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,