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From: Maureen Boyle- Minnesota State Univerisity, Mankato MN
Date: 10/11/01
Time: 9:56:57 PM
Remote Name: 134.29.13.248
I understand and agree with your concern regarding the "death" of fluency disorders. It is hard to hear of such a reality when I am only beginning my career in the communication disorders field (I am currently a first year graduate student.) Here are some thoughts from a student's perspective.
1. Sadly, it is a reality that few PWS seek services from the University setting, making it near impossible to assess and treat 20 hrs of fluency disorders. I do hope ASHA sees the importance for requiring fluency disorders coursework because of these shortages.
2. In response to you suggesting PWS seek services from other professions...I hope PWS are not dismissed from our scope of practice. The reason being? There are SLPs who are competent to provide services. My instructor, Judy Kuster, is one individual who is doing an excellent job educating and preparing her students for fluency clients. Let us hope other instructors are preparing their students as well Mrs. Kuster. If they are, these competent students should be able to educate co-workers and be a resource for those who do not have strong educational background in fluency disorders.
3. Let us not forget that ASHA has established specialty recognition in fluency disorders. The individuals recognized possess advanced skill, experience and knowledge in the area of fluency disorders. These individuals strive to provide effective and successful services for PWS. I hope those unprepared clinicians who you wrote of will refer to SLPs who hold specialty recognition.
I found myself agreeing with you numerous times throughout your paper...I do feel some are working hard to prepare and educate future SLPs..let us recognize these individuals and praise their efforts! Maureen