
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