Committee Volunteers: The Cornerstone of Our Mission

WSLHA's volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization. Through 11 dedicated committees, every facet of our work is supported, ensuring WSLHA continues to uphold its mission and vision. Their time, expertise, and passion for the field make it possible for us to serve speech-language pathologists and audiologists across Washington State. We are endlessly grateful for their commitment.

Interested in joining one of our committees? Let us know!

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Bylaws Committee

 

Bylaws & Advocacy Committee

Every organization needs a rulebook — ours is our Bylaws. The Bylaws Committee keeps this document up to date, bringing any proposed changes to the Executive Board each year for approval. Once approved, those changes go to the membership for a vote (alongside our officer elections) and get added to the published Bylaws, so everyone's always working from the same current playbook and members have transparency about our operations.

 

  

 Clinical Practice Committee Logo

 Clinical Practice Committee

The Clinical Practice Committee (CPC) advocates for Washington State speech language pathologists and audiologists who work in all clinical settings, including hospitals, clinics, rehab facilities, long term care facilities, schools, home health, early support for infants and toddlers, and private practice. Areas of concern and advocacy include licensure, reimbursement, Medicare policy, and tele-health. 

 

State Advocate for Reimbursement (STAR)

The Clinical Practice Committee includes the American Speech and Hearing Association’s “State Advocate for Reimbursement (STAR)” representative for the state of Washington. STAR representatives are speech-language pathologists or audiologists who advocate for improved health care coverage, tele-health and interstate practice compacts, and reasonable reimbursement.  STARs form a true network. They link states together and to ASHA through monthly conference calls, a STARs-only e-mail discussion group, and periodic meetings. 

How can the STAR Network help me right now?

Your STAR representative serves as a resource to fellow Washington audiologists and speech-language pathologists who need advice or information about telepractice. STARs have the latest story on telehealth legislation and interstate compacts. They are also tracking conversations between ASHA and the nation’s lawmakers around COVID response legislation. Getting in touch is easy. Washington’s STAR is Kate Pilant (SLP). Contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

 

State Advocates for Medicare Policy (StAMP)

The Clinical Practice Committee also includes the American Speech and Hearing Association’s StAMP, or “State Advocate for Medicare Policy” representative. This key committee member is a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who advocates for Medicare coverage and reimbursement of audiology and speech-language pathology services in the state of Washington.

How can the StAMP Network help me right now?

Your Washington StAMP representative serves as a resource to fellow audiologists and speech-language pathologists regarding compliance with local and national Medicare coverage and payment policies. They can help answer questions about mitigating proposed Medicare payment cuts, COVID relief legislation, and tell you about efforts to expand Medicare coverage to include a range of speech, language, hearing, balance, cognition, and swallowing codes currently excluded from Medicare telehealth coverage. Getting in touch is easy. Washington’s StAMP is Melissa Murphy (SLP). Contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

 

    

 Communications Committee Logo

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee establishes and maintains the systems that keep WSLHA members informed and connected. The committee identifies and coordinates multiple channels of outreach (social media, email, and other communication platforms) to share professional news, updates, and WSLHA activities with our membership. From creating engaging content to coordinating messaging across channels, the committee works to ensure members stay informed and connected to WSLHA.

 

  

Continuing Education Committee

 

Continuing Education Committee 

The Continuing Education Committee coordinates the ongoing professional learning opportunities that keep WSLHA members growing throughout their careers. The committee identifies the learning needs of our membership, seeks out and secures qualified speakers, and coordinates the events and logistics that bring these learning opportunities to life. Through this work, the committee ensures WSLHA members have access to high-quality, relevant professional development across the state.

 

  

Honors Awards Committee Logo

 

Honors & Awards 

The Honors & Awards Committee celebrates the people who make our profession exceptional. Each year, the committee oversees the nomination and selection process for WSLHA's most meaningful recognitions, including:

  • Honors of the Association — WSLHA's highest honor, recognizing distinguished contributions to speech-language pathology and audiology
  • Clinical Achievement Award (DiCarlo)
  • WSLHA Special Recognition Award
  • Graduate Student Scholarship Awards
  • Past President Recognition

  

 Membership Committee Logo

 Membership 

The Membership Committee leads a dedicated team of WSLHA volunteers focused on growing and strengthening our association. The committee works to recruit new members and retain current ones, helping build a strong, connected community of speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and related professionals across Washington State. Through outreach, engagement, and a focus on the value WSLHA brings to its members, the committee plays a key role in ensuring the association continues to thrive.

   

 

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Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee and Volunteer Coordinator work together closely to help find and place the right volunteers in key leadership positions across WSLHA. Each year, the committee puts together a slate of candidates for open Board positions, then guides that slate through approval and voting. Recommendations are first shared with the Board, then presented to members at the Annual Business Meeting, and finally voted on by membership in December of each year.

   

 

Schools Committee Logo

 

Schools Practice Committee

 The Schools Practice Committee advocates for Washington State speech language pathologists and audiologists who work in school-based settings, with a focus on advocacy around key issues such as caseload and workload management and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support) implementation.

 

State Education Advocacy Leader (SEAL)

The Schools Practice Committee also includes the American Speech and Hearing Association’s SEAL, or “State Education Advocacy Leader” representative. This key committee member is a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who advocates for caseload/workload, salary supplements, and maintenance of personnel standards in the state of Washington.

How can the StAMP Network help me right now?

Your Washington SEAL representative serves as a resource to fellow audiologists and speech-language pathologists regarding education issues affecting school-based practice, including caseload and workload concerns, salary supplements, and personnel standards. If you're facing a challenge in your school setting, your SEAL representative is here to help you navigate it and can support advocacy, acting as a conduit between WSLHA, ASHA, and administrators and policymakers at the state level. Washington’s SEAL is Kristin Sherwood (SLP). Contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

    

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Speech Pathology Assistants Committee

In the state of Washington, Speech Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) can be licensed to practice in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals, rehab, private clinics, and schools.  Our Speech Pathology Assistants Committee is a newer and evolving committee designed to represent the needs of our SLPAs across the state, especially as WSLHA works to expand the presence of SLPA opportunities in our state.

  

 

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Students Committee

The Students Committee serves as a resource for student members enrolled in speech-language pathology and audiology programs across Washington State. WSLHA values the input, perspectives and participation of students, as they represent the future of the profession. This committee helps WSLHA design outreach and opportunities that are meaningful for students, such as our yearly Advocacy Day hosted on the hill which provides students with the opportunity to learn how to engage in professional advocacy from the very start of their career. 

 

 

Universities Committee Logo

 

Universities Committee

The University Committee builds bridges between higher education and the broader field of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) across Washington State. The committee promotes and shares research-based best practices across the many settings where our members work — from public schools and hospitals to skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, private practices, and early support programs. The committee also advances WSLHA's advocacy efforts by fostering collaboration and strengthening connections among universities, CSD students, state professionals, WSLHA and ASHA members, and other key stakeholders.