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Dear Student Member,
As 2013 comes to a close, it's incredible to think about all of the significant changes our national association has undergone over the last year: from announcing a new professional development program, to releasing two new position papers (here and here) to redesigning our website. I'm extremely proud to be part of such a proactive, dedicated and innovative association. I am also extremely proud to serve as your representative on the Board of Directors.
A new era, a new name.
As much as this past year has been a time of transition, some of the biggest changes are still around the corner. With our re-branding project, we are not just adopting a new logo, new messaging and new advertising — we are also adopting a new trade name. Our new name is more modern, inclusive and accessible. It still represents the two professions but is much easier to understand. It’s also half as long!
Curious as to what it is? You'll have to wait until the new year for the big reveal!
Good governance.
I'm also pleased to report that the Board has approved all of the governance changes proposed by the Governance Review Task Force. You can read about the changes in more detail on the governance portal of our website. Our lawyer is now preparing our new by-laws and they will be ready for members to review in early 2014. When all is said and done, CASLPA’s entire governance review process will have taken almost three years. That's three years of reviewing the new Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, conducting surveys, obtaining legal counsel and researching industry best practices.
If you haven't had a chance to visit the governance portal on the website, I encourage you to do so. You can also watch the student governance webcast for further insight into our governance review process.
Fifty years young.
In 2014, CASLPA will celebrate a historic milestone: our association will turn 50! We are planning a number of events to commemorate our 50th anniversary, including an advocacy day on Parliament Hill. Our "Day on the Hill", as we've taken to calling it, will bring together members, politicians and decision-makers in an effort to raise the profile of the professions and communication health in general.
While turning 50 is a major accomplishment, we cannot lose sight of all the work that has yet to be done. As members of this association we have a responsibility to promote the professions and advocate on behalf of the people we help. The more members we have, the stronger our voice and the greater our bargaining power. So, from one CASLPA member to another, let's make a concerted effort in 2014 to bring fellow students who are not CASLPA members on board.
Happy holidays!
In signing off, I’d like to wish you all the best for the holiday season. The holidays are a time to slow down, catch up and reflect. I hope you can take a bit of time to recharge before the coming year.
Warm regards,
Jennifer Finbow, Audiology Student
CASLPA Board of Directors
National Student Advisor
In This Issue:
Five Things I Wish I'd Known: Advice From a Recent Grad (Part Two)
Become the 2014-2015 National Student Advisor
New Grads: Renew as a Full CASLPA Member
Have You Seen the Student Hub on CASLPA's New Website?
You Could Win a Bursary to Attend a Conference In Australia
Student Update From the University of Alberta
Student Update From the University of British Columbia
Student Update From Dalhousie University
Student Update From the University of Toronto
Important Dates:
January 31: CASLPA Clinical Certification Exam Application Deadline (Spring Exam)
March 29: CASLPA Clinical Certification Exam (Spring Exam)
April 4: Early Bird Registration Deadline for the 2014 CASLPA Conference
May 7-10: 2014 CASLPA Conference
June 30: CASLPA Clinical Certification Exam Application Deadline (Fall Exam)
September 6: CASLPA Clinical Certification Exam (Fall Exam)
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Five Things I Wish I'd Known:
Advice From a Recent Grad (Part Two)
In our last issue of Student Speak, former CASLPA NSA and recent graduate of Dalhousie's S-LP program Melanie Moore Tapson offered some tips for starting your school year off on the right foot. Now, she's giving advice on finances, expanding your social circle and challenging yourself as you make your way through the school year. Here are five more of Melanie's top tips for students:
1. Network early. Whether you're a prospective student hoping to study speech-language pathology and audiology, or you're already in the program and are thinking about landing that first amazing job, you're going to need outstanding references after graduation. Professors are in the unique position to get to know you and they'll have a perspective about the kind of clinician you'll make — if you make an effort to show them! Start by going to office hours today. Meet your professors in person. Share your goals with them and don't be shy: tell them straight-up that you’re hoping for a great reference at the end of the course. Ask them for advice on how you can be the kind of student they’ll write a glowing reference for.
2. Take risks and try new things. You need variety in order to appreciate the nuances of what you’re learning. When your clinical educator asks if you want to do something challenging that you’ve never tried before, say yes! Taking risks while you have a safety net under you is a lot easier than taking those risks once you’ve graduated. New skills and experiences can inform how you practice your chosen specialty, so take advantage of opportunities when they arise. It can be incredibly empowering and you might surprise yourself with what you're capable of achieving. Everything you learn will come back to you, so soak it all in.
3. Get involved. The best time to start learning how to create a work-life balance is while you're in school. Join a club, a team, a committee. You’ll make great friends and develop new interests that will help you stand out to future employers. It will also help you learn how to work with all kinds of people, which is great for developing empathy as well as the teamwork skills you'll need in your career. And you never know when you’ll meet someone across an interview table who shares your passion for Ultimate Frisbee!
4. Budget like a pro. If you try to live like an S-LP or audiologist while you’re a student, you’ll wind up living like a student when you're working. I know it’s tough, but you’re in good company now. Be frugal. Find fun and cheap (or free!) activities and watch your budget. You will be blown away by all the unanticipated costs that come up throughout your studies and after you enter the job market: criminal reference checks and vaccines for placements, professional fees, certification, extra workshops, you name it. Start saving now so you're not caught off-guard when these expenses come up.
5. Look for not-so-secret ways to boost your budget. And speaking of budgets, don't forget that financial help is out there! No matter what year you're in, it's never too late to hunt down scholarships. I was amazed at how many people thought writing one page was too much work in exchange for a chance to earn a free $1,000. I was thankful for that in the end though, because I swept up a lot of scholarship cash while others were moaning about the effort! Do some research and learn what's out there. You don't want to waste your energy stressing about money when you should be focusing on your studies, so put your name forward today because a little extra cash can be a big help.
Stay tuned for part three of Melanie's advice for students in spring 2014.
Melanie thanks her colleagues Shauna Stokely, S-LP(C), PhD candidate Carly Barbon and Melanie Peladeau-Pigeon for contributing their thoughts to this piece.
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Become the 2014-2015 National Student Advisor
CASLPA’s student members are a driving force in our association. You keep us current, you keep us energized and you keep us engaged.
The National Student Advisor (NSA) is a valuable member of, and contributor to, CASLPA’s Board of Directors. He or she advocates for students across Canada by making sure that students’ concerns, questions and ideas about the professions are understood and valued. The current NSA’s term will end May 9, 2014 and we’re seeking a dedicated and ambitious student to take over for Jennifer Finbow.
To qualify, you must be a CASLPA student member enrolled in a recognized Canadian university program offering a graduate degree in either audiology or speech-language pathology. You can read the Call for Applications for eligibility requirements and for details about the position and its responsibilities.
To Apply:
- You must be a CASLPA student member as of January 6, 2014.
- Review the Call for Applications.
- Write an Expression of Interest.
- Submit your Expression of Interest to volunteer@caslpa.ca by Friday, January 17, 2014.
In addition to representing your peers across the country by serving on the CASLPA Board, the NSA position is a fantastic networking opportunity and great addition to your résumé!
Questions:
Please contact Joanne Charlebois, Chief Executive Officer at joanne@caslpa.ca or CASLPA’s current NSA, Jennifer Finbow at studentrep@caslpa.ca.
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New Grads: Renew as a Full CASLPA Member
Please note that if you are a new grad, your current student membership is only valid until December 31, 2013. Since you're no longer a student, you can now apply for a full CASLPA membership. We'll even help you get started by subsidizing the cost — renew today and CASLPA will pay 50% of your full 2014 membership fee!
Plus, when you renew as a full member for 2014, CASLPA will pay your professional liability insurance for six months, from January 1 to June 30. If you've already purchased professional liability insurance through the CASLPA/BMS program, we will refund you the value of six months’ insurance.
Here's what you need to do:
- Go to caslpamembership.ca.
- Click on the renewal tab to access your renewal form.
- Submit your renewal form, your official transcripts and a copy of your signed clinical hours to CASLPA by December 31, 2013.
Note: if you have already submitted your transcripts and clinical hours for certification purposes, you do not need to re-submit them.
If you live in BC, NL or PEI, our provincial partners have also agreed to discount their full membership fees by 50% (please note that joint provincial membership does not apply to supportive personnel members).
Questions? Contact Francine Morris, Manager of Membership, at membership@caslpa.ca.
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Have You Seen the Student Hub on CASLPA's New Website?
With a fresh look, easy-to-navigate pages, engaging content and important resources, our new website is the premier online destination for Canada's speech-language pathologists, audiologists and supportive personnel. And now that speechandhearing.ca has been folded into the new site, it is the leading online communication health resource for the Canadian public as well.
Our new website also features a Student Hub — a specific section just for you.
What you'll find in the Student Hub:
We hope this hub has everything you need, but we’d like your feedback. Please email us at pubs@caslpa.ca or get in touch with your National Student Advisor Jennifer Finbow to let us know what you think.
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You Could Win a Bursary to Attend a Conference In Australia
The International Society of Audiology (ISA) is hosting the XXXII World Congress of Audiology in Brisbane, Australia — and you could win the chance to attend!
The ISA is offering student scholarships of $1,000 to audiology students from around the world to help cover registration fees, transportation to Brisbane and accommodation.
Interested? To apply for the scholarship you must:
- Be a full-time graduate student enrolled in an institution of higher learning taking courses in audiology and preferably working towards a degree in audiology or hearing science.
- Submit the abstract of your graduate work and a 2-3 page description of the original research, either clinical or basic science.
- Supply a letter of recommendation from your research advisor.
Download the complete application form here. Applications are due to llnwong@hku.hk by December 31, 2013. The ISA Scientific Committee will make its selection in early January. Apply today for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
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Student Update From the University of Alberta
Rebecca Fleming (CASLPA Student Representative, S-LP Student)
Kaitlin Sanders (CASLPA Student Representative, S-LP Student)
The University of Alberta’s speech pathology and audiology department started its 2013 fall term on a high note with second-year students organizing several fundraisers in September.
In October, the Organization of Alberta Students in Speech (OASIS) held a conference which included sessions covering multiple topics in speech pathology. Students, prospective students and practicing S-LPs gathered for a day of informative and inspiring presentations. The highlight of the conference was the keynote session on head and neck cancer treatment by speakers Shannon Kerr, S-LP(C); Gabriela Constantinescu, S-LP(C); and Irene Loewen, S-LP(C). The presentation covered a variety of topics and emphasized the diversity that exists in speech pathology, as well as the ample opportunities available for research and innovation. We’re happy to report that the conference was a great success and an incredible learning opportunity!
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Student Update From the University of British Columbia
Sara Skolsky (CASLPA Student Representative, S-LP Student)
Sukaina Jaffer (CASLPA Student Representative, Audiology Student)
In addition to participating in several community health screening events and collaborative case presentations throughout the year, audiology and speech-language pathology students at the University of British Columbia have the unique opportunity of joining the interprofessional "Health Mentors" program. Small groups of students from various health professions meet with a health mentor, write reflective journals about their experiences and present what they learned at a symposium. The health mentor may be an adult with a chronic condition or disability or a caregiver who provides support for an adult with a chronic condition or disability.
The program allows students to practice interacting with professionals in other areas of health (such as nursing, medicine and occupational therapy) in a collaborative context. Participants get the chance to understand their own perspectives and, more importantly, the perspectives of those who experience the other side of the health-care system. The program covers a variety of interesting topics such as the use of clinical terminology in patient or interprofessional interactions, the mentor’s illness journey, the importance of advocacy and sharing health-related information and the difference between client-centered and patient-centered care.
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Student Update From Dalhousie University
Christina Hodder (CASLPA Student Representative, S-LP Student)
Nicole Kutchyera (CASLPA Student Representative, Audiology Student)
Audiology and speech-language pathology students at Dalhousie University's school of human communication disorders ( SHCD) are off to a busy start this fall. In addition to their full academic and clinical schedules, students are participating in a variety of extracurricular activities with the goal of promoting both our program and our professions.
The Washington Post ran an article in July that highlighted the SHCD’s in-house rehabilitation program, InteRACT, which is an intensive adult aphasia treatment program that helps people with all types/levels of aphasia strengthen their communication skills through focused one-on-one therapy. Students work closely with the clients, learning from them and gaining valuable hands-on experience.
On November 30, SHCD students let their creative juices flow for Dalhousie's 33 rd annual " For the Health of It" fundraising event. Student teams from each health profession program wrote, choreographed and performed ten-minute skits relating in some way to interprofessionalism. This year the event raised over $48,000 for the North End Community Health Centre and the SHCD team took home the prize for "Best Choreographed Dance".
The SHCD is also actively involved in Dalhousie's Aboriginal Health Interest Group (AHIG), a student-run special interest group that aims to address inequities in the delivery of health-care services to Canada's Aboriginal Peoples. AHIG will host a variety of events throughout the year including documentary nights, a guest speaker series and the annual Health Professions Career Fair for Aboriginal Youth. Audiology and speech-language pathology will be well-represented at this year's career fair as SHCD students will be both organizing and attending the two-day event.
We’re looking forward to a challenging and rewarding year ahead here at Dalhousie and we wish all CASLPA student members the best of luck. Work hard and don’t forget to have some fun along the way!
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Student Update From the University of Toronto
Nikki Chhina (CASLPA Student Representative, S-LP Student)
Kathiga Karthikaikumar (CASLPA Student Representative, S-LP Student)
This term, we had the privilege of working at the Baycrest and Holland Bloorview hospitals for the Integrative Learning Experience (ILE). At ILE, we analyzed and interpreted information from different areas of assessment (speech, language and swallowing), formulated goals and created treatment plans for a simulated clinical case. It was an eye-opening experience; we learned how to work around communication breakdowns, the importance of conveying information appropriately and truly listening to the client’s needs.
In November, the second-year students completed a bedside swallowing assessment and patient interview for our dysphagia class, which allowed us to apply knowledge from the classroom to a real-life situation. Although the theoretical information we learn in class is important, it is equally imperative to apply what we've learned to real-world situations.
On a lighter note, our class also participates in a fun, stress-reducing project called "Secret Buddies". Each of us selects a secret buddy from among our classmates. When we feel that he or she needs it most, we give our secret buddy a small gift or encouraging note. Not only does our Secret Buddies activity strengthen class relationships, it also allows us to let off a little steam during the school year! And this year, it allowed us to give back to those who need it most. In lieu of a holiday gift (our usual method for revealing our secret buddy), this year we decided to each make a donation to typhoon relief in the Philippines.
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