To prepare and position ASHA members to utilize ARRA funds, ASHA has developed these tips to advocate for funds for speech-language pathology and audiology programs.
- Get together with other speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists in your district and make a "wish list" of staffing needs, resources and materials, recruitment and retention incentives, and professional development.
- Identify a spokesperson for the group
- Create a sub team to write a proposal for funding
- Develop a plan to access the stimulus money
- Gather data on:
- Number of vacancies
- Proven strategies to improve recruitment/retention
- National trends from ASHA on vacancy rates, barriers to recruitment, attrition data, successful models for recruitment and retention
- Develop a list of necessary tests, materials, assistive technology, and other technology needs
- Identify important professional development opportunities that SLPs and audiologists could take advantage of in order to keep abreast of current trends in intervention with students with communication disorders
- Determine what resources may need to be developed to work more collaboratively with regular and special education teachers and to incorporate more curriculum into therapy
- Identify decision makers
- Understand the "Chain of Command". For example: Building Administrator> Special Education Director> School Union> Superintendent > School Board > County Board
- Determine the opportune times for input; learn the budgetary process in your district
- Develop talking points for group members to share with colleagues and administrators
- Solicit support from SLP supervisors, principals, special education directors, union representatives, and parents
- Develop proposal/presentation
- Key components
- Begin with a specific "ask"
- Calculate cost
- Specify need/problem that will be alleviated with the proposed funds
- Make presentation to identified targets
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