SAC has developed a new Official Statement on Evidence-Based Speech-Language Pathology Practice in Schools.
The official statement acknowledges that the principles of evidence-based practice inform effective, high-quality speech-language pathology services in schools for students with speech, language and literacy challenges.
Researchers from the University of British Colombia are seeking participants for their study investigating the barriers and facilitators to the inclusion of students with disabilities in health and human service professional programs. In particular, they are interested in the accommodations of fieldwork settings in 10 health and human service programs (including audiology and speech-language pathology).
The research project is entitled, “Strategies for increasing accessibility and equity in health and human service educational programs: national perspectives.” They would like to invite you to help them better understand those barriers and facilitators by taking part in this study.
Who is eligible to participate?
Please review the consent form before participation.
If you are eligible to participate, and consent to do so, please complete the online survey. The survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
Once you complete the survey, you will also have the opportunity to participate in an optional 60-90 minute focus group interview, if you are interested. Reimbursement of $30 will be received for those who will participate in the focus group interview.
Participate in the survey now!
Learn more about this study by reading this PDF.
* Please note that this survey differs from the NRFR survey for clinicians on this topic. To take the survey for clinicians, visit this webpage.
Confidentiality: Confidentiality will be strictly kept. Please contact the research team directly and not via affiliated educational programs. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to email us at inclusive.campus@ubc.ca.
Aphasia is a communication disorder that occurs in about 30% of people who have had a stroke.
Aphasia may affect speaking, understanding words, reading and writing. People with aphasia know more than they can say. Speech-language pathologists help people with aphasia connect with others and participate in everyday life.
Learn more about aphasia and other communication and swallowing disorders following stroke:
Credit: Employment and Social Development Canada / Statistics Canada
National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) took place May 30-June 5, 2021. This year’s theme was “Disability Inclusion 2021: Leaving no one behind.”
To mark National AccessAbility Week, Statistics Canada in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada, is pleased to unveil the new Accessibility Data Hub.
This new portal provides users with a single point of access for a wide range of data and information related to accessibility.
Users can quickly and easily browse various key subtopics – including built environment, design and delivery of programs and services, employment information, communication technology and transportation – and access Statistics Canada’s latest data tables, analytical articles and infographics. The Hub also enables users to find external governmental data, as well as information about laws related to accessibility, and will be updated as new data becomes available.
Credit: Global Morning News Saskatoon
On May 18, 2021, the Chair of SAC’s Board of Directors, Jennifer Cameron-Turley, was interviewed on Global Morning News Saskatoon to promote Speech & Hearing Month and shine a light on the important roles of speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants.
In the interview, Jennifer discuss some of this year’s Speech & Hearing Month initiatives as well as some of the ways speech-language pathology and audiology services are essential to helping people manage and/or overcome communication challenges or disorders.
* Please note that the Living with Aphasia Interview Series has been moved to June to promote Stroke Awareness Month.
Credit: Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging
In 2021, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $9.6M for the infrastructure needed to renew and extend the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). The over-arching goal of the CLSA is to generate knowledge that promotes the health and well-being of older adults and informs the development of programs and policies for Canada’s aging population. Just over 50,000 Canadians, who were between 45 and 85 years of age at the time of recruitment, are being followed for 20 years, with data collected from each individual every three years until 2033 or their death.
Using data from the CLSA participants, researchers examined associations between self-reported hearing and vision abilities, as well as various social factors such as social network size, availability of social support, social participation and loneliness. They also examined the prevalence of hearing and vision loss in older Canadians, as well as an analysis showing how demographic and social factors help to explain discrepancies between self-reported hearing ability and hearing measured using pure-tone audiometry.
Past, present and future research using CLSA data will enable us to answer a wide range of population and public health questions concerning the causes and consequences of age-related changes in hearing loss in older Canadians.
Learn more about the CLSA on SAC’s Communiqué Blog.
As part of SAC’s 2021 Audiology Event Webinar Series, two SAC members discussed what their 70 years (combined!) of clinical practice has taught them about working with older adults with hearing and cognitive difficulties.
This webcast provides an overview of the challenges faced by clinical audiologists when working with older clients who may also be experiencing cognitive changes due to aging or age-related neurological conditions like dementia and how cognitive screening may help to inform best practice for assessment and management of older adults with cognitive loss.
“Communication health assistants are specifically trained to provide clinical services under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist (S-LP) or audiologist. They work in a variety of settings and with people of all ages with communication, swallowing, hearing and balance disorders. Communication health assistants working with…”
Learn more about the role of communication health assistants on the Speech & Hearing Month website.
Credit: Canadian Stuttering Association
The Canadian Stuttering Association (CSA) is excited to invite you to an interactive virtual talk from both sides of the therapy table.
Join them on Saturday, May 29 from 3 to 5 p.m. ET (12 to 2 p.m. PT) for an informed panel of speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) and persons from various therapy backgrounds. This virtual collaboration will delve into different approaches to treatment, as well as individual experiences and perspectives about the therapeutic process.
This online event will provide a great opportunity for persons who stutter of all ages, their family and significant others to share their experiences and to ask questions about speech therapy. They welcome and encourage the participation of S-LPs and S-LP students to learn from and engage with panelists and other participants about their therapy experience.
The panel will be co-hosted by Carla Di Domenicantonio, CSA S-LP Liaison, and Lisa Wilder, CSA Webmaster and Editor.
The cost is only $10!
Register now and learn more on the Canadian Stuttering Association website.
“More than two-thirds of people who have had a stroke experience communication and/or swallowing difficulties. Communication and swallowing difficulties often occur together, are usually most severe immediately after the stroke and often improve over time. Recovery can continue for many years and is most successful when rehabilitation is started as soon as possible after the stroke.
S-LPs are experts in communication and swallowing difficulties and are core members of the stroke rehabilitation team…”
Learn more about communication and swallowing difficulties following a stroke on the Speech & Hearing Month website.
“In March 2021, the World Health Organization launched the first-ever World Report on Hearing, which outlines a public health approach to making (ear and) hearing care accessible for all.
Launched as part of the 2021 World Hearing Day campaign on March 3, the report demonstrates the growing need for hearing care globally and explains why this should be a public health priority. The report was developed as a means of defining the direction of global ear and hearing care and providing a strong basis for country action…”
Learn more about the World Report on Hearing on the Speech & Hearing Month website.
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