This is the Newsletter of the
Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Dawn Kutney, Editor
790 W.Lake Lansing Rd.
Suite 500-A
East Lansing, Michigan  48823
email address:  msha@att.net
Website: www.michiganspeechhearing.org

Photos from the recent MSHA Conference in Lansing.
 

MSHA Executive Board:
President:
Kathy Rigley-Rowell, M.A., CCC-SLP
President-Elect: 
Laura Lenkey, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Past President: 
Julie Pratt, M.S., CCC- SLP
Secretary:
Beth Economou, M.A., CCC-SLP
Treasurer:
Sherry Riedel, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Advocacy:
Kelli Pierce, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Audiology Services:
Angelique Boerst, M.A., CCC-A
VP for Membership:
Gordon Krainen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
VP for Professional Dev & Education:
Emmylou Garza-Prisby, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP Elect for Prof Dev & Education:
Terry Lange-Winkel, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Public Relations:
Melissa Witsil, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for SLP/Healthcare:
Carolyn Doty, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for SLP/Public Schools:
Lori Tavtigian, M.A., CCC-SLP

MSHA Advisory Assembly:
Audiology Practice:
Angelique Boerst, M.A., CCC-A
Communications and Networking:
Erica Barker, M.A., CCC-SLP
Continuing Education:
Rosalyn Davis, M.A., CCC-SLP
Ethics & Standards:
Michelle Bailey, M.A., CCC-SLP
SLP Healthcare:
Julie Kiefer Eaman, M.A., CCC-SLP
Student Affairs:
Greg Spray, M.A., CFY-SLP
MSHA Members-at-Large
N.W. Michigan:
Open
S.E. Michigan:
Karen O'Leary, M.A., CCC-SLP
S.W. Michigan:
Kirsten Haverberg, M.A., CCC-SLP
N.E. Michigan:
Ashley Gutowski, M.A., CCC-SLP
Upper Peninsula:
Rachel Denis, M.A., CCC-SLP
Member-at-Large Representing Students:
Open
ASHA Advisory Councilors:SLP:  
Karen Kurcz, M.A., CCC-SLP
AUD:  Margot Beckerman, Au.D., CCC-A
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 MSHA's recent Legislative Breakfast during the MSHA conference, Thursday, March 26, 2015 was a success by many standards.  We had a good turnout of MSHA members as well as Legislators and our conversations were meaningful and productive.  We shared information and concerns and answered some key questions about issues that confront our legislators now - especially regarding the insurance legislation that if passed would adversely affect so many of our patients and clients. (Pictured above l-r: Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-60; MSHA members Cary Cekola and Kathy Rigley-Rowell; and Senator Margaret O'Brien, R-20.)

   (Pictured here are Kelli Pierce and Gordon Krainen.) Communication with our legislators should be an ongoing goal and they truly appreciate hearing from their constituents on issues before them.  Though they might not agree with the views shared with them - we do have more power than we realize when it comes to participating in our democracy!
 
       Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have: kelli@therapyjackson.com
 
How to find out who your Michigan Representatives are:
Michigan House of Representatives:  http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/

How to find out who your Michigan Senators are:
Michigan Senate: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html

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    Happy spring everyone from the MSHA Public Schools Chair.  I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weather.  I wanted to begin by saying a big thank you to Emmylou, the MSHA board members and Kim and Dawn for putting together another amazing conference.  Fun was had and knowledge was gained. 

   As for you school SLPs, please remember to continue to make those connections with other SLPs in other districts and around the state and keep encouraging others to join MSHA.  As always, you are welcome to join the public schools committee to help with projects, to be a contact for the area you work/live in or to just keep informed on what we are doing.  If you are interested you can email me at lomicaonco@aol.com.  Together we stand stronger!! Let’s continue to work smarter not harder! 

Lori Tavtigian M.A., CCC-SLP
(pictured here with Sherry Riedel, left of Lori)

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    Many thanks to the following Sponsors who helped by supporting some of special events during the recent 2015 MSHA Conference in Lansing.  This financial support is crucial to not only the success of the conference, but also for the overall financial stability of MSHA.  Conference income and Membership income are our two main sources of revenue!

   So again, in the order of their event at the MSHA Conference, we thank the following for their generous sponsorship:
 
Continental Breakfast Friday morning:
•Detroit Medical Center
 
Undergraduate Student Session Friday morning:
•Michigan State University, Department of Communicative Sciences & Disorders
 
Graduate Student Session Friday afternoon:
•Eastern Michigan University, Speech-Language Pathology Program
 
Snack Break Friday afternoon:
•Central Michigan University
Department of Communication Disorders
 
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Report from Michigan’s ASHA Advisory Council Members
 
   The ASHA Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Councils met March 12 -15, 2015 in Rockville, Maryland at the ASHA National Office.  Michigan members Margot Beckerman, who is also serving as the Audiology Advisory Council Chair and member of the ASHA Board of Directors and Karen Kurcz, Speech Pathology Council member, attended the meetings.  Also attending the meeting from Michigan was Jaynee Handelsman, ASHA President-Elect.
 
   On Friday, March 13th, Beckerman, Handelsman, and Kurcz met with staff in the Capitol Hill offices of Senators Stabenow and Peters and Congressman Dingell to highlight key federal legislative issues of importance to speech language-pathologists and audiologists and the patients we serve, including:
♦Support for H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015, which would recognize audiologists as providers of auditory and vestibular rehabilitation services under Medicare. 
♦Support for S. 315, the Hearing Aid Tax Credit bill, which would provide $500 tax credit per hearing aid every 5 years.
♦Reauthorization of funding for the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) grants.
♦Support for the H.R. 775, the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2015 (the House subsequently voted on 3/13/15 to continue the therapy cap process for 2 years without appeal).
♦Support for H.R. 628, the Steve Gleason Act, that would allow for immediate purchase/ownership of speech generating devices and access to eyegaze systems.
♦Recognition of the role of speech pathologists in services for autism spectrum disorders, not just funding for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.
♦Reauthorization of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in which audiologists and speech pathologists are recognized as important team members for the development of literacy in academic settings.
♦Support for H.R. 551, the IDEA Full Funding Act, in which an additional $1.5 billion is requested for IDEA Part B State Grants fiscal year 2016. 

   The remainder of the meetings on Saturday and Sunday included presentations and discussions on topics to be considered by the ASHA Board of Directors during the upcoming year.  Joint Advisory Council presentations included information on ASHA’s Practice Portal as a resource for clinicians (check it out at: http://www.asha.org/practice-portal) and ASHA’s Leadership Development Program as an excellent resource for professional development (http://www.asha.org/About/governance/Leadership-Development-Program ).
 
   This year, the meeting agenda for the Audiology Advisory Council included a robust discussion of HR 1116 (see above) and its implications for audiologists, updates on ASHA Audiology membership (which remains over 12,000 strong!), and ASHA’s strategic pathway which places high priority on the development of outcome measures specific to audiology. 
  
   The Speech-Language Pathology Council discussed envisioning the future of ASHA by 2025.  ASHA currently has over 180,000 members and anticipates growth of membership to 250,000 by 2025, which is also the year that ASHA will celebrate its centennial anniversary.   ASHA is committed to and places a high value on member satisfaction and discussions focused on membership growth and how to transform member services to meet the diverse and ever-changing needs of members.
 
   Want to get involved?  Michigan’s Speech-Language Pathology Council position will be open for nominations in 2016 for the position that begins January 1, 2017.  Please contact Karen Kurcz (see below) to learn about this opportunity for professional growth and making a contribution to ASHA and to your profession.
 
Sincerely,
Karen Kurcz, M.A., CCC-SLP
kkurca@med.umich.edu
 
Margot Beckerman, Au.D., CCC-A
margotbe@med.umich.edu

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   The Ethics Committee had an informational table at the MSHA conference in Lansing to connect with members and find out what ethical concerns are on the minds of attendees.  Areas of concern that were reported include caseloads exceeding maximums, charter school concerns with meeting student needs, HIPAA requirements for a private practice, cognitive referencing used in daily practice, least restrictive environment, and communication between SLPs from different medical settings.  Our committee compiled all of these concerns and will identify trending topics to address on the MSHA website.  Be sure to check the Ethics tab on the MSHA website for current ethics topics and new information.

   If you have a specific ethical concern, our committee is designed to provide consults that connect to the ASHA and MSHA Code of Ethics and provide a consensus and several options.  Use the consult form at http://www.michiganspeechhearing.org/ethics_consult_form.php and send it to mshaethics@gmail.com.  Our committee is composed of communication professionals from a variety of settings to provide resources and information that applies to your dilemma.  When faced with an uncomfortable situation, the MSHA Committee on Ethics is there to provide you consultation and resources to make an informed decision.  

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April 21-23, 2016 MSHA Annual Conference
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids
March 23-25, 2017, MSHA Conference: Detriot Marriott Troy

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    We’re taking aphasia out in the open and informing the public!
Join us on Sunday June 14th, 2-4 pm for a jazz concert by the Paul Keller ensemble. Louis Smith, the internationally famous jazz trumpeter is living with aphasia but continues to live a meaningful life with music.  We celebrate him and what he has achieved that day. While the cost is $25 per person, you will enjoy great jazz, inspiration, good food, and meet  lots of friends that day.   This event is presented by the University of Michigan Aphasia program and sponsored by MSHA.  Tickets will be available in early May.  

   This is a musical event not to be missed.  For reservations please go to the UMAP website: http://iha.umich.edu/university-center-language-literacy/university-michigan-aphasia-program-umap or go to aphasiahelp.com  

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   Kudos...thanks...and congratulations to the following MSHA members and colleagues for their contributions and achievements!

♦Thanks once again to Linda Bowers and Rosemary Huisingh, Co-Founders and Co-Owners of LinguiSystems, Inc., for their continued sponsorship for MSHA Scholarships. 

♦Congratulations to Nancy R. Kaufman, M.A., CCC-SLP who was awarded 2015 Community Excellence Business Person of the Year from the West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce.  Nancy founded the Kaufman Children's Center for Speech, Langauge, Sensory-Motor, and Social Connections Inc., in West Bloomfield, and is a longtime MSHA Member, conference presenter, and recent recipient of the MSHA Distinguished Service Award in 2011.  The Kaufman Children's Center also received MSHA's Outstanding Clinical Practice award in 2001. 

♦Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed legislation authorizing funding for autism programs and family support systems at Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University and Western Michigan University. The funding will help the universities to further develop and expand their existing programs, resulting in autism centers of excellence to increase the number of diagnostic centers available to help patients and their families.

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   Congratulations to Elwood Anderson, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, from Alpena, Michigan, who was honored with the SLP Healthcare Committee's award for Outstanding Clinician of the Year.  Elwood has been a MSHA member for many years and his Practice of Speech Pathology in Alpena is where he currently works.  This award was presented to him during the recent SLP Medical Luncheon at the 2015 MSHA Annual Conference. 

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   Thelma Luster, M.A., CCC-SLP,  long-time MSHA member from Detroit who was a Teacher and Coordinator for the Speech and Hearing Program in Detroit Public Schools, died 7-25-2014.
Our condolences to her family and former colleagues.

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   Hello my name is Erica Raymond, I am a graduate student in nutrition and dietetics at Central Michigan University. I am collaborating on a research project with Dr. Roschelle Heuberger who is a faculty member at Central Michigan University.

   I am conducting a survey regarding artificial nutrition and hydration at the end of life as a part of the research for my master’s thesis. I would like to invite Michigan SLPs affiliated with MSHA to participate.

   Thank you!  If you are willing to participate please contact:

Erica Raymond, RD, CNSC
Graduate Student, Central Michigan University
(989) 492-4326 
raymo1el@cmich.edu

Dr. Roschelle Heuberger, PhD, RD 
Program Director, Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Central Michigan University
(989) 774-3571 
heube1ra@cmich.edu

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   Lynn Williams, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, East Tennessee State University, recently presented a class at MSHA, and was outstanding.  Those of you attended one or more of her classes at MSHA this past March, gave her outstanding reviews in the evaluations.  We brought her back to MSHA for this reason - she is an excellent presenter and our MSHA members appreciate her presentations!

   Lynn Williams is a candidate for ASHA's Vice President for Academic Affairs, Speech-Language Pathology, and I urge my fellow MSHA members to take an interest and participate in this election, and to vote for Lynn.  You have until May 26, 2015 to participate in this election.  Here is the weblink:  http://www.asha.org/About/governance/election/Lynn-Williams/#_ga=1.77152145.569473500.1429630530

   Thank you!

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Michigan Augmentative & Alternative Communication Conference
05/14/2015- 05/15/2015

MSHA Meet, Greet and Eat
05/14/2015

MSHA Meet, Greet and Eat
05/26/2015

9th Annual Brain Injury Symposium
06/04/2015

Early On Center for Higher Education Presents
06/05/2015

MSHA Executive Board
06/12/2015

An Afternoon of Music and Hope
06/14/2015

National Stuttering Association 2015
07/01/2015- 07/05/2015

2015 Summer Speech-Language Speciality Clinics
07/01/2015- 08/05/2015

2015 National Conference on Childhood Apraxia of Speech
07/09/2015- 07/11/2015

MSHA Executive Board Meeting
09/11/2015

Matlock Speech-Language Pathology Lecture Series at DMC & RIM
10/17/2015

MSHA Executive Board Meeting and Advisory Assembly Meeting
10/30/2015

MSHA Executive Board Meeting
12/11/2015

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We Asked, You Answered....

   Coming off the excitement and adrenaline of this year's conference Growing Together, Growing Stronger, it both humbles and motivates me to sustain the momentum of MSHA's accomplishments over the past year.  A quick glance back at the past year reveals multiple challenges and major achievements in the areas of reimbursement, advocacy, professional development and unexpected partnerships.           
Pictured here, l-r: Julie Pratt, MSHA President 2014, & Kathy Rigley-Rowell, MSHA President 2015.

   As we embrace the lessons learned and victories well deserved by the association, I am excited to talk about what lies ahead in the coming year!!  

   The mission of the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association (MSHA) is to provide professional support and development, public awareness and advocacy for professionals in communication sciences and disorders and the individuals they serve.  Our plan for this year is to continue to honor these virtues in some new and exciting ways.  We've got big plans for 2015 and here is a sneak peak into some of them:

►This year, MSHA is working to support its members growth and development by offering increased access to meetings and events, professional resources and.....CEUs!!! Yes, that's right.  You may recall a survey that was sent out last year asking professionals what they would like to see MSHA working on. Thanks to your helpful feedback, we are in the process of developing a system that would allow us to both a) give members access to events/conferences remotely via webinar, and b) obtain CEUs!  We asked, you answered!

►We took the feedback from this survey to heart, and here is something else we learned: you wanted to know what MSHA was doing for you. We don't blame you!  So in addition to the remote access/webinar and CEU plans, we are also obtaining and providing useful professional resources for members. Did you know that our Public Schools Committee (PSC) recently recruited new members to support you? Check out the PSC link for professional networking and support services: http://www.michiganspeechhearing.org/school-based_professionals.php. In addition, our Board meeting minutes and meeting dates are available and we encourage you to take a look at what's been happening: http://www.michiganspeechhearing.org/eb_aa_minutes.php. We asked, you answered!

►In the area of advocacy, SO much has happened in the past year! Our Advocacy and Healthcare Committees, along with our lobbyist, have successfully worked with key legislators and insurance representatives to improve coverage and reimbursement status in several areas (BCBSM, BCN, Medicaid, coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder services).  Their hard work is making a difference!  We anticipate broadened coverage under BCBSM for cognitive services as well as an established benefit under BCN and moving out of Category C once and for all!  This year at our annual conference, our Advocacy Committee hosted its first-ever Legislative Breakfast!  It was a huge success, with many new and seasoned legislators in attendance!  More advocacy efforts in the works for this year include a public service video for Aphasia Awareness Month.  Watch for this as our amazing Social Media Committee rolls this out in June! 

   Finally, MSHA is spreading the word about what we do, and why we do it in a series of social events around the state.  If you have someone you'd like to invite to join MSHA, we would love for you to bring them to one of these events. Our first event will be Tuesday, May 26th, 6-8 pm, at the Latitude 42 Brewery in Portage. Further details will be coming soon for these fun and informative events!!  We asked, you answered!  As always, MSHA loves hearing from you. Call or email us with your ideas, questions or needs!

Warmest Regards,
    Kathy Rigley-Rowell, M.A., CCC-SLP, MSHA President 2015

For more information, check out:
https://twitter.com/MshaLang
https://www.facebook.com/MI SpeechLanguageHearingAssociation instagramn.com/mshalang#
www.linkedin.com/company/mi-speech-language-hearing-association
www.pinterest.com/mshalang/
   
   For more information on how you can be involved with MSHA or to contact the board members visit:  www.michiganspeechhearing.org

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   Congratulations to Maureen Staskowski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, who received MSHA Honors of the Association 2015.  Maureen Staskowski is the Consultant for Speech, Language, and Literacy at Macomb Intermediate School District.  She is one of the truly influential speech-language pathology professionals in the state whose leadership has resulted in resources that have helped to define practices that changed Federal laws, state rules, SLPs’ scope of practice, and understandings in the field of speech-language pathology.    She has been called the “consummate clinician.”
(Pictured here with husband Darryl)

  Maureen served MSHA as President in 2009, and has also served as VP for Public Schools, VP for Continuing Professional Development, and has been a frequent contributer to MSHA conferences as a presenter.  She was instrumental in the pursuit of licensure for our state, and she spent many hours preparing and providing testimony to our legislators. One of Maureen's greatest accomplishment for our profession - and to MSHA - was her leadership and skills to produce and edit an exemplary document entitled  Michigan’s Speech and Language Guidelines and Suggestions for Eligibility, Service Delivery, and Exit Criteria, Revised, which remains an influential document in our state today.

   Maureen's accomplishments are extensive and her nominators for this award - the highest MSHA can bestow - said it most eloquently, and selections from their letters of support, are excerpted here:

►This document (Speech-Language Hearing Guidelines) alone reveals her compassion for her profession.  Dr. Staskowski spent endless hours researching, compiling, writing, and editing this important document, making it a model for other states who seek to improve their guidelines.  Not only did she include certification and decertification criteria, she also included a service delivery model which many counties adopted in an effort to improve service delivery at a time when high caseload numbers were a cause for concern.   Furthermore, Dr. Staskowski included multiple speech-language pathologists in this endeavor, mentoring them in how to write such as document as well as teaching them how to use research to support their positions. 

►Through her role for the Macomb ISD, she provides training and professional development to speech-language pathologists serving 21 school districts within the county. Dr. Staskowski has led speech-language pathologists in the development of feeding and swallowing guidelines, the provision of assistive technology and universal design for learning, and best practice methods related to students who have articulation and language impairments, including classroom based services and RTI. She has worked to develop a reduced fee program for families in need who are unable to afford ENT appointments and collaborated with local administrators to allow and encourage speech-language pathologists within the county to attend ENT visits, swallow studies, and other medical consultations. She serves as liaison and executive board member within the Macomb-St. Clair Speech Language Hearing Association, guiding the board in its effectiveness to remain a resource to local clinicians. In addition, she is called upon to present her knowledge both within the state of Michigan and across the country.

►A review of Dr. Staskowski’s vita thoroughly substantiates her contributions to clinical care, evidence-based practice, MSHA and ASHA.  Her advocacy for children with speech, language and reading disorders and her commitment to advancing the knowledge of Speech-Language Pathologists who work with these children has reverberated throughout school systems in the state. In addition, she has contributed to the development of the profession at the national level, sharing her evidence-based expertise in the area of reading disorders.  Her work on the ASHA Adhoc committee for Roles and Responsibilities for Speech-Language Pathologists Related to Reading and Written Language Disorders in Children is an example of her commitment to development of sound roles and interventional principles for SLPs employed in the school setting.

►Her impact has included raising the profile and understanding of what SLPs can contribute to both general and special education. This work includes conducting workshops in all regions of the state on a number of topics to promote best practice in school service delivery. Maureen is an expert clinician and has the gift of being able to communicate clearly about practical methods and their basis in scientific evidence, bringing others along with her to a higher level of clinical contribution and mentoring emerging leaders while doing so. 
  
   Finally, her highest praise may have come from Nickiola Nelson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - here below - and when one's highest praise comes from someone with the stature of Nicki Nelson - it is truly memorable:

►In addition to this objective evidence, I would offer my personal endorsement of Maureen Staskowski’s outstanding qualities as a consummate clinician and a leader of MSHA, as well as a genuinely nice human being. Above all, she cares about children with communication disorders and their families. I know of no one who has had a bigger impact on the provision of curriculum-related services in our state. It is without reservations and with full confidence, that I offer my highest recommendation for Dr. Maureen Staskowski to receive the recognition of MSHA Honors for her impressive body of work and high impact on quality of service delivery in our state of Michigan.

   Congratulations Maureen on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your inspirational leadership of MSHA.

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      Though she has received many awards in her illustrious career, Fran Eldis is still deserving of further accolades from her colleagues.  And so at the 2015 MSHA Annual Conference,  Fran Eldis, Ph.D., CCC-A/SLP, ASHA Fellow, retired from Children's Hospital of Michigan, and now teaching at Wayne State University, received the MSHA Distinguished Service Award for her continuing contributions to the audiology and speech-language profession.  (Pictured here l-r: Nancy Nelson & Fran Eldis)

   In presenting her with this award, Ellen Fairbrother, M.A., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow - said the following:

Fran is a hard act to follow. 
•She was the “go-to” person in the state not just for speech, language, and audiology, but also for LD and autism.
•She fought for children.
•She has a vast body of knowledge.
•She was always giving of her time (and still is).
•She was always “hands on”.
•She was always approachable.
•She has a great sense of humor.

What a great spokesperson she has been for our profession!
Everyone knows Fran.

Funny story about coat on escalator….(sorry - you had to be there for there for this one!)

Everyone I talk to somehow knows Fran….
Why does everyone know her?

If you were a professional, you called upon her for her advice.
If you were a parent, you consulted her about your child.
If you were a physician or another professional working with children who were difficult to diagnose, you consulted her as well.
If you were a handicapped child, you were diagnosed or treated by her.
If you were a university student, you took a course from her, or were mentored by her.
If you were an ASHA or MSHA member, you served on a committee with her.
If you were any of the above, you probably attended one or more of the several hundred presentations she made for professional and educational organizations.

Fran was gifted in many ways, and shared these gifts with all of us.

She was the senior teacher for a federally-funded program for nonverbal preschoolers at the Detroit Public Schools; one of the first of its kind in the country.
She directed the Marie Carl’s Communication Disorders Department of Children’s Hospital of Michigan.  Coordinated and expanded the craniofacial and cleft palate team and the cochlear implant team.
Established the hearing aid loner library.
Initiated the mobile audiology unit.
Developed a central auditory processing evaluation.

For many years she has taught SLP and AUD classes at the graduate level.
Fran has always been a big supporter of MSHA and ASHA, and has served both in many capacities.  She was also one of the founding members of the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation.
If Fran has any faults at all, it is her inability to pronounce the word “NO”. 

Which is why, when Fran asks you to do something, you do it!
For all of these reasons, and many more, Fran is certainly worthy of receiving this award.

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   Appreciation for an Outstanding MSHA 2015 Conference

     On behalf of the MSHA Program Committees and Executive Board, we want to thank you for attending the 76th Annual Conference, Growing Together and Growing Stronger on March 26-28, 2015 at the Lansing Convention Center/Radisson Hotel in Lansing, Michigan. Pictured here: l-r: Emmylou Garza Prisby, MSHA Program Chair, and Shelly Jo Kraft, Guest Speaker.

   It is really admirable that over 600+ Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and Graduate and Undergraduate Students could attend the conference. I appreciate all of the MSHA members  (that is you), on your achievement to attend 3 days of life-long learning and networking. These days we are all so very busy with work, life, and family. While having such a busy schedule, it is really commendable that you successfully attended the conference. I also feel proud to be linked with you in the process. I am very happy to be a part of this association and feel a great sense of achievement.
(click here to see Photos from the 2015 MSHA Annual Conference)

   We hope that you found the conference informative and worthwhile. The primary goal of this conference was to bring together expert speakers and professionals as well as friends and partners of speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and students from around the country in an open dialogue, under one roof to discuss the contemporary assessment and treatment approaches and to develop possible strategies to increase MSHA memberships within our state and how we can become aware and more engaged in initiatives taking place in the Michigan legislature.

   Your presence helped to make this event a huge success and your enthusiasm and positive spirit helped make our time together both productive and fun.  We wish you all the best and hope that you continue to be engaged with MSHA.  Stay tuned for upcoming events by visiting http://www.michiganspeechhearing.org/

   As a reminder, we invite you to visit the MSHA website to download the material.
If you wish to view photos from the event please visit Photos MSHA 2015,  the MSHA Facebook page or, the MSHA2015 Instagram page to view photos. 

   We have read through all of your evaluations from the conference, and will put together a Question & Answer Response to to your comments and questions very soon on the MSHA webpage.  Thanks to those of you who took the time to share your thoughts - we appreciate it and learn from your suggestions!

   Thanks again!  We look forward to another great conference again next year in beautiful Grand Rapids, April 21-23, 2016, under the charge of Terry Lange-Winkel, M.A.,CCC-SLP as the 2016 Conference Chair!   See our confirmed speakers in the article below!
  
Warm Regards, 

Emmylou Garza-Prisby, M.A., CCC-SLP,
2015 Conference Chair, VP for Professional Development & Education
    
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   At MSHA in Lansing this year we brought back last year's popular Instagram Contest during our 3-day conference.  Photos uploaded to Instagram with the hashtag  #MSHA2015 were submitted and the photo with the most likes won a prize of a $50 iTunes gift card!   Congrats to Ally Vasilauskas from Central Michigan University!  Ally said that the $50 will be spent on speech related apps for [her] future clients!   Here is the winning photo! Pictured, l-r: Ally Vasilauskas, Emily Sykes, Bethany Hicks, Sarah Worden, and Lauren Brotherton. All CMU students, they are the executive board for their Association of Future Speech Language Pathologists (AFSLP) club.

   Ally is just one of our wonderful undergraduate students who belong to and participate in MSHA. She is an undergraduate student at CMU, entering her senior year next fall.She plans to graduate in May 2016. Her major is Communication Disorders with a Minor in American Sign Language. She is involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and this past year was paired up to mentor a 6-year old girl who is deaf.

"It was an awesome experience that has opened my eyes to being an SLP in the elementary school setting. Of course I want to try all settings out but I see myself...in a school setting. Over this past year I have found a passion with youth who stutter...this upcoming summer I am volunteering at a camp called Camp Shout Out located in Muskegon that works with youth who stutter...and I am so blessed to have been accepted for a position there this summer.  My mom was a SLP so growing up I wanted to be “just like mamma.” To this day I am still chasing that dream."

   We have had a GREAT response to our social media accounts since conference! On Facebook, our page likes increased 20% and our posts have reached 1,089 people (just since conference!) and we have followers from 6 different countries!

   On Twitter, our followers increased 11% and we've had 228 profile views.

   We have lots of things in the works to continue growing our Social Media presence and we would LOVE some committee members - experienced and new clinicians, students, professors - everyone has something to contribute!

  Thank you!  Erica Barker, M.A., CCC-SLP,
         MSHA Communications & Networking Chair

   Also remember you can find us on...

    https://twitter.com/MshaLang
    https://www.facebook.com/MISpeechLanguageHearingAssociation
    http://instagram.com/mshalang
    https://www.pinterest.com/mshalang
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mi-speech-language-hearing-association

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   Congratulations are in order to Emmylou Garza-Prisby for an amazing job in serving as Vice President for Professional Development this past year.  Under her leadership, the annual MSHA 2015 conference came to fruition. Emmylou devoted many hours to the conference, coordinating the committee by securing speakers, rounding up vendors, and making sure that last minute details were covered. What a fantastic conference!  (Pictured here l-r: Terry Lange Winkel, Christine Trempus, Emmylou Garza-Prisby, and Shelly Jo Kraft.)
 
   We thank all those who submitted sessions through the Call for Paper process. In addition, thanks to all of the sponsors - we could not do it without you! It was great to see many new and returning vendors and the committee thanks you for your support of the MSHA conference as well. Above all, our members’ attendance at this annual event makes the conference a success. Providing a relevant and learning experience also inspires those on the committee to continue to volunteer their time to build a successful conference.
 
   Plans are underway for next year's conference, April 21-23, 2016 at the beautiful Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although the MSHA conference traditionally takes place in March, next year's conference will be held in April due to difficulties in scheduling with the public schools' spring break holidays as well as limited availability in Grand Rapids - a site many of you have requested for a MSHA Conference. We have several great invited speakers already lined up, and as always are open to suggestions from the membership for future speakers.  We also encourage members to consider submitting sessions, and posters through Call for Papers, found on the MSHA website, and here:
MSHA Call for Papers 2016
 
Confirmed Speakers for MSHA 2016:

▲ Jerry K. Hoepner, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, University of Wisconsin, will present two Short Courses on the topic of Cognitive Rehabilitation Approaches.

▲ David Hammer, M.A., CCC-SLP, Director of Professional Development and Speech Services, of the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America, will present two Friday Short Courses on the topic of Apraxia.

▲ Claudia Dunaway, M.A., CCC-SLP, San Diego, California, will present two Saturday Short Courses on the topic of Critical Thinking and Academic Language.

▲ Jaynee Handelsman, Ph.D., CCC-A, ASHA Fellow, ASHA President-Elect, will present the Keynote Address at our Awards Luncheon. Jaynee is the director of pediatric audiology in the CS Mott Children’s Hospital and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in the University of Michigan Health System. Her primary clinical, teaching, and research areas of focus have included the assessment and management of patients with dizziness and balance disorders, as well as the impact of potentially ototoxic medications on auditory and vestibular system function.

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   Congratulations to Allison Woodberg, B.A., Graduate Student at Michigan State University, who is  the recipient of the 2015 MSHA Student Poster Award for her work on The Effect of Social Stress on Disfluency and Fundamental Frequency in Speech. Allison received a check in the amount of $250.00, thanks to the sponsorship of the Michigan chapters (Zeta Theta, Eta Sigma, Eta Omicron, and Theta Tau) of Psi Iota XI - a national philanthropic organiziaton which is dedicated to helping others, especially in the fields of speech and hearing.  Allison's faculty coauthors of her Poster Session are Simone Graetzer, Ph.D., Eric J. Hunter, Ph.D., and Pasquale Bottalico, Ph.D.,all at Michigan State University

   This year’s Poster Session entries included 17 student participants from five Michigan universities - Calvin College, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University, and one out of state university - Eastern Illinois University. The competition was tight because the quality among these student posters was very high!           

   Many thanks to our judges Natalie Douglas, Ph.D., CCC-SLP; Tamara Baubie, M.A., CCC-SLP; Tom Southern, M.A., CCC-SLP; Christine Trempus, M.A., CCC-SLP; Sarah Glonek, M.A., CCC-SLP;  and Richard Merson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP,  who all took the time to review each poster. The posters were rated on the following standards:

• Adequacy of Research questions/hypotheses
• Literature review is clearly written and supports research
• Methodical paradigms are clear
• Results are clearly outlined
• Discussion during "Authors Present" time interprets results clearly
• Level of student involvement

   This was our first year reviewing the posters while students were present to “defend” their work. Well done to all of our student researchers and congratulations to Allison Woodberg!
 
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   During MSHA's Legislative Breakfast this past March, Senator Curtis Hertel, Jr., presented Ethan Hunter with a Legislative Tribute acknowledging his unique stature as a young researcher in the field of Speech-Language Pathology.  Ethan, a 7th grade student at Haslett Middle School, is the son of Eric Hunter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at MSU in the Communicative Disorders Department.  Ethan has been helping his dad in some of the voice disorders research that Eric conducts, and with his dad has presented Poster Sessions at MSHA and ASHA last year, resulting in an article in the ASHA Leader featuring Ethan's research.  When he was again listed as a researcher on a Poster Session this year at MSHA - Fatiguing Over a Speech with Age, by Presenters Eric J. Hunter, Ph.D., Michigan State University; Ethan J. Hunter, Haslett Middle School; and Simone Graetzer, Ph.D., Michigan State University, we felt it would be the perfect opportunity to recognize Ethan in a special way with a legislative tribute.

   It was a lovely presentation with Ethan's parents Eric and Laura, and his other siblings on hand to witness this special moment.  Congratulations Ethan and best of luck to you in all of your future endeavors!  We take collective pride in your accomplishments.

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     Our thanks to all of you who helped make the 2015 MSHF Silent Auction a big success!  One important goal of the Michigan Speech, Language, and Hearing Foundation (MSHF) is to provide scholarship money to students of speech-language pathology and audiology in the state of Michigan. This year, MSHF provided funds to support graduate student scholarships. Participating universities were asked to select 2 deserving graduate students to receive a $250 award (or one graduate student to receive a $500 award).  Congratulations to the following 2015 scholarship recipients:

Kaitlyn Marie Ayres, Michigan State University (SLP)
Blaire Brown, Wayne State University SLP)
Lisa DeHondt, Wayne State University (AUD)
Tess Donner, Western Michigan University (SLP)
Caren Gorga, Eastern Michigan University (SLP)
Lauren Kassa, Wayne State University (AUD)
Samantha Kliman, Wayne State University (SLP)
Bridget Marie Molnar, Michigan State University (SLP)
Caitlin Montague, Grand Valley State University (SLP)
Jaclyn Rowlett, Central Michigan University (AUD)
Travis Stehouwer, Western Michigan University (AUD)
Erin Thomas, Central Michigan University (SLP)
 
   Note: Wayne State University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders provided matching funds, so 4 students were selected.   Learn more about our students at our new website at: www.msha-foundation.org where you can also easily donate electronically and if you wish, you can designate your donation on someone's behalf such as a recent graduate, retiree, birthday, or as a memorial to someone significant in your lives.

 
Silent Auction Donors
   The MSHF Board would like to express our sincere appreciation to the donors of the Silent Auction. The funds raised from the auction provide monetary support to graduate students of audiology and speech-language pathology. Donations were received from institutions, companies, and individuals. We extend a big “thank you” to the following donors:

Institution and Company Donors:
Antonino Salon & Spa
Attainment Company
Beverly Hills Grill
Capital Genealogy
Central Michigan University’s Department of Communication Disorders
Eastern Michigan University’s Speech-Language Pathology Program
Eastern Michigan University’s NSSLHA Chapter
Grand Valley State University’s NSSLHA Chapter
Greater Lansing Convention Visitors Bureau
Hair-a-Palooza, Studio 109
Hope Network Rehabilitation Services
Lansing Lugnuts Gift Package
Lingraphica
Michigan State University’s Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders
Michigan State University’s NSSLHA Chapter
Northern Speech Services
Radisson Hotel – Lansing
Sea Glass Fine Art Photography
Social Thinking Books and Products
SpeechPathology.com
Wayne State University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Western Michigan University’s NSSLHA Chapter

Individual Donors:
Heather Balog
Marwan Brikho
Nancy Daines
Fran Eldis
Ellen Fairbrother
Patricia Griffith
J. Hyman-Goldberg
Denise Kowalski
Laura Lenkey
Nickola Nelson
Chris Scott
Brad Swartz
Ann Tyler
 
As always, the MSHF Board Members would like to thank you for your continued support of the Foundation! 
 
MSHF Board Members
Heather Balog, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Tamara Baubie, M.A., CCC-SLP, MT-BC
Laura Billetdeaux, M.S.,CCC-SLP
Derek Daniels, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Ellen Fairbrother, M.A., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, President
Dawn Kutney, B.A.
Rick Merson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Treasurer
Anitta Y. Orr, M.A.
Judy Silverman, M.A., CCC-SLP, Secretary
Aaron Hardy Smith, M.A., CCC-SLP
Ad Hoc Members:  Kathy Boyer, M.S., CCC-SLP; Fran Eldis, Ph.D.,CCC-A/SLP, ASHA Fellow; Sandra Glista, M.S., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow; Karen O'Leary, M.A., CCC-SLP; and Lizbeth Stevens, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow
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   Congratulations to Arica Altobello, B.S., Western Michigan University and Amy Kemp, B.A., Michigan State University, for their selection as the 2015 MSHA Scholarship Recipients.  Both Graduate Students were on hand to accept this award at the recent MSHA Awards Luncheon in Lansing in March.  Thanks to Linda Bowers and Rosemary Huisingh, Co-Founders and Co-Owners of LinguiSystems, who sponsored both of these $500 awards.

   Arica Altobello received her B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Northern Michigan University, graduating magna cum laude, and will begin her second year graduate study at Western Michigan University for her M.A., expecting to graduate in May of 2016.  Arica was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and is the first in her family to graduate from college and first to attend graduate school.  Her goals are to work in a pediatric hospital and to eventually make her way to a school setting.  She has spent the last 10 weeks working with preschool teachers all around the Kalamazoo area training them on a phonological awareness curriculum. (Pictured here, l-r: Emmylou Garza-Prisby and Arica Altobello).

   Amy Kemp received her B.A. in Communication from Michigan State University and will begin her second year of graduate study at MSU with expectations to graduate in May of 2016 as well.  Amy has worked as a research assistant on several projects with Dr. Eric Hunter and his Biomechanical Voice Systems Lab.  She is currently doing research which explores the topic of attention and listening effort, using EEG to measure the brain activity underlying these cognitive processes for her master's thesis.  She has experience working as a graduate clinician at the Wilkshire Early Childhood Education Center in Haslett, where she worked with children with varying severity of language disorders, speech sound disorders, hearing impairment, and cognitive disabilities. (Pictured here l-r: Amy Kemp, Kaitlyn Ayres, and Bridget Marie Molnar.)

   These two exemplary young women have promise for a great career in Speech-Language Pathology, and the selection process was extremely difficult this year as MSHA received applications from outstanding students who applied for this MSHA Scholarship.  Our Scholarship Committee worked very hard during the selection process and we encourage our students to apply again for 2016.  The application is available on our MSHA Website.

   Congratulations Arica and Amy!  You are our future!

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To see more photos from the 2015 MSHA Conference in Lansing, click here:
Photos MSHA 2015





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