Workshop

Abstract

This presentation will discuss the significance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in audiology and speech-language pathology and its impact on patient outcomes, provider effectiveness and the prestige of the profession as a whole. We will emphasize the need for SLPs and audiologists to embrace DEI principles and offer a comprehensive overview of the resources available at the state and national organization levels to help professionals implement DEI practices effectively.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Explain the importance of DEI in audiology and speech-language pathology and its impact on educational support and patient care.
• Identify the barriers to DEI in audiology and speech-language pathology and strategies to overcome them.
• List practical ways audiologists and speech-language pathologists can promote DEI within their organizations.
• Identify key resources and tools for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists to enhance their DEI initiatives.

Time-ordered agendas

5:00 pm-5:15 pm: Introduction to DEIA
5:15 pm-5:30 pm: Importance of DEIA
5:30 pm-5:40 pm: Case study
5:40 pm-5:50 pm: Resources and efforts of the DEIA committee
5:50 pm-6:00 pm: Q & A

Level of Learning: Introductory

Speakers

Lisa Bedore, PhD, CCC-SLP, is professor and chair in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Temple University. She is a speech-language pathologist by training and a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Her research interests focus on the nature of developmental language disorders and way that children connect language knowledge across linguistic domains.  She is a co-author on the Bilingual English Spanish Assessment (BESA) designed to identify speech and language impairments in children who have exposure to Spanish and English.

Monica Kaniamattam, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Moravian University. She is the current chair of the PSHA DEIA Committee. Her research aims at finding ways to optimize the service delivery for children with complex communication needs in developing countries, by building effective parent-child-clinician collaboration in a culturally sensitive fashion.

Abstract:

Clinicians are often confronted with situations whereby they find conflict between different levels of regulation (statute, policy)  versus ethical principles, leaving them in a position to evaluate  the question, “What SHOULD we do about this situation?”  At times, the ethical response to a clinical situation may cause concern in cases where clinical practices must be evaluated on multiple levels.  This session will include a discussion of resources and personnel that may assist clinicians in resolving ethical dilemmas.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe the difference between ethics, statute, regulation and policy.
• Discuss the implications of ethics versus statute/regulation/policy in three clinical scenarios.
• Identify resources to assist in resolving ethical challenges for their specific clinical setting.

Time-ordered agenda:

6:00 pm-6:05 pm: Introduction to Ethics
6:05 pm-6:10 pm: Levels of Regulation
6:10 pm-6:35 pm: Clinical Scenarios and Discussion
6:35 pm-6:45 pm: Moving forward:  Seeking Guidance
6:45 pm-7:00 pm: Summary and Q&A

Level of learning: Intermediate

Speakers

Pamela A. Smith, PhD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, recently retired from Bloomsburg University after a 20-year career teaching in higher education.  She continues to teach as an adjunct in a number of programs in several states. She is currently chair of the coordinating committee for ASHA’s SIG 15 (Gerontology) and is a former PSHA president.

Joanne Mizii Wisely. M.A CCC-SLP. ACE. FNAP, has served in all post-acute settings, engaging in clinical service improvements, financial stewardship, statutory compliance and legislation development. As a frequent national presenter, she has also been an adjunct professor and guest lecturer. Awarded Distinguished Fellowship in Public Policy by the National Academies of Practice, she currently serves that organization as vice president of public policy.

Anne Gilbertson, MS, CCC-SLP, has worked as a director of rehab and speech-language pathologist in skilled nursing and rehab facilities for more than 30 years, in addition to acute care and home health care arenas. She has remained active with PSHA for more than 25 years, holding several vice president positions, as well as president. She has been active in governmental affairs in Pennsylvania, attending Pennsylvania Board of Education meetings and attending senate hearings in support of the integrity of speech-language pathology/audiology practice.

Erin M. Buckwalter, MBA, MS, CCC-SLP, has worked as a speech-language pathologist in various health care settings, primarily outpatient and acute care, for more than 20 years. She is a treating speech-language pathologist and supervisor for an incredible inpatient speech-language pathology team. Erin is the current president-elect for PSHA. Before this, she was the vice president of governmental relations for PSHA.

Abstract:

This course will focus on the rules and regulations that govern the supervision of SLP students and CFs in the school setting.  We will also examine the use of evidence-based practices in regards to providing feedback and ethical dilemmas that could manifest in the school setting. Participants will earn 0.1 ASHA CEUs of the 0.2 ASHA CEUs mandated to fulfill the ASHA requirements to supervise a student or CF.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe the standards, responsibilities and expectations of clinical educators and the benefits to the clinical supervisor in the school setting.
• Describe how evidence-based practices can be used to adjust your feedback and how technology can be used to deliver your feedback more efficiently.
• Be able to write a goal for clinical improvement.

Time-ordered agenda:

5:00 pm-5:05 pm: Introductions and disclosures
5:05 pm-5:20 pm: Standards, responsibilities, and expectations of clinical educators and the benefits to the clinical supervisor in the school setting.
5:20 pm-5:35 pm: Evidence-based practices that can be used to adjust your feedback and how technology can be used to deliver your feedback more efficiently.
5:35 pm-5:50 pm: Goal writing for clinical improvement
5:50 pm-6:00 pm: Q&A

Level of learning:  Intermediate

Speaker

Nicole Billak, EdD, CCC-SLP, resides in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, with her husband and son. She serves as an adjunct professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Thiel College and teaches Language-Based Communication Disorders, Speech Sound Disorders, Sign Language I, and Fluency Disorders. She also serves as the school-based internship clinical coordinator. Dr. Billak has been a school-based SLP for Grove CIty School District since 2005 and is very active in the field of speech-language pathology. She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Duquesne University and her doctorate of special education from Slippery Rock University. Dr. Billak’s accomplishments include being named Junior Achievement’s Educator of the Year in 2019, being the recipient of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association Student Honors of the Association for academic achievement and clinical excellence award (2004) as well as the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association Honors for Outstanding Leadership and Achievement Award (2005).  She is an autism spectrum disorders clinical specialist, licensed behavior specialist and certified trauma professional. Dr. Billak’s professional memberships include the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Her professional interests include language-based interventions, trauma-informed care, preschool interventions, autism spectrum disorder, processing disorders and behavioral interventions in children.

Abstract:

Throughout our careers, most SLPs are called upon to serve in the role of a clinical instructor.  Yet, serving in this role can be challenging, especially in the fast-paced healthcare setting, where time for imparting knowledge and skills to student clinicians and clinical fellows is limited.  This seminar will review ASHA’s 13 Tasks of Supervision and apply them to the healthcare and telepractice settings working with pediatric and adult clients.  Participants will have the opportunity to engage collaboratively in developing solutions to a variety of challenging hypothetical situations that may be encountered by clinical instructors in the healthcare setting.  The seminar will also include evidence-based practices, models of diversity, supervisor resources, and words of wisdom for clinical supervisors to ensure effective clinical instruction experiences.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Identify foundational skills necessary to be an effective clinical instructor.
• Identify various problematic supervisory situations with correlating solutions (engage with others to develop appropriate solutions).
• Identify standard protocols (i.e., self-reflection) to be effective clinical instructors.

Time-ordered agendas:

6:00 pm-6:10 pm: Intro, ASHA, foundational
6:10 pm-6:35 pm: Outcome 1 and 2, including scenarios
6:35 pm-6:50 pm: Outcome 3 (What do I need to do to be a better supervisor)
6:50 pm-7:00 pm: Q & A

Level of learning:  Intermediate

Speakers:

Nancy Carlino, MA, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor at Pennsylvania Western University and serves as the chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.  She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and provides clinical supervision of graduate students.  Her research interests include topics related to critical thinking and clinical education.  Nancy is a consultant speech-language pathologist with the adult population in home health and rehabilitation settings and serves as Co-Chair of the Healthcare and Telepractice Committee of PSHA. 

Erin M Buckwalter, MBA, MS, CCC-SLP, has worked as a speech-language pathologist in various health care settings, primarily outpatient and acute care, for more than 20 years. She is a treating speech-language pathologist and supervisor for an incredible inpatient speech-language pathology team. Erin is the current president-elect for PSHA. Before this, she was the vice president of governmental relations for PSHA.

Abstract:

This presentation will provide learners with an overview of the advocacy efforts in which the state association engages allow learners to identify opportunities to get involved in the state association and its committees. The presentation will culminate in a discussion about service provision needs and concerns in the state of Pennsylvania for audiologists and speech-language pathologists.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe the advocacy efforts in which the state association engages.
• Identify opportunities to get involved in the state association and its committees.
• Discuss service provision needs and concerns in the state of Pennsylvania

Time-ordered agenda

15 minutes: Introductions of speakers and board members of PSHA and their roles
15 minutes: Review of recent advocacy efforts of PSHA
10 minutes: Committee engagement
20 minutes: Discussion about state based needs and member ideas/concerns.

Level of learning:  Intermediate

Speakers:

Dana Bitetti, PhD, CCC-SLP, is current president of PSHA. She is program director and associate professor of communication sciences and disorders at La Salle University. Her research interests include the language and literacy development of bilingual children with a focus on narrative development. She teaches coursework in child language development and disorders, diagnostics and linguistics and supervises in the university clinic. She has worked previously as a private school speech-language pathologist using a variety of service delivery models.

Louise C. Keegan, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is past president of PSHA. She is employed as associate dean of rehabilitation sciences at Moravian University. Her research and clinical expertise is in the realm of assessment and interventions for cognitive and social communication skills after traumatic brain injury.