(Please put the
SPALS logo here)
Dear Honorable (Governor, Representative, Senator),
Congratulations on your election as/to (Governor, House of
Representatives, State Senate). I know you will work hard to serve the
state of Louisiana well.
Take a moment to consider how important your communication skills are in
your life. Would you have been as successful in your career or in
politics if you could not communicate effectively with other people?
Adequate communication skills allow you to share your ideas, understand
the concerns of your constituents, and work effectively with others.
Having considered that, I would like to share some information with you
concerning the roles of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and
Audiologists (AUDs) in helping students with communication disorders in
our schools.
Our daily work involves helping students with communication disorders
that adversely affect their education. Some of these students cannot
speak clearly, some have a hearing loss, some stutter, some have voice
problems, and others have difficulty understanding language and
expressing their thoughts. The main job of all SLPs and AUDs is to help
these students improve or strengthen these skills. In addition, we are
responsible for screening for potential disorders, evaluating and
diagnosing communication disorders, completing re-evaluations,
developing individualized educational programs (IEPs) in accordance with
federal law, documenting outcomes, maintaining detailed records, and
collaborating with parents and teachers on a regular basis.
SLPs and AUDs must hold a Louisiana State Department of Education
license in order to work in a school. Our profession also provides an
opportunity to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from
the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This involves
obtaining a master’s degree, passing the PRAXIS exam, successfully
completing a supervised postgraduate fellowship year, paying an annual
fee, and obtaining continued education credits annually. The State
Department of Education does not require SLPs and AUDs to obtain this
certification to work in public schools.
The legislature officially recognized the achievement of national
certification by SLPs and AUDs by virtue of Act 952 passed in the 2003
Legislative Session. However, funding for the salary supplement has not
yet been provided for SLPs and AUDs. Classroom teachers, guidance
counselors, school psychologists and social workers have all been
recognized and receive a salary supplement for their national
certifications. We are not asking for more than our fair share, only for
parity with other educational professionals who have achieved national
certification and receive a salary supplement.
I ask that you support funding of the salary supplement in Act 952 for
SLPs and AUDs who hold a Louisiana State Department of Education license
and an ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).
Sincerely,
Your name, address, and phone number
