The Speech-Language Pathology Strategic Planning Committee

During my interview with Speech Pathologist, Deborah Kirsch, I learned countless details about the Speech Pathology career field. When we first began talking, I learned that Mrs. Kirsch works out of a company called “Professional Therapy Services”, where she is contracted out to work for “Eunice Smith Nursing Home” which is located in Alton, Illinois. She has been working at this facility for about a year. She is a newly found graduate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and she graduated in May 2011. Another thing that I learned about Mrs. Kirsch is that she originally did not go to school to become a speech pathologist, this was a career that she found later in life. After she had graduated from SIUE, the first time with a bachelors in Psychiatry, she started working at a nursing home around this area. She came to know a Speech Pathologist that worked there and she quickly found the field very fascinating. She had always been driven to help others, and she witnessed some of the exercises being done with individuals at the nursing home and decided to go back to school to get her masters in Speech Pathology.

My intensive Speech Language Pathology coursework at California State University- Fresno has provided me with the skills to implement treatment plans, assist during speech and language assessments, and keep formal documentation of client’s progress in speech therapy. These are the necessary skills required to be an effective Speech Language Pathology Assistant and will make me as asset to have in the school speech setting.

I am writing with great interest regarding a potential speech-language pathologist opening at Gull Lake Community Schools. During the spring of 2014 I completed an internship at Richland Elementary, working under Shawn Herron and Stacy Robbins. I believe I had the pleasure of meeting you a few times as well. I have spoken with Mrs. Robbins regarding the possible opening this fall and she advised I send my resume to you.

Likewise, they offer many opportunities for the graduate students to further expand their knowledge in the field of speech-language pathology. Additionally, I cherish that the personnel in this program are highly knowledgeable about the field and will help their students as much as they can. Every time I needed advice, I could always rely on the professors to give me their honest opinions and guidance, which I value since it demonstrates that they are genuine faculty who wants nothing but the best for their

As a Speech Language Pathologist it is my responsibility to provide a means of communication to any individual who has an impairment as it relates to communication. No matter how severe the deficit may be as it relates to cognitive functioning, motor skills,etc.. and any other disability that may impact the traditional means of communication. A Speech language Pathologist who works with individuals who require the use of an Augmentative and alternative communication device, must keep in mind that it is their responsibility to make sure that more than one mode of alternative and or augmentative can be used, monitor the progression of intervention as well as evaluate the individual and most importantly keep up to date with current practice through

In the field of speech-language pathology, there are hardships that SLPs must simply work through to meet

Walking into school, a little boy is scared to talk to his classmates because he stutters . He is not getting good grades because he has trouble understanding information and communicating. His parents want to help him ,but do not know how. That is when speech and language pathologists come to the rescue. Speech and language pathologists help kids, teens, and adults overcome their oral and mental difficulties. They specialize in the field of helping the physically impaired, mentally impaired and behavioral disorders. The main issues they deal with are stuttering, mispronunciation, troubles communicating with others, troubles sharing thoughts, and troubles articulating (Connelly 44). Speech pathologists are required to attend many years of school to receive their Masters Degree and are paid a good amount, and their career gives them a rewarding prize of being able to strengthen their students minds to help them understand and learn better.

In 2006 it had been estimated that around 19% of Speech-Language Pathologist’s caseloads are comprised of geriatric clients with communication disorders (Zraick, Gregg, & Whitehouse, 2006). Due to the influx of the baby boomer generation reaching old age within recent years, this percentage is sure to have increased. It is imperative that Speech-Language Pathologists become highly familiar with the aging process as it relates to speech production for both healthy and disordered speakers. Strong knowledge of this area will enable a Speech-Language Pathologist to determine if the changes a client undergoes are the result of the normal course of aging, or if they are indicative of a disorder. Aging effects various aspects of speech and all

s an undeclared first generation college freshman, I relentlessly completed career interest surveys, read through career descriptions and listed and categorized my interests in search of an ideal profession. Although I was certain about my passions, which included languages, cultures and social and human services, it seemed as though the possibilities were infinite. It was during my second semester of college, after several attempts at narrowing down the options, that I was first introduced to the field of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Prior to learning about the field, I took general education courses from a variety of different fields but none seemed completely fulfilling. As my discouragement in not finding the ideal field increased,

Speech Language Pathologist was not my first choice for a career path but my decision came after analyzing many factors in my life. Given that I was not longer able to fulfill m y dream of becoming a Pediatrician I had to venture on what other options were available. But one thing that was for sure was that it had to be within the medical field. On the condition that any career in the medical field involves caring for someone I can say that is why if decided to become a Speech Language Pathologist. Not only do I care for others but I also want to help them achieve healing or progress. Another major factor that aid me to choose this career path was that working in hospitals and clinics will expose my husband. Let me elaborate on that, mu husband

When considering a career in speech-language pathology, it is important to get input from individuals who have already been in the profession for many years. Upon talking with them, you can learn more about how the field looks in the day-to-day functions and situations. For this assignment, I talked to a speech-language pathologist in the school system and in a private-based practice. They both offered important insight and advice. Throughout my conversations, I have learned more about the direction I am heading and the multiple avenues that are available to me.

I was a Liberal Studies major with aspirations to become an elementary teacher. I love working with children, and that is all I have ever known. However, once I started taking the major courses, I found them uninteresting and not related to what I want to contribute to children’s lives. However, one of those classes, SPED 120, introduced me to Speech-Language Pathology. In the SPED 120 class, I learned about disabilities and the professionals who worked with exceptional individuals. I did a research project and a presentation on speech impairments, as well as observe an SLP. Since then I found Speech Pathology calling to me. That is where I really learned about the profession. I decided I needed more research, so I began to observe a Speech Pathologist at a local school; I loved what she did and decided to change. Even though my journey of finding SLP is unconventional, I am happy I found it. Once I started taking the SLP classes, I noticed that I became more interested, motivated, and full of zest for the profession. This transformed me into a better student and improved my GPA, but mostly made me happy to see the kind of professional I could

Choosing a career might be considered one of the most important decisions in an individual’s life. The type of career people choose often paves the way for most of their opportunities and certainly has a direct impact in their self-identity. It has been recorded over the years, that gender roles and stereotypes have a direct influence when it comes to career decision making. For example; most men, who are considered the primary breadwinner of the home, tend to choose careers that ensure financial benefits and professional advancement such as medicine, law, finance, and politics. Women, on the other hand, focus on choosing a career in which they can balance their family life and has a more nurturing aspect to them such as teaching, nursing,

Faculty members are the seed of a University and at NYU – Steinhardt the faculty is as diverse as their courses and students. The research they have conducted and continue to oversee is rousing to a small town University student. When focusing on unconventional research in the field of Speech Language Pathology the importance of science is evident in most every faculty member’s goals at NYU.

Thus far into my graduate career and counseling portfolio collection, I am beginning to realize the enormous part counseling plays within speech-language pathology (SLP) practice. Counseling allows the SLP, patient, and caregivers to all function as a team. It creates a welcoming environment for open communication as well as develops trust with those working together.