Advocacy 101: How Can I Make a Difference as an SLP?
Advocacy 101: How Can I Make a Difference as an SLP?
Whether you are a Speech-Language Pathologist, a CF, or a graduate student in the field, you will find yourself needing to advocate for yourself, your clients, patients, students, families and your profession throughout your career!
What is advocacy and what does it look like?
The Oxford dictionary defines advocacy as "public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy". So, what does advocacy look like? Not all advocacy is done on the steps of the state capital building. Advocacy can be having a conversation, writing a letter, sending an email, presenting information or policies to others, meeting with legislators, helping draft policies and bills, serving on committees and more!
How can I get involved in advocacy at the state level?
·Become a TAASLP member (taaslp.org).
·Write letters to state representatives. TAASLP sends out sample letters and information related to bills to all members.
·Attend TAASLP’s Day on the Hill (typically held in March of each year).
·Stay up to date with advocacy initiatives on taaslp.org
·Sign up for advocacy newsletters and updates.
·Read advocacy information on TAASLP’s website.
·Serve on the TAASLP Advocacy Committee.
How can I get involved in advocacy at the national level?
·Stay up to date on national advocacy information: ASHA.org/Advocacy
·Follow ASHA Advocacy on Facebook (@ASHAAdvocacy) and Twitter (@ASHAAdvocacy)
·Sign up for ASHA Headlines to receive Your 60-Second Advocacy Update:
https://www.asha.org/publications/ASHA-Headlines/
·Learn about ASHA-PAC:https://www.asha.org/advocacy/pac/
How do I get started?
Get involved with TAASLP and ASHA Advocacy by following some of the suggestions above. Start sharing your stories, speak up, and brainstorm solutions with others!
For more questions, contact Jessica Lenden-Holt MA-CCC-SLP at jlh@mysidekicktherapy.com
Jessica is the Chief Clinical Officer at Sidekick Therapy Partners and VP of Advocacy for TAASLP .