You are invited to participate in an informal survey to help the AZ Department of Education and speech-language pathology (SLP) leaders in the state understand some of the most critical issues facing practioners and community members about the SLP shortage in Arizona.  Results of this survey will be used for an upcoming strategic planning session at ASU’s Decision Theater titled “Solutions to the Shortage of Speech-Language Pathologists in Arizona’s Schools.”  The objective of the meeting is to take the critical issues generated in this survey and explore realistic solutions. 

Click on the link below to begin the survey.  It will take less than 5-minutes to complete. Feel free to pass this link to other people that have input on solutions to the shortage of SLPs in Arizona.  The survey will be available until May 15 2008.

Beginning the last week in April and for several weeks in May, more than 15 million weekly listeners of National Public Radio's (NPR) Morning Edition and The Diane Rehm Show, will hear 10-second radio spots that mention ASHA, May's Better Hearing and Speech Month, and ASHA's Web site.

To prepare for the upcoming promotion, a special "landing page" on the ASHA Web site was developed. The page will provide easy access to lay information about the speech-language pathology and audiology professions, and topics related to communication science.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is seeking professionals licensed by the Office of Special Licensing (audiologists, hearing aid dispensers, and speech-language pathologists) to serve on the Speech and Hearing Professionals Advisory Committee (SHPAC). Because this is a committee appointed by the ADHS Director, service on the committee should be taken very seriously. Therefore, interested individuals are urged to consider their availability and ability to make a three year commitment.

The SHPAC meets quarterly to conduct the formal aspects of service, however, there are informal aspects as well. These include being called upon from time to time to weigh in on various aspects of ADHS processes and decision-making. Committee Members take part in some complaint investigation work when their particular professional expertise is called upon to inform the respective investigator of practice issues. Committee Members also weigh in on specific disciplinary actions to be taken by the ADHS Enforcement Team.  All questions and application requests should be directed to Licensing Program Manager Rohno Geppert at (602) 364-3046.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is currently looking for qualified individual candidates to fill a newly created state licensing surveyor position within the Office of Special Licensing which is responsible to license and oversee audiologists, hearing aid dispensers, speech-language pathologists, and (soon to be) speech-language pathologist assistants. The job is a paid, covered, full time, and fully benefited (including retirement) position.

The base requirements for the position are a minimum of an undergraduate degree in the speech and hearing field or a related field and direct experience in the field providing services to consumers of speech and hearing services. Salary is calculated based upon credentials and experience. Interested individuals may apply by picking up a paper copy of the application at ADHS Human Resources 1740 West Adams Phoenix, AZ 85007 or online at https://secure.azstatejobs.gov/pljb/azgovjobs/mainjb/applicant/index.jsp
You must apply for the specific job in order to be considered for the position. Please contact Yolanda Cordova at (602) 364-2079 if you have any questions about the position or how to apply.

(Rockville, MD – April 11, 2008)  The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association held its annual Health Care Conference/Business Institute in St. Louis, MO on April 5-6, 2008. Attended by more than 500 speech-language pathologists, the conference offered a unique combination of clinical and business topics for speech-language pathologists in health care and private practice settings.

Dr. Susan Miller, founder of Voicetrainer LLC, a voice and communication consulting firm, and author of Be Heard the First Time: The Woman’s Guide to Powerful Speaking, gave the plenary address. She demonstrated how voice, posture, and non-verbal communication lead to positive or negative first impressions.

(Rockville, MD – April 10, 2008) Literacy is the focus of a new podcast produced by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). In this 18-minute podcast award-winning author David Baldacci discusses literacy, one of our most fundamental life skills.

Literacy problems in the United States have become a major public health problem with serious educational consequences and ASHA strives to change this scenario with proper identification and intervention.

“Unless you have strong literacy skills you’re never going to be able to achieve your potential as a human being” says Baldacci, who is also co-founder of The Wish You Well Foundation which supports family literacy in the United States through development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs.