The following is a 10-step process for addressing ethical issues in schools:
- Identify the problem as you see it.
- Get the story straight—gather relevant data. (including federal, state, and local regultations, professional practice documents, ASHA Code of Ethics)
- Ask yourself if the problem is a regulatory issue or a process issue related to regulatory requirements.
- Compare the issue to a specific rule in ASHA's Code of Ethics. Determine if rules the Code of Ethics apply to your problem and can help develop a course of action for you to pursue.
- Identify who has the power and control in the situation.
- Identify what is in your control and what is not.
- Identify your resources. These can be a supervisor, special education director, or colleague. Ask yourself if you need more information, clarification, or ideas from others who have had a similar problem.
- Make a list of possible actions and their positive and negative consequences.
- Make a plan that you can defend professionally and ethically—and one that meets the requirements of the regulations.
- Take action and evaluate your plan as you proceed to determine next steps.
Reference
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2007). Ethics and IDEA: A guide for speech-language pathologists and audiologists who provide services under IDEA (Rev. ed.) [First edition published 2003].