WHY JOIN?

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN

Lisa Moran, MS, CCC-SLP is an instructor and the Assistant Coordinator of External Clinical Education at MGH Institute of Health Professions in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She co-teaches Outplacement seminar, Dysphagia in Adults and Children, and IMPACT II.

Lisa graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching for the Speech and Hearing Handicapped in 2003 and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2005. She worked for 10 years as a full-time SLP in skilled nursing facilities. Her area of expertise is dysphagia specifically in the geriatric population.

Lisa has been an active member of the Massachusetts Speech-Language Hearing Association for 10 years. She has served on the MSHA Executive Council as the VP of Membership, VP of Administration, President, and Past President. Lisa is currently the VP of Advocacy. She co-organizes and co-presents at the Annual MSHA Student Event: Making the Transition from Student to Clinician, and lead the first MSHA Student Advocacy Day to support provisional licensure of clinical fellows.

“Do you want to be a speech-language pathologist in ten years? You need to advocate for your profession, because no one else is going to do it for you.” It has been slightly over a decade since I graduated, and these are the words I remember the Clinical Director from my program at Ithaca College saying to us. This statement has had a profound impact on my career. It is the reason I became a member of the Massachusetts Speech-Language Hearing Association (MSHA) when I moved to Massachusetts and became involved in MSHA’s Executive Council. It is also the reason I am a supporter of increasing student involvement in our state association.

As a student you may ask what is a state association? Is that part of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)? I’m already a member of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) so am I already a member of my state association? Why is it important to be a member? Do not feel bad if you don’t know the answer to these questions. You are not alone, and hopefully faculty members will answer these questions as you start your graduate program.You’ve chosen a terrific way of integrating images and text into your website. Move the image anywhere you want in this container and the text will automatically wrap around it. You can display events team members new products and more easily and creatively. To start add an image from the Image Picker and edit it as you would edit any image in the system. For example you can link the image to existing pages in your site a website URL a popup or an anchor. After you’ve chosen the image add your text. You can add text that describes the image you’ve selected or simply use the image for decorative purposes. \nYou’ve chosen a terrific way of integrating images and text into your website. Move the image anywhere you want in this container and the text will automatically wrap around it. You can display events team members new products more easily and creatively. To start add an image from the Image Picker and edit it as you would edit any image in the system. For example you can link the image to existing pages in your site a website URL a popup or an anchor. After you’ve chosen the image add your text. You can add text that describes the image you’ve selected or simply use the image for decorative purposes.

What is a State Speech Association?

State associations are organizations founded by individuals in the fields of communication sciences and disorders with goals of providing opportunities to advocate for the profession and the individuals we serve, and opportunities to collaborate with other professionals to solve problems and concerns that arise in practice. State associations also work to support members and the field through education. They are volunteer based organizations supported by their membership. State association are recognized professional associations for audiologists and speech-language pathologists by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), however they are a separate entity from ASHA and NSSLHA.

What do State Speech Associations do?

A major role that state associations play is as an advocacy organization. Associations monitor proposed legislation, identify bills that may have a positive or negative impact on the field of communication sciences and disorders and the individuals we serve, and develop advocacy agendas to address those bills. A large unified voice such as a state association can be key to successful advocacy. Members may be enlisted to contact their Senators and Representatives, to participate in organized advocacy days at the State House, attend or testify at hearings held by legislative committees to express support or concerns regarding proposed bills, and to educate others on important topics regarding the state association’s advocacy agenda. Many state associations also give professionals opportunities to participate in continuing education opportunities such as conferences or conventions. If a member has a question, they can bring it to the association who will help direct them to the appropriate answer or resources. Associations may have ad-hoc committees comprised of members who are looking to work together to resolve common concerns, problems, or projects.