The national voice of professionals who help the people of Canada communicate

With more than 6,000 members, CASLPA is the only national body that supports and represents the professional needs of speech-language pathologists, audiologists and supportive personnel inclusively within one organization. Through this support, CASLPA champions the needs of people with communications disorders.

This mission was defined in its early beginnings, when the Association was launched in 1964 under the name of the Canadian Speech and Hearing Association (CSHA). The professions were starting to evolve in Canada, and were beginning to define and validate their place within the realm of medical science, health, and education. A handful of visionaries including the founder and first president of CSHA, Isabel Richard, had the foresight to push for a national organization that could unify and empower the professions. She affirmed that a united professional body “with clear vision and well-defined objectives can give stature to the professions in this country.” Powered by founders who were proactive from the start, the Association we now know as CASLPA has helped direct and lead the development of the two professions.

Today CASLPA embraces members from all provinces and territories, and ensures that they are well represented in the Association’s Board, committees, and task forces. CASLPA’s staff, based in Ottawa, ensures the quality and timeliness of bilingual publications, proactive public and media awareness activities, and effective government relations, along with the accuracy of budget and membership information. In addition, a number of member benefits are telling indicators of an Association that has come of age together with the professions. Such benefits include current career ads, insurance plans, clinical certification, reciprocity agreement with ASHA (S-LP only), enhanced communications through a North America-wide toll free phone number, regular membership surveys and a lively web site.

Just how has CASLPA made things happen?

• Expanded membership categories
  Membership has consistently grown in CASLPA from its humble beginnings to a current membership of over 6,000 professionals. Today CASLPA offers nine membership categories, including full, reduced hours, student, supportive personnel, supportive personnel reduced hours, retired, international, affiliate and research/allied health professional members.

• Recognized national professional standards
  Milestones include the achievement of high national standards of practice in speech-language pathology and audiology through clinical certification for CASLPA members and a continuing education equivalent (CEE) program. In 1998 CASLPA expanded recognition of these professional standards through reciprocity of the respective certification programs with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). CASLPA clinical certification is now recognized more and more internationally.

• Accreditation
  CASLPA is a partner on the Council for Accreditation of University Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CACUP-ASLP). This body accredits the university programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
  

• Annual awards program
  Another milestone is the Association’s highly regarded annual awards program, including, for example, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award and the Isabel Richard Student Paper Award. The awards program has evolved over many years to honour and promote an ongoing commitment to excellence.

• An advocate for improved services and training
  True to its proactive origins, CASLPA is currently an active member in the Health Action Lobby Group, and the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation. After two extensive years of lobbying, we celebrated the exemption of the GST/HST waiver on billings for speech-language pathology services. We are currently working on recruitment and retention strategies.

• Maintaining ethics and integrity
  Through the years, CASLPA has developed and enhanced a Code of Ethics and has established by-laws and guidelines that recognize the growing scopes of practice of speech-language pathology and audiology.

• Harmonizing with provincial and territorial groups
  CASLPA continues its strong tradition of maintaining regular communications with the provincial and territorial associations, and ongoing communications with international associations such as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP).

• Building a bank of benefits
  The Association now offers competitive group insurance coverage, ASHA discounts, Home and Auto Insurance and many more.

• Advancing careers and employment
  Ensuring access to career opportunities is a vital part of CASLPA’s activities. Career ads are published regularly in the Association’s newsletter Communiqué. Recognizing that time is of the essence, CASLPA provides immediate access to employment opportunities through our web site www.caslpa.ca.

• Enhancing professional knowledge
  Members stay tuned to current clinical guidelines, position papers, and research through the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Canada’s only journal dedicated to communication disorders. Members can stay current of professional, legislative, and clinical trends through the other CASLPA publications, including the web site, and through networking opportunities and workshops, including CASLPA’s annual conference.

From the beginning, CASLPA has been at the heart of efforts to shape change and advance speech-language pathology and audiology. The association’s extensive list of achievements marks the milestones of that growth.

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