About Special Interest Group 16, School-Based Issues

Mission

SIG 16's mission is

To develop and provide leadership and advocacy through a forum for all speech-language pathologists and audiologists with interests in school-based issues, including clinicians and researchers from schools, universities, and all other settings.
To promote the highest quality services within early childhood programs and schools by addressing clinical, educational, administrative and legislative/regulatory concerns at local, state, and federal levels.

Affiliate Benefits and SIG Programs

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups is the online peer-reviewed scholarly review journal of the SIGs. SIG 16 offers new self-study CE activities through Perspectives each year.

Continuing Education

Earn ASHA continuing education (CEUs) through

Self-study of Perspectives and pay the lowest processing fee to take the learning assessments
SIG sponsored Master Classes and one-hour sessions at the annual ASHA Convention.

Networking

SIG 16 Affiliates have access to exclusive discussion forums/groups, which provide the opportunity to interact with other SIG Affiliates who share interest in school-based issues. Use ASHA's Member Directory to search for individuals by SIG affiliation. In addition, SIG 16 Affiliates can meet in person and online at an ASHA and SIG 16 sponsored events; typically each SIG hosts an Affiliates meeting at Convention and sponsors a virtual open house.

Representation Within ASHA

The SIG 16 Coordinator represents the Schools SIG within the ASHA Board of Special Interest Group Coordinators.
The Coordinating Committee responds to ASHA requests for input regarding policy, guidelines, committees, and other issues.
Affiliates have the opportunity to provide input to the SIG leadership and ASHA.

Additional Resources

Related ASHA Committees/Boards/Councils

State School Qualifications

A description of each state's requirements for audiologists and speech-language pathologists to work in the schools is available on ASHA's State-by-State webpage. Complete information for school practitioners is provided for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Coordinating Committee Members

2024–2026 Coordinator: Christina D Bradburn, Shelbyville Central Schools
2022–2025 Associate Coordinator: Erin P. Taylor-Stone, Special School District of St. Louis, Missouri
2022–2024 Editor: Emily A. Diehm, St. Ambrose University
2022–2024 Professional Development Manager: Tiffany DeAnna Hines, Greenville County School District
2022–2024 Member-at-Large: Julie D. Malone, La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools
2022–2024 Member-at-Large: Kamela P. Rowland, Little Rock School District/Little Rock Southwest High School
Ex Officio: Lauren E. Arner, Associate Director, School Services in Speech-Language Pathology, ASHA