Congratulations to the winners of the best student poster at the last MSHA 2022 Conference:
 

 

 

After 5 years of development by Speech-Language Pathologists, Engineers and Univerisites, we are introducing the world’s most advanced computer assisted tools to help revolutionize the practice and experience of speech pathology.

We are looking for SLP agencies and independents with paediatric practices to join our Early Adopter program at no cost.  You will have access to the full suite of SLP tools for you and your patients, and will receive TikTalk Certification Level 1 and 2.0 Certificate Maintenance Hours (CMHs) upon completion of our training seminar.

In certain situations our solution qualifies for reimbursement and can create a new revenue opportunities for private payers.

If you are passionate about continuous improvement and having a leading edge practice, then join us and learn about this unique program.
 
Please contact Peter Adams to discuss further - peter.adams@tiktalk.care
 

 

Ali Turfe
PRC-Saltillo
Clinton County Resa-OIP          
Saliva Systems
Detroit Institute for Children                            
Seeds of Learning LLC
Eaton RESA   
Simple Thich, LLC
Eyegaze 
Special Education Mediation Services
Forbes AAC                   
Talk to me Technologies
Gelmix+ Purathick                      
Terry Landa-Discovery Toys
Hillsdale County ISD
Therapy Billing Solutions LCVB                                           
The Stepping Stones Group
METROEHS Pediatric Therapy
Tobii Dynavox
MI Rehab Solutions
Total Education Solutions
Pearson
Usborne Books & More

 

Greetings everyone! I would first like to thank everyone who participated in our first in person MSHA conference held in Lansing.  This was our first in-person gathering since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2 years ago and it was well received. [INSERT PICTURES] I would especially like to thank Dr. Gregory Spray, Justine Walker, Leslie DeNardis, Kim Wesoloski, Javiera Castillo, our conference volunteers, the vendors, and all the conference speakers, for making this year’s conference a big success!  I  would also like to recognize the MSHA Executive Board and Advisory Assembly for their invaluable input for conference speakers and events. In addition, I want to thank all of you, our conference attendees. Your participation is very much appreciated!

In addition, I would like to extend my sincere thank you to Dr. Derek Daniels for his year of leadership as MSHA President. Under your leadership along with the office staff, executive board, and advisory assembly, we were able to accomplish so much this year!  Under Derek’s leadership we implemented a new executive board position, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, held by Dr. Heather Ferguson along with a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. Another very important accomplishment this year was the work on the educational limited license. With Kelli Pierce’s advocacy and testimony along with Past President Gregory Spray and the sponsorship of Senators VanderWall and Bizon, SB 811 was supported in the House and is moving forward to the Senate! Thank you, Kelli Pierce, our Vice President of Advocacy, for the numerous hours of work you have done and continue to do to ensure that our SLP graduates may stay in Michigan!
Now I would like to formally introduce myself for those who I have yet to meet. I have lived in Michigan twice; once from 1998 – 2004, as a newly appointed assistant professor at Wayne State University, and now, “this time” since 2016. I am a native of Columbia, South Carolina. I received my bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences from Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina, and my master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. I moved from the south to the northeast and completed my Ph.D. in communication disorders at the University of Massachusetts in 1998. From there, I moved to Michigan, where I am currently an associate professor in the Department of Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences--College of Health, and Human Services and a recipient of a WMU Presidential Innovation Professorship Award. I enjoy teaching and mentoring students and conducting research in my lab.  My lab supports faculty and student lead research and community outreach on topics related to studying language, social communication development, and practices in neurodevelopmental divergent populations. Specifically, I am focused on the social, cultural, and language learning needs of Autistic children, adolescents, and young adults. I am a wife of 20 years and a mother to 18-year-old triplets, one of which is Autistic, I also have a daughter and a grandson. I have had my own personal journey with communication disorders and its impact on a person’s quality of life and their caregivers’ wellbeing.
 
I believe in service to the profession. Our associations are built by its members and is only strong as its volunteers. I was appointed by Governor Whitmer to the Michigan Board of Speech-Language Pathology (LARA). I have been an active volunteer on ASHA boards and committees (e.g., Multicultural Issues Board, 2010-2013, and member of Government Relations and Public Policy Board, 2014-2015; Chair in 2016) and with MSHA. I have served on the Advisory Assembly as the MSHA Member-At-Large, Southwest Representative from 2016-2021, and one year on the MSHA Executive Council as President-Elect. These experiences have given me valuable insights into the structure, operation, and needs of MSHA.
 
In closing, I want to express how honored I am to serve as your President for 2022 - 2023. The Executive Board and Advisory Assembly are here for you, and we encourage you to reach out to us. Our next conference will be at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Kalamazoo, March 23-25, 2022. Keep up the fabulous work!

D'Jaris Coles-White, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
President, Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association

 

Wow!  It is hard to believe the annual conference is over!  It was so nice to have everyone back in person.  Many conversations were had between colleagues regarding how to propel our profession forward in terms of diversity and inclusion. Our members' willingness to engage in difficult, but needed discussions surrounding these topics will only continue to produce positive changes in our profession. We hope you enjoyed the learning opportunities, luncheons, and networking opportunities. The program committee sincerely appreciates all of your feedback regarding your likes and dislikes from the conference as well as your recommendations for future speakers. 
Many thanks to our 2022 invited speakers, Wanda Lipscomb, Lawrence Prokop, Teresa Zwolan and Kelly Starr, Tera Sumpter, Kerry Mandulak, Derek Daniels, Valeria Matlock, Sara Morley LaCroix, Cathleen Johnson, Laura DeThorne and Kelly Searsmith, Emily Rubin, Greg Robinson, and Rachel Langley. 

The 2023 conference is scheduled for March 23-25, 2023 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo. Please consider sharing your expertise by submitting a The Call for Papers.   We look forward to seeing you there!

Licensure and Compliance
 
Beginning on Dec. 7, 2013, all speech-language pathologists in the state of MI were required to obtain and keep a current professional Michigan License. This license is renewed every two years. It is important to stay up to date with current educational requirements to maintain that license. For example, professionals must maintain their continuing education, take a human trafficking course, take a pain management course, and take an implicit bias training course. The MSHA website is an excellent resource for staying informed on the most current requirements.
 
Licensure is a protective measure for professionals and the people we serve. Licensure ensures that only the most qualified individuals are providing services to the children and adults in need of speech-language pathology services in the state of Michigan. Therefore, it is imperative that we protect our profession and our patients by remembering that only professionals with a speech-language pathology license may provide services in our state.
 
All practicing clinicians must be licensed and in compliance. This means that undergraduate and graduate students may not take positions, SLPAs may not work legally in Michigan and an SLPs with a license that is out of compliance may not work legally.
 
A recent Google search for SLP assistants in MI yielded too many positions to count for this article. Positions were in medical centers and schools and one salary range was an attractive $78,000-$99,000. With recent shortages across all job markets, we may see more and more advertisements, such as these. Additionally, schools and other centers may feel pressured to seek creative solutions for filling positions while shortages continue. It is imperative that we maintain the professional integrity of our licensure to continue to provide the best possible service to our community. 
 
Please do not hesitate to contact Heather Balog for further information regarding this issue (heather.balog@balogspeechlang.com).
 

Welcome to the MSHA Member Updates Section. This section will announce and salute achievements, both personal and professional.
                       

 

Congratulations to the 2022 Michigan-Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Scholarship Recipient! Kassidy L. Blough, B.S. Graduate Clinician, Masters Student, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Michigan State University.
 

Congratulations to Kathy Rigley on receipt of funding from the Parkinson's Voice Project. This award will allow us to train 2 SLP clinical instructors and up to an entire cohort of graduate students in Speak Out! & Loud! techniques.
 

This spring, WMU is proud to have distributed over $1,400 in UG scholarships/awards to 11 different undergraduate students.   
 

We are excited to share that our recent MA-SLP graduate Lauren Washington received a Promising Clinician Award from Chicago Speech Therapy. Go Lauren!  

Meet our scholarship recipient of 2022, Kassidy Blough, a recent graduate of Michigan State University’s Communicative Sciences and Disorders program. Kassidy received her award at the MSHA conference in March. Here is her story:
 

 I was introduced to the amazing field of speech-language pathology at a very young age. At 12 years old, I began volunteering at "Camp McYack," which is a camp for children who use augmentative and alternative communication devices. We spend this time utilizing communication opportunities and modeling social language through camp like activities including campfire songs, fishing, and jumping in the bounce house. This camp was started by my aunt, Kary Swiontek, who is also an SLP and who I like to call my lifelong supervisor.
 

 

MSHA Conference 2023:
March 23-25, 2023
Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites, Kalamazoo

MSHA Conference 2024:
March 14-16, 2024
Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing