The
national voice of professionals who help the people of Canada
communicate
With more than 5,400
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 5,400 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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