Above: Members of Ft. Hays’ NSSLHA chapter engage in state advocacy.
Welcome to this month’s NSSLHA Roundup, where we spotlight the impactful ways our members are making a difference. This edition focuses on advocacy—why it matters, how students can use their voices to shape the future of the field, and the creative ways NSSLHA chapters are engaging in advocacy efforts.
Hear from four National NSSLHA members as they share their perspectives on the power of advocacy, the issues that matter most to them, and how they’re driving change in their communities.
This month, we will be hearing from:
Alyssa Sawyer
University of Nevada, Reno
Lucy Carvalho
California State University, Long Beach
Kensley Brewis
Auburn University
Janyreé Santiago
Albizu University
Why is advocacy important for students in speech language pathology and audiology fields?
Alyssa Sawyer
University of Nevada, Reno
Speech-language pathology and audiology students need to advocate because we are the future of the field! We are the ones going through the current process and we have the ability to more closely relate to our generation through advocacy on a multi-level and multi-modal basis! Being students, we are dealing with the most current issues of the field and have the ability to change the future of the field.
Lucy Carvalho
California State University, Long Beach
Advocacy is important for students in speech-language pathology and audiology because it offers the opportunity to make impactful changes in the field and shape our future careers. Since advocacy will be a fundamental part of our role as clinicians, the earlier we cultivate advocacy skills, the stronger our impact will become. As budding clinicians, it becomes our responsibility to advocate for students’ and clients’ best interests, equitable access to affordable services, evidence-based treatment, AAC device eligibility, our own professional needs, and so much more.
Kensley Brewis
Auburn University
Advocacy helps to increase public understanding of communication disorders and the essential role that SLPs and audiologists play in treating and managing these conditions. Many people are unaware of the scope of these fields and the vital services they provide. It is also a way to fight for better funding, research opportunities, and resources for communication sciences and disorders programs. It helps ensure that future professionals have the necessary tools to provide the best care.
Janyreé Santiago
Albizu University
Advocacy is vital for students in speech-language pathology and audiology as it raises awareness about their roles, secures funding and resources, and promotes equitable access to services. It helps ensure ethical practices, shape policies, and combat disparities. Advocacy also develops leadership and communication skills while fostering professional growth and networking opportunities, empowering students to influence their field and improve client outcomes.
How can you leverage social media for your advocacy efforts?
Alyssa Sawyer
University of Nevada, Reno
Today’s world, everything is digital. Most people have social media of some sort. By being able to post informative content or by sharing photos of what our chapter/NSSLHA is doing, we are able to reach more audiences—instead of just our physical community!
Lucy Carvalho
California State University, Long Beach
Social media can serve as a powerful tool for amplifying advocacy efforts. By utilizing various platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, student leaders can engage with diverse communities and build greater awareness of advocacy efforts. Social media can also be utilized to connect with other professions and organizations who share similar goals. Current social media tools and features make it easy to share posts beyond our professional networks so that more individuals can learn about our advocacy efforts. Overall, social media can be leveraged to push advocacy efforts, grow support, and create lasting positive change.
Kensley Brewis
Auburn University
Platforms like Instagram, Twitter (X), and LinkedIn allow students to share facts, personal stories, and educational resources about speech and hearing disorders, reaching a broad audience. Through social media, students can engage with policymakers, other professionals, and the general public. They can start conversations and campaigns to push for changes in healthcare, education, and public policy.
Janyreé Santiago
Albizu University
Leverage social media for advocacy by sharing educational content, engaging your audience with interactive posts, collaborating with organizations, and showcasing success stories. Use hashtags, live events, and partnerships to amplify your message and drive impact.
What issues matter to you as a future CSD professional?
Alyssa Sawyer
University of Nevada, Reno
As a future CSD professional, my desire is to be able to speak up for the well-being of professionals as well as being able to advocate for the sake of the patient/client. There’s a saying that I live by, and that is, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. When CSD professionals are not taken care of themselves, they cannot take care of others properly. My goal is to advocate for workplace conditions and cooperation amongst other professions to better suit the needs of the patient as well as the professional.
Lucy Carvalho
California State University, Long Beach
As a future CSD professional, the issues that matter most to me include equitable access to services, workforce diversity, ethical care standards, manageable caseloads, fair compensation, and burnout prevention. Advocating for equitable access to treatment is crucial to providing individualized and quality care for those we will serve in the future. Advocating for workforce diversity and ethical care standards affirms that our future workplaces will be inclusive and ethical environments in which we are proud to serve. Advocating for manageable caseloads, fair compensation, and burnout prevention also supports high-quality services, career satisfaction, and mental wellness for ourselves as future professionals.
Kensley Brewis
Auburn University
I am very passionate about ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds, including those in rural or low-income communities, have access to high-quality speech and audiology services. I also think it is important to advocate for early screening and intervention in schools and healthcare settings to address speech, language, and hearing issues as early as possible.
Janyreé Santiago
Albizu University
Advocacy is vital for students in speech-language pathology and audiology as it raises awareness about their roles, secures funding and resources, and promotes equitable access to services. It helps ensure ethical practices, shape policies, and combat disparities. Advocacy also develops leadership and communication skills while fostering professional growth and networking opportunities, empowering students to influence their field and improve client outcomes.
What has been the most effective way you have encouraged advocacy in your community, at your school, or in your chapter?
Alyssa Sawyer
University of Nevada, Reno
The most effective form of advocacy my chapter had discussed has been meshing with other groups/clubs on campus to add representation in all areas. We’ve discussed joining together with the Asian Pacific Islanders club, Fraternities, Sororities, etc. When we can plug ourselves into all areas of campus instead of just our clinic, we are able to advocate more effectively to those who may not know what a field in CSD can look like.
Lucy Carvalho
California State University, Long Beach
The most effective way I’ve encouraged advocacy in my community, at my school, and in my chapter has been through active involvement in NSSLHA leadership roles. Taking that initial leap from NSSLHA member to leader paves the way for further opportunities to create an even bigger impact. I’ve also promoted advocacy at the legislative level through ASHA’s Take Action webpage and participating in NSSLHA campaigns, like Student Advocacy Day. NSSLHA provides amazingly effective resources for students to address the advocacy efforts we feel matter most. Joining advocacy efforts as students offers us the unique opportunity to influence our field while still growing into full professionals.
Kensley Brewis
Auburn University
We have started an advocacy campaign within our school chapter in partnership with our Student Academy of Audiology Chapter. Our goal is to highlight important issues, success stories, and educational content. We host workshops that consist of different letter writing campaigns so that students can do firsthand work with advocacy in our field.
Janyreé Santiago
Albizu University
Today, we must leverage the impact of social media. Campaigns can be launched on various platforms, workshops can be offered, collaborations with professionals serving marginalized communities can be fostered, and education about advocacy can be promoted.
Advocacy takes many forms, from raising awareness and influencing policy to leveraging social media and collaborating with peers. No matter how you choose to get involved, every effort helps shape a stronger future for the field. National NSSLHA hosts two Student Advocacy Days each year to provide focused efforts on advocacy, but advocacy is a year-round effort! Learn more about ways to involve yourself (and your chapter!) in grassroots advocacy, or take a moment and send a letter to your members of Congress to advocate for what is important to you!
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