By: Jessica Carter, MS, CCC-SLP, Vice President for Research and Development

Wishing you all a warm Texas “hello!” from your Vice President for Research and Development! Your Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association (TSHA) volunteers have been working in various areas to bring high-quality opportunities for education, development, and connection across the state. I’m excited to share some glimpses of those projects within the area of Research and Development with you.

First, please join me in offering special thanks to the co-chairs of the Continuing Education Approval Committee, Carmen McElfresh and Sharon Miller. Every continuing education (CE) opportunity offered for TSHA CE credit undergoes a review process before it is approved for consumers. The CE Approval Committee and its team of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists tirelessly evaluate all submissions to ensure they meet criteria. None of the CE credit we receive through TSHA would be possible without their efforts, and I would like to express my gratitude for them.

We are excited to continue our successful webinar series from last year, Webinar Wednesdays, led by Webinar Committee Chair Jyutika Mehta. Her team brings outstanding content at 12 p.m. each first Wednesday of the month. From topics such as feeding competence in the neonatal intensive care unit to navigating tough talks, these CE opportunities are free for TSHA members and will keep you up-to-date with current content in speech-language pathology and audiology. Recently, more than 1,000 professionals registered for the June 2023 Texas Licensure Update Webinar. I hope you were able to attend! Watch your email for alerts so you don’t miss out on future Webinar Wednesdays.

The TSHA Professional Development webpage received a facelift with the launch of our new TSHA website. Professional Development Chair Whitney Dittman and her team continue their ongoing evaluation of current content and identification of needs for future professional development opportunities. Stay tuned for future content including offerings in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that meet the updated requirements for continuing education from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

The co-chairs for the Continuation of Guidelines Committee, Judy Rich and Sarah Kelly, continue to coordinate with professionals across Texas to bring you revised, evidence-based Disability Determination Guidelines. This year brought the publication of the Disability Determination Guidelines for Language Disorder for Students from Culturally or Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds. All Disability Determination Guidelines manuals are housed on the TSHA website and can be accessed by both members and non-members. Education modules for the guidelines are also available at no cost for members on the TSHA website.

I am also pleased to update you on the work of the Swallowing and Feeding in Schools Task Force. Chair Lisa Gore and her team are making strides in the creation of the TSHA Guidelines for Pediatric Feeding/Swallowing Disorders in the Public Schools. This document aims to provide a structure within which public school SLPs can use evidence-based practice to promote the safety and efficiency of feeding and swallowing at student mealtimes. We look forward to the guidance and support this document will provide. Watch for future updates related to its publication date.

This year’s TSHA Convention hosted the Assistive Technology (AT) Roundup led by AT Committee Chair Sara Loving. I hope you had an opportunity to stop by to gain hands-on experience with various augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices during one of your breaks. The AT Committee continues to identify sources to support professionals as we, in turn, seek to support our patients and students with AT needs.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our association. I am fortunate to work alongside talented and dedicated professionals within TSHA and look forward to welcoming new volunteers into our ranks in the coming months!